Corporate
Partners in Sustainability: ENERGY STAR
10/11/2022
Many of the sustainability challenges that we prioritize at Samsung – whether it be realizing a circular economy or optimizing energy efficiency – are enhanced through partnerships and collaborative initiatives with credible, knowledgeable, and innovative brands, environmental organizations, and industry groups. Together with these like-minded eco-friendly allies, we are putting our scale, global presence, and pioneering spirit to work on building a more sustainable and equitable future. As part of our “Partners in Sustainability” series, Samsung’s esteemed partners are sharing their views on how tackling environmental challenges requires unparalleled cooperation.
Name | Ann Bailey |
Title | Branch Chief, ENERGY STAR Labeled Products |
Partner | ENERGY STAR |
Years working together | 26 years (since 1996) |
Relationship focus | Energy-efficient consumer products |
1. What is the ENERGY STAR program?
ENERGY STAR is the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency, providing simple, credible, and unbiased information that consumers and businesses rely on to make well-informed decisions. Thousands of industrial, commercial, utility, state, and local organizations—including nearly 40% of the Fortune 500®—partner with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to deliver cost-saving energy efficiency solutions that protect the climate while improving air quality and protecting public health. Across more than 75 different product categories, ENERGY STAR is the simple choice for energy efficiency, making it easy for consumers and businesses to purchase products that save them money and protect the environment. For commercial buildings and industrial plants, ENERGY STAR tools and resources help businesses identify cost-effective approaches to managing energy use—enabling the private sector to save energy, increase profits, and strengthen their competitiveness.[1]
2. How does a product earn the ENERGY STAR?
Across more than 75 eligible product categories (ranging from lighting and appliances to HVAC, electronics, IT and commercial food service equipment), products that earn the ENERGY STAR label meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the EPA. The performance of each product model is third-party certified based on testing in an EPA-recognized laboratory.
3. What is the environmental significance of the program?
ENERGY STAR is an important tool in fighting climate change, improving air quality, and protecting public health. In 2020 alone, ENERGY STAR and its partners helped Americans save more than 520 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity and avoid $42 billion in energy costs. These savings resulted in associated emission reductions of more than 400 million metric tons of greenhouse gases, roughly equivalent to more than five percent of U.S. total greenhouse gas emissions.[2]
4. How are you realizing the agency’s environmental mission in partnership with brands like Samsung?
The ENERGY STAR Program was designed to broaden the Agency’s approach to protecting the climate—working hand-in-hand with the private sector and others to achieve more than would be possible through federal regulations alone. By design, the program seeks out and overcomes market barriers and captures and channels marketplace ingenuity towards climate action. Over the past 30 years, the interplay of government, business, and market forces has achieved a level of success that demonstrates the ongoing power of partnership. To date, ENERGY STAR and its partners have helped American families and businesses save 5 trillion kilowatt-hours of electricity, avoid more than $500 billion in energy costs, and achieve 4 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas reductions.
Over the years, Samsung has worked with the ENERGY STAR® program and helped address the climate crisis through its leadership in efficiency across its appliance suite, as well as furthering efficiency of its facilities through strategic energy management. Some of Samsung’s recent accomplishments in 2021 through this public-private partnership include:
- Expanding its total ENERGY STAR certified appliance and electronics offerings and increasing the number of models earning ENERGY STAR Most Efficient recognition.
- Earning ENERGY STAR Emerging Technology Award recognition for an additional 20 refrigerator and freezer models with advanced adaptive compressor systems, as well as for one induction cooktop model.
- Working to increase the efficiency of its commercial building spaces by achieving ENERGY STAR Tenant Space recognition for six spaces across its portfolio.
- Establishing a cross-functional team comprised of environmental stewardship, facility management, public affairs, and Engineering and Asset Solutions specialists focused on tracking the efficacy of facility-related sustainability initiatives and alignment and promotion of ENERGY STAR across the organization.
- Continuing its environmental leadership by engaging in multiple, cross-cutting efforts that include partnering with EPA and the National Environmental Education Foundation for 7 years to further environmental literacy and energy efficiency across middle schoolers; participating in the EPA Green Power Partnerships program and achieving 100% renewable energy for all of Samsung’s U.S. facilities; and receiving EPA’s Sustainable Materials Management Gold Tier Champion Award annually for 7 years to ensure electronics are recycled safely.