AMCA International is approved as ENERGY STAR® partner.
Press Release Summary:
AMCA partnered with ENERGY STAR, resulting in revision of program requirements for residential ventilating fans. New requirements do not grant exclusive rights to any organization to certify, verify, or challenge test ENERGY STAR qualified products or products applying for ENERGY STAR qualification. At same time, EPA has maintained requirement on part of partner to have ENERGY STAR qualified products' ratings certified by organization that regularly carries out verification and challenge testing.
Original Press Release:
AMCA International is Approved as ENERGY STAR ® Partner, for Residential Ventilating Fans
Arlington Heights, IL, USA - The Air Movement and Control Association International, Inc. (AMCA) a not-for-profit trade association, dedicated to the certification of manufacturer's performance ratings. Their certified products include fans, louvers, dampers, air curtains, airflow measurement stations, acoustic attenuators and other air system components for industrial, commercial and residential markets.
AMCA's Certified Rating Program (CRP) was created to provide a fair and credible method of comparing the ventilation performance of similar products. Not only are products certified, but a random verification program ensures that those products still meet their original performance. All testing for certification and verification is performed by laboratories independent of any manufacturer. All of the standards utilized for testing are recognized as American National Standards.
ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) that was developed to help consumers save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices.
AMCA International partnered with ENERGY STAR resulting in a revision of the program requirements for Residential Ventilating Fans. This effort resulted in revised testing requirements and partners (companies who participate in the ENERGY STAR Program), allowing increased flexibility where manufacturer's can test their products for ENERGY STAR qualification, which now includes AMCA's state-of-the-art testing laboratory at the AMCA headquarters. AMCA Certified Ratings Program participants are eligible to qualify for the ENERGY STAR program.
The new requirements in the program do not grant exclusive rights to any organization to certify, verify or challenge test ENERGY STAR qualified products or products applying for ENERGY STAR qualification. At the same time, the EPA has maintained the requirement on the part of the partner to have its ENERGY STAR qualified products' ratings certified by an organization that regularly carries out verification and challenge testing in order to allow the EPA to verify that products meet the ENERGY STAR requirements. The revised program went into effect on January 15, 2009. This program will provide the consumer with the most reliable measure available for performance of ENERGY STAR qualified products.
The most essential factors in demonstrating a certification organization's ability to meet the expectations of the ENERGY STAR ventilating fan program include:
o Laboratory Verification Testing
o Defining Challenge Testing Requirements
o Product Rating Limits
o Availability of the Certification Organization's Procedures
o Organization Must Share the Results with the EPA
o Testing Must be Performed in an Independent, Third Party Laboratory
o ENERGY STAR requires the testing facility to be ISO 17025 accredited
This program is designed to include range hoods (up to 500 cfm), bathroom & utility room fans (from 10 to 500 cfm) and in-line single-port and multi-port ventilating fans. Products that are excluded from this specification include residential ventilating fans used for cooling or air circulation (such as whole house fans), heat/energy recovery ventilation fans ducted to the ventilated space, powered attic ventilators, residential ventilating fans with heat lamps and passive ventilation of any kind.
Why is all of this important? Because energy efficient choices can save families about a third on their energy bill with similar savings of greenhouse gas emissions, without sacrificing features, style or comfort. They meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the EPA and US Department of Energy. Every home needs ventilation to protect people from unhealthy indoor pollutants such as fumes, smoke, dust particles, combustion products and to protect the building from excess moisture and heat. ENERGY STAR certified products can help you make the energy efficient choice. When looking for new household products, look for ones that have earned the ENERGY STAR seal.
The Air Movement and Control Association International, Inc. is a not for profit international association of the world's manufacturers of related air system equipment - primarily, but not limited to fans, louvers, dampers, air curtains, airflow measurement stations, acoustic attenuators, and other air system components for the industrial, commercial, and residential markets.
The association's mission is to promote the health and growth of the industries covered by its scope and the members of the association consistent with the interests of the public. AMCA International, with origins dating back to 1917, has members in most industrialized countries throughout the world.
For more information, please contact:
Marian Vambreck, Director of Membership, Marketing & Communications
Air Movement and Control Association International, Inc.
(W) www.amca.org (E)mvambreck@amca.org
