If you are going to be buying new windows or doors in the near future, you will want to do adequate research well beforehand. Most new products are energy star qualified, which means they have been successfully branded and approved as energy-efficient. The Energy Star rating system is an internationally recognized and implemented symbol that actually applies to a variety of products. If a product exceeds energy-efficient expectations without sacrificing its performance aspect, then it will likely be qualified via this system.
In Canada, The Natural Resources Canada’s Office of Energy Efficiency is the organization that monitors and evaluates all products manufactured and sold in the country. It is in a company’s best interest to have its products bear this symbol, as consumers are more apt to buy a product that has been qualified over one that has not. The specifications put in place by NRCan’s are not easy to meet, however, and many companies fail to pass the test. We at Clera are proud to say that all of our products are energy star qualified. We manufacture doors and windows that exceed the expectations placed upon them, and every item we sell is of excellent quality. Here is a short list of what it takes to meet the energy star mark.
Elements of the Energy Star rating system
- The Energy Star symbol has been in effect in Canada since 2001
- The qualifications are internationally based due to the number of countries that are members to the system
- Products must meet Canada’s Energy Efficiency Regulations, as well as the requirements of provincial and territorial laws
- Products are evaluated on a national scale, and must significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as saving a considerable amount on energy costs
- A product’s performance cannot be hindered when they are made to be energy efficient
- The energy consumption of each product must have the ability to be measured
Most Canadian residents are familiar with the EnerGuide program. This program was launched in 1978 and was created for giving consumers information on the energy consumption of the products they were buying. It remains the official method by which the Government of Canada labels and rates a variety of household appliances. In 2001, Canada adopted the energy star symbol, and now applies to the EnerGuide label on qualified products.
Given that many countries take part in the Energy Star rating system, the standards for evaluating products has become a global mechanism. Basic guidelines must be adhered to for qualification, but each individual country can put its own policies into effect as well. In Canada, this means meeting the requirements of Canada’s Energy Efficiency Regulations, in addition to provincial laws.
Ultimately, if a product is found to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and cut energy costs on a national scale, then it will likely be qualified for an energy star. However, the product’s performance cannot be hindered as a part of this condition. In order to be qualified, a product must also have a way for being accurately measured. Determining energy consumption is the key way Canada gives the seal of approval.
