ENERGY STAR ® SALES ASSOCIATE TRAINING Refrigerators (Updated: September 2010)

ENERGY STAR®

SALES ASSOCIATE TRAINING

Refrigerators(Updated: September 2010)

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What is ENERGY STAR?

ENERGY STAR is a government-backed program that helps consumers identify energy-efficient products.

ENERGY STAR qualified products:• Save energy• Save money• Save the environment

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About ENERGY STAR

The ENERGY STAR mark ranks among the highest level of influence on product purchase among all consumer emblems, similar in ranking to the Good Housekeeping Seal.

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In 2009 alone, Americans—with the help of ENERGY STAR—saved $17 billion on their energy bills and prevented greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to the annual emissions of 30 million vehicles.

Consumer awareness and desire for efficiency savings is high•In 2009, more than 75% of households nationwide recognized the ENERGY STAR label•Of households that purchased ENERGY STAR products in the past year:

– 80% of them reported the label as influential to their purchasing decision

– More than 90% of them reported they are likely to recommend ENERGY STAR products to friends

ENERGY STAR Sales Value

Source: 1) EPA Office of Air and Radiation, Climate Protection Partnerships Division. National Awareness of ENERGY STAR for 2009: Analysis of 2009 CEE Household Survey. U.S. EPA, 2010. 2) ENERGY STAR Overview of 2009 Achievements. March 2010.

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ENERGY STARThe government-backed program dedicated to helping consumers save money and protect the environment through superior energy efficiency. Look for the ENERGY STAR label on qualified refrigerators.

ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerators:• Must be 20% more energy efficient than the minimum federal standard • Save more than $130 over the product lifetime, compared to a standard model• Offer energy efficiency without sacrificing performance or features• Save energy and help prevent climate change by reducing the greenhouse gas

emissions caused by burning fossil fuels at power plants

ENERGY STAR Qualified Refrigerator Overview

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ENERGY STAR Qualified Refrigerator Criteria

Refrigerators earning the ENERGY STAR must be at least 20% more energy efficient than the minimum federal standard.

Type of Unit Percent more efficient than required by the minimum federal standard

Refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers 7.75 ft.² or greater

20%

Freezers 7.75 ft.² or greater 10%

Refrigerators and freezers less than 7.75 ft.²

20%

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Saving Energy = Saving Money

Did you know?

• A new qualified refrigerator can save about $130 on electricity bills over its lifetime compared to a new standard model

• If everyone purchasing a refrigerator in 2010 chooses an ENERGY STAR qualified model over a non-qualified model, together we would save more than $100 million a year on our energy bills

ENERGY STAR qualified products use less energy and cost less to operate resulting in:

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Saving Energy HelpsProtect the Environment

• If everyone purchasing a refrigerator in 2010 chooses an ENERGY STAR qualified model, together we would reduce the greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from more than 120,000 cars

• By using less energy, qualified refrigerators help prevent climate change by reducing the greenhouse gas emissions caused by burning fossil fuels at power plants

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Why Buy ENERGY STAR?

Save energy without sacrificing quality or performance

ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerators offer high performance features such as:

• High-efficiency compressors – use less energy, creating less heat when they are running, and are often quieter than regular compressors

• Improved insulation – helps food stay cold and muffles refrigerator noise

• More precise temperature and defrost mechanisms – help ensure food is kept at the optimum temperature

Wide Selection

• Available with automatic ice-makers through-the-door ice and water dispensers

• Also available with top, bottom, and side-by-side freezers

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Refrigerators:Energy Saving Tips

• Recycle older or second refrigerators. Your second refrigerator costs a lot to operate. You can save from $300-$700 by not running your second refrigerator over the next 5 years. By unplugging your second refrigerator and properly recycling it, you can also prevent 5,500 to 20,000 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions.

• [Insert customized information here about your recycling offerings]

• Don’t heat your fridge. Position your refrigerator away from heat sources such as ovens and dishwashers. Heat sources make your fridge work harder to keep your food cold.

• Give it space to breathe. Leave a space between the wall and the refrigerator to allow air to circulate – this keeps the coils cooler so your refrigerator doesn’t have to work as hard.

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Refrigerators: Energy Saving Tips

• Load it up. A full refrigerator or freezer uses less energy than an empty or partially-loaded one.

• Keep it clean. While cleaning your refrigerator on the inside is important, keeping it clean on the outside is important too: by cleaning the coils on the back of your refrigerator, you will save energy.

• Don’t over cool. In addition to turning ice-cream into a spoon-bending block of ice, setting your fridge and freezer to “max cold” uses more energy and money.

• It’s not a window. Minimize the time refrigerator doors are open.

• Check that seal. Make sure the door seals are tight. If not, you could be losing cold air and using more energy.

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Did You Know?

• Many consumers have no idea how much their older refrigerator is costing them. Help them understand the savings!

– A refrigerator from the 1970s uses over 2,400 kilowatt hours a year, costing you over $250 a year on your electricity bills. Replace it with a model that has earned the ENERGY STAR and you can save over $200 a year while avoiding 3,000 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions.

– A refrigerator from the 1980s uses over 1,480 kilowatt hours a year, costing you nearly $160 a year to run. Replace it with a model that has earned the ENERGY STAR and you can save over $100 a year while avoiding more than 1,600 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions.

– A refrigerator made in 1992 uses over 1,020 kilowatt hours and costs you more than $100 a year to run. Replace it with a model that has earned the ENERGY STAR and you could save over $65 a year while avoiding nearly 940 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions.

• Unplugging the second refrigerator saves.– About a quarter of U.S. households have a second refrigerator. Many of these are

older, inefficient refrigerators that people have kept and moved to the garage or basement.

“But the refrigerator I bought 20 years ago works just fine…”

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ENERGY STAR Refrigerator Brands

Trusted brands like these…

• Electrolux

• GE

• Kenmore

• Maytag

• Whirlpool[Customize as appropriate]

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Find Rebates in Your Area

Database for Incentives & Joint Marketing Exchange (DIME)

• Help your customers save even more

• Visit www.energystar.gov/DIME to find:– Appliance rebates in your area– Incentive amounts, start and end dates– Name, location, and contact information of rebate sponsors

• Retailers and manufacturers can also:– Connect to local energy efficiency program sponsors (e.g., utilities).– Find joint ENERGY STAR promotional and marketing opportunities.– Promote your program! Contact your ENERGY STAR partner

account rep or e-mail [email protected].

Disclaimer: EPA and DOE do not provide financial incentives for promoting or purchasing ENERGY STAR qualified products. This tool is provided as a courtesy to share information with partners on the financial incentives available from utilities and other energy-efficiency program sponsors. Please direct your questions and comments about these incentives to the requesting organization or sponsor.

ENERGY STAR as Your Sales Partner

Create Business Value• Differentiation– Arm your staff with knowledge– Provide your customers products

of choice• Grow your customer base– Attract and retain customers– Help your customers save money

and watch them keep coming back

Create Social Value• Reducing energy use helps

decelerate climate change by preventing greenhouse gas emissions

• Lower energy bills for your customers

• Boost your brand’s environmental image

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Partner with ENERGY STAR and increase sales and customer loyalty by providing energy savings and environmental benefits.

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A user-friendly and easily navigable micro-site containing training tools for partners.Users can navigate throughout four main categories to find training resources relevantto them: products, campaigns, utilities/energy efficiency program sponsors, and buildings/plants.

Benefits:• EASY: Access to all ENERGY STAR training materials and resources on your own.

• ACCURATE: The most current training materials to share with your sales associates for increasing the sale of ENERGY STAR qualified products and services.

• RELEVANT: A location for collaboration and idea exchange with other partners.

To LEARN MORE, visit the ENERGY STAR Training Center page at: www.energystar.gov/training

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Questions

For questions about ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerators:•Write to [email protected] •Call (888) STAR-YES

For additional information about refrigerators including: •Qualified products lists•Special offers•Savings calculators

Visit: www.energystar.gov/refrigerators