Is it time to make Energy Star requirements more stringent?

This week, we report on Department of Energy plans to raise the bar for windows to qualify for Energy Star. Energy Star standards are designed to “push the envelope” of energy efficiency, so to speak, so if it’s true that more than half the windows sold in this country are Energy Star qualified, the label clearly doesn’t serve that purpose.

As we all know, there are many issues that factor into the energy efficiency equation for windows, however. Increasing the SHGC of a product to meet a higher standard is possible, but it might turn out that such a product saves less energy because of the window’s orientation in the home. I would also caution that if raising Energy Star standards push prices up too high, it could influence buyers to opt for cheaper, lower-performance products.

So what do you think? Is it time to make requirements to qualify for Energy Star more stringent? I’m sure there are many, many reasons you folks can think of for raising the bar on Energy Star requirements, or keeping them where they are, and I’d love to hear your thoughts on the issue. Vote in our poll, and email me to let me know what you think.

For poll results and industry feedback about this topic, click to the next page, and read Page 2 of “The Talk...”