Heating and cooling products make the Energy Star® Most Efficient List for 2013. What new, industry-related category made the list too?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its 2013 Energy Star® Most Efficient List and heating and cooling is one of the updated product categories. According to the EPA, the heating and cooling equipment recognized can save homeowners anywhere from 20 to 50 percent on their heating and cooling and geothermal heat pumps can save homeowners up to 60 percent.

“Each year, in select categories, the Environmental Protection Agency recognizes the most efficient products among those that qualify for Energy Star,” said the agency’s release. “The goal of this effort is to drive more energy efficient products into the market more quickly, priming the pipeline for even greater greenhouse gas emission reductions.”

Product categories are selected and recognition criteria are established each year to ensure that products that receive recognition demonstrate efficiency performance that is truly exceptional, inspirational, or leading edge. Recognized product models are independently certified to save energy while delivering the features and functionality consumers expect.

The product categories eligible for Energy Star Most Efficient 2013 recognition are boilers, CAC/ASHP, clothes washers, furnaces, geothermal heat pumps, refrigerators, TVs, windows, computer monitors, and ceiling and vent fans. The windows, computer monitors, and ceiling and vent fans are new for 2013.

By the end of 2012, more than 1,200 products from 55 manufacturers had been recognized. A handful of utilities began offering rebates targeted at ENERGY STAR Most Efficient models and major retailers have begun to explore highlighting winning models in their stores.

Additional information, including recognition criteria and product lists in each category are available at www.energystar.gov/mostefficient.