Most Energy Efficient Building Products of 2013 from ENERGY STAR

ENERGY STAR, a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy, has released its list of "Most Efficient Products 2013". While all ENERGY STAR qualified products meet the program's minimum requirements for energy efficiency, quality and warranty, these products emerged ahead of the pack and were deemed most efficient.

The winning brands were named in each category: clothes washers, refrigerators, televisions, heating and cooling, ceiling fans, ventilating fans, computer monitors, and windows. Here, we'll highlight some of the winning energy efficient building products. (See the full list here).

Gas Boilers

This list, which included only residential gas or oil boilers, included 3 models from Lochnivar, and one each from Carrier, Dunkirk, Kenmore, Lennox, Olsen, PB Heat, Utica, and Weil-McLain. These models had an AFUE of 95 or higher (gas) or 90 or higher (oil).

Furnaces

ENERGY STAR considered fossil fuel-burning residential furnaces with a heat input rate of less than 225,000 Btu per hour. Winning models had an AFUE of 97% or higher, along with a system controller (such as a thermostat) that can communicate with the furnace, a system status alert (when it needs servicing), and automated configuration (for adjusting the airflow, for example). Many furnaces made the cut, including models from Air Ease, Airquest, Arcoaire, Armstrong, Broan, Bryant, Carrier, Coleman, ComfortMaker, Constant Comfort, Fraser-Johnston, Frigidaire, Heil, Keeprite, Kenmore, Lennox, Luxaire, Maytag, Nutone, Tappan, Tempstar, Westinghouse, and York.

Large Clothes Washers

ENERGY STAR only considered standard sized residential clotheswashers for this category. The most efficient had a Modified Energy Factor of at least a 3.2 and a Water Factor of at least a 3.0, making them both energy and water efficient. Samsung was a big winner in this category, with 11 models meeting the criteria. Three models from Kenmore and 2 from LG also made the list.

ENERGY STAR and Tax Credits

For those of you who have not yet filed your taxes, the Taxpayer Relief Act was enacted ealier this year (albeit last minute), which means that certain energy efficient upgrades made in 2012 are eligible for a federal tax credit. Many of these tax credits required ENERGY STAR qualified products. For example, some of these tax credits include:

Windows, Doors and Skylights:

A tax credit of 10 percent of the cost, up to $500 (not including installation) is awarded if you replaced old windows, doors, and skylights or installing new ENERGY STAR qualified ones in 2012.

Metal and Asphalt Roofs: ENERGY STAR qualified "cool roofs" made of metal or asphalt are eligible for a 10% tax credit of up to $500 (not including installation).

Water Heaters: Gas, oil or propane water heaters with an Energy Factor of at least a 0.82 or a thermal efficiency of at least 90 percent qualify for a $300 tax credit.

Insulation: ENERGY STAR qualified insulation can qualify for a 10% tax credit, up to $500.

Furnaces: New natural gas, oil and propane furnaces with an AFUE of 95% or more qualify for a $150 tax credit.

To read more about these and other tax credits installing energy efficiency products, see DSIRE's summary of the Personal Tax Credit.