The value of ENERGY STAR® designations


The value of ENERGY STAR® designations

"To save on energy usage and help reduce your utility bill, look for products with the ENERGY STAR. It’s a helpful program designed to provide you with the information you need to help select energy-efficient products when building or updating your home."
Kathy Krafka Harkema
Spokesperson
Pella Corporation
The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ENERGY STAR program continues to evolve. Starting Jan. 4, 2010, ENERGY STAR qualified windows, entry doors, patio doors and skylights will meet new performance levels.
This tip sheet, featuring facts about ENERGY STAR, is provided by Pella Corporation as a resource for homeowners considering new, energy-efficient windows and doors and to educate consumers about energy conservation.
What is ENERGY STAR?
  • ENERGY STAR is a government-backed program helping businesses and individuals protect the environment through the use of high-efficiency products.
  • Started by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1992, ENERGY STAR began as a voluntary labeling program designed to identify and promote energy-efficient products to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
  • The ENERGY STAR label is now on major appliances, office equipment, lighting and home electronics, in addition to quality windows and doors. EPA also has extended the program to include new homes and commercial and industrial buildings.
How it works for you
  • ENERGY STAR designations on products like windows, doors, lighting fixtures, appliances and heating and cooling equipment mean these products use less energy, save money and help protect the environment.
  • Energy efficiency means delivering the same (or more) services for less energy, which helps protect the environment. When we use less energy, power plants don’t need to generate as much energy, which can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help improve the quality of our air.
  • Plus, energy efficiency can help the economy by saving consumers and businesses millions of dollars in energy costs.
  • And energy-saving solutions can reduce energy bills for many homeowners and businesses by an estimated 20 to 30 percent.
Windows and doors
  • Many Pella products meet ENERGY STAR standards. Look for Pella products with low U-values, which measure the ability to resist the transfer of heat. The lower the U-value, the better, and Pella has some of the lowest in the industry.
  • Solid wood construction offers superior insulating qualities — wood provides 1,100 times the insulating value of aluminum.
  • In addition, Pella’s ThermaStar by Pella® vinyl windows and doors and Pella® Impervia® products made from Duracast® the strongest, most durable material available in windows and doors, are designed to provide greater energy efficiency than aluminum or other alternative materials.
  • Double- and triple-paned glazing options are available for maximum energy efficiency.
  • Optional low-emissivity (Low-E) glass coatings help reduce heat, as well as ultraviolet (UV) rays that can fade carpet, walls and furniture.
  • Make sure windows fit tightly and no air comes through the frame. Proper installation is vital to energy efficiency.
  • Keep window blinds and shades closed during hot months to conserve energy and open on sunny days during cold months to let in solar heat, which can help reduce heating bills.
Longtime leader in ENERGY STAR, environmental stewardship
Pella Corporation has earned national recognition for its leadership in helping protect the environment through energy efficiency for the past five years. Pella earned an ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year 2011 award, presented by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) for its commitment to manufacturing energy-efficient products and educating consumers about them.
For the third year in a row, Pella earned ENERGY STAR’s most prestigious Sustained Excellence Award 2011 — recognizing the commitment Pella has shown in successfully managing energy use and promoting ENERGY STAR products and practices. 
For more information visit:
www.energystar.gov
www.efficientwindows.org (Efficient Windows Collaborative)
www.nfrc.org (National Fenestration Rating Council)
Further questions?
Contact your local Pella® Window & Door Showroom or call 888-847-3552 or visit www.pella.com. Follow Pella on Twitter.com @Pella_News.