具有美國政府「能源之星」節能標章的冰箱，未來節能功效必須更好。美國能源部3日宣佈，為了符合標章認證資格，大型冰箱節能功效，須比現行標準15%的下限，提高至20%。
綜合企業主以及公眾的意見所制訂出的新標準，將在2008年8月28日正式生效，冷藏箱和小型冰箱則不受新標準限制。
能源部預估，新標準若開始實施，美國家庭每年將可省下2350萬的電費annually，以及2300億千瓦－小時的能源，足夠供應華盛頓特區每一戶家庭5個月以上的照明電力。
目前具有能源之星認證的冰箱，較1980年的冰箱規格節省65%的能源。
能源之星是美國能源部和環保署從1992年開始共同合作的一項計劃，以自發性、市場基礎夥伴關係為模式，藉由透過增加能源效益來減少空氣的污染。
Refrigerators carrying the federal government's Energy Star® energy efficiency label are going to have to be more efficient in the future.
The U.S. Department of Energy, DOE, announced Friday that in order to qualify for the label now, full-size refrigerators must be a minimum of 20 percent more efficient than current standards, an increase from the existing 15 percent minimum.
The new criteria, drafted with input from stakeholders and two rounds of public comments, will go into effect on April 28, 2008. Freezers and compact refrigerators are not included in these new criteria.
As a result, the DOE estimates families will save up to $23.5 million annually on their electric bills, and over 230 million kilowatt hours of energy - enough to light every household in Washington, DC, for more than five months.
Current Energy Star qualified refrigerators use 65 percent less energy than refrigerator models in 1980.
Energy Star is a joint DOE-EPA program, formed in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership that seeks to reduce air pollution through increased energy efficiency.
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In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.
