---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 6294a"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "6294a"
heading: "Energy Star program"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/6294a"
units:
  - "Chapter 77 — Energy Conservation"
  - "Subchapter III — Improving Energy Efficiency"
  - "Part A — Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products Other Than Automobiles"
---

# §6294a. Energy Star program

- (a) **In general—** There is established within the Department of [Energy](/usc/42/6291.md?p=3) and the Environmental Protection [Agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) a voluntary program to identify and promote [energy](/usc/42/6291.md?p=3)-efficient products and [buildings](/usc/42/6321.md?p=c-2) in order to reduce [energy](/usc/42/6291.md?p=3) consumption, improve [energy](/usc/42/6291.md?p=3) security, and reduce pollution through voluntary labeling of, or other forms of communication about, products and [buildings](/usc/42/6321.md?p=c-2) that meet the highest [energy conservation standards](/usc/42/6291.md?p=6).
- (b) **Division of responsibilities—** Responsibilities under the program shall be divided between the Department of [Energy](/usc/42/6291.md?p=3) and the Environmental Protection [Agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) in accordance with the terms of applicable agreements between those [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1).
- (c) **Duties—** The [Administrator](/usc/42/6341.md?p=1) and the [Secretary](/usc/42/6202.md?p=1) shall—
  - (1) promote [Energy](/usc/42/6291.md?p=3) Star compliant technologies as the preferred technologies in the marketplace for—
    - (A) achieving [energy efficiency](/usc/42/6291.md?p=5); and
    - (B) reducing pollution;
  - (2) work to enhance public awareness of the [Energy](/usc/42/6291.md?p=3) Star [label](/usc/42/6311.md?p=6), including by providing special outreach to small businesses;
  - (3) preserve the integrity of the [Energy](/usc/42/6291.md?p=3) Star [label](/usc/42/6311.md?p=6);
  - (4) regularly update [Energy](/usc/42/6291.md?p=3) Star product criteria for product categories;
  - (5) solicit comments from interested parties prior to establishing or revising an [Energy](/usc/42/6291.md?p=3) Star product category, specification, or criterion (or prior to effective dates for any such product category, specification, or criterion);
  - (6) on adoption of a new or revised product category, specification, or criterion, provide reasonable notice to interested parties of any changes (including effective dates) in product categories, specifications, or criteria, along with—
    - (A) an explanation of the changes; and
    - (B) as appropriate, responses to comments submitted by interested parties; and
  - (7) provide appropriate lead time (which shall be 270 days, unless the [Agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) or Department specifies otherwise) prior to the applicable effective date for a new or a significant revision to a product category, specification, or criterion, taking into account the timing requirements of the manufacturing, product marketing, and distribution process for the specific product addressed.
- (d) **Deadlines—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/6202.md?p=1) shall establish new qualifying levels—
  - (1) not later than January 1, 2006, for clothes washers and dishwashers, effective beginning January 1, 2007; and
  - (2) not later than January 1, 2008, for clothes washers, effective beginning July 1, 2009.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 94–163, title III, § 324A, as added Pub. L. 109–58, title I, § 131(a), Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 620; amended Pub. L. 110–140, title III, § 311(b), Dec. 19, 2007, 121 Stat. 1564.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2007—Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 110–140 substituted “July 1, 2009” for “January 1, 2010”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2007 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 110–140 effective on the date that is 1 day after Dec. 19, 2007, see section 1601 of Pub. L. 110–140, set out as an Effective Date note under section 1824 of Title 2, The Congress.