The Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund in partnership with Connecticut Light & Power (CL&P) and The United Illuminating Company (UI) is making Connecticut the first state in the nation to provide consumers with a new on-line guide to retail locations where they can find appliances and electronics with the greatest efficiency and savings available.
State residents can now access this information via either computer or Smartphone thanks to a partnership recently formed between the Energy Efficiency Fund and TopTen USA, an independent not-for-profit whose sole objective is “to identify and promote the sale of the most energy-efficient consumer products on the market.”
To accomplish this, The Energy Efficiency Fund and TopTen USA have posted a comprehensive list of the 10 most efficient current appliance models in 18 categories at its web site, www.toptenusa.org/ct, complete with product and pricing descriptions and information on how the list was compiled. The site features a store locator that enables consumers to find the nearest retail locations where various products on the list can be purchased.
Featured product categories include small, medium and large-size TVs; large and small computer monitors; laptop and non-expandable desktop computers; refrigerators of all sizes; freezers; dishwashers; clothes washers, hot water heaters and more.
www.toptenusa.org/ct relies on an experienced board of independent advisors and expert technical consultants to choose the best options in each category, using a variety of criteria, including government and independent testing and analysis results and ENERGY STAR data. TopTen products are high efficiency products that consume an average of 47 percent less energy than baseline ENERGY STAR products.
All items selected are name-brand products that are similar in features, design and price to less efficient ones being marketed by the same group of quality manufacturers.
Information provided to consumers by www.toptenusa.org/ct includes the approximate savings they can realize over time by purchasing particular products on the list, the availability of rebates, and quality reviews of TopTen-rated items posted by those who have used them. While energy efficiency is the key factor on which ratings are based, product evaluations may also include other environmental impacts, as well as health and safety considerations.
“Our joining forces with TopTen USA has allowed us to offer consumers an important new tool in keeping their energy costs down, and has added a dynamic new dimension to the Energy Efficiency Fund’s ongoing efforts to educate the public on the latest and best ways to reduce consumption,” declared Richard W. Steeves, First Vice Chairperson of the Energy Efficiency Fund.” It will also better enable consumers to take an active role in reducing green house gas emissions, preservation of our resources and in helping to slow climate change,” he added.
“Congratulations to the Energy Efficiency Fund for making Connecticut the first state in the nation to offer this valuable service to their residents,” stated Norman L. Dean, Executive Director of TopTen USA.
TopTen USA is affiliated with an international consortium of TopTen organizations in 17 European nations, which are already having significant influence on global purchasing decisions. It also has received the endorsement of major environmental organizations that include the World Wildlife Fund, Natural Resources Defense Council and Environment America.