The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy have announced an agreement designed to enhance the ENERGY STAR Program. The enhancements to the program were described during a webinar on March 26. The Roof products program would be changed by these enhancements through new Qualification Testing and Verification Testing procedures. Accredited laboratories would be required for all testing of solar reflectance values. In-house laboratories may be allowed but EPA is still considering this aspect of the program. Existing products would have to be tested in the Verification Testing phase at least once every three years. A Challenge Testing program is being discussed that would allow for a company to challenge the qualified products of another company. Third party administrators would be required for all submissions of test data to EPA.
A specific webinar on the Roof Products Energy Star program and the enhancements being proposed will take place on April 6 at 11:00 am Eastern.