For Immediate Release: July 8, 2005
Contact: press@decisionanalyst.com
Energy Star Label Gaining Importance With Consumers, American Consumer Opinion® Study Shows
ARLINGTON, Texas – Forty-seven percent of consumers who recently purchased a central heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system considered only brands that carry the government Energy Star label, according to a major study by American Consumer Opinion®. Overall, 58-eight percent of survey respondents said the Energy Star label has some influence over their choice of appliances and equipment.
In its recently completed American Home Comfort Study, American Consumer Opinion® asked respondents about their familiarity with the Energy Star program, created by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1992. The program is a voluntary labeling program designed to identify and promote energy-efficient products to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Awareness of Energy Star is highest among those purchasing HVAC systems for new homes and buildings, the study shows. Ninety-percent of those respondents said they were familiar with Energy Star. The study shows that 85 percent of add-on buyers, and 80 percent of replacement buyers, are familiar with the program.
Asked about their knowledge and attitudes toward the program, 47 percent of respondents said they purchase only appliances or equipment that have the Energy Star label, while 58 percent said the label has some influence over their choice of brands. Another 26 percent of respondents said they do not pay much attention to the Energy Star label, and 12 percent said they believe the label is a marketing gimmick. Because of some overlap in responses, percentages total more than 100.
Methodology
Conducted in July and August of 2004, American Home Comfort Study is one of the largest studies of the HVAC industry ever undertaken. The portion of the study related to Energy Star is based on a nationally representative sample of 2,071 consumers who have replaced their HVAC equipment in the past 24 months. Respondents were recruited from Decision Analyst’s online American Consumer Opinion® panel. The margin of error -- at a 95 percent confidence level -- is plus or minus 3 percent. American Consumer Opinion® is owned and operated by Decision Analyst, Inc.
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