You may already be familiar with the ENERGY STAR initiative, a partnership between the Canadian government and industry that promotes energy efficiency, but did you know there are three different areas in which home and business owners can participate? ENERGY STAR products have been tested and certified to meet a specific level of energy performance and are labeled with the ENERGY STAR symbol. A few examples of ENERGY STAR products are refrigerators, washers and dryers, televisions and lightbulbs. Since 2005, new homes can also be ENERGY STAR certified and are on average 20 percent more efficient than a home built to code and are constructed by trained builders who are licensed by the Government of Canada. New commercial, industrial and institutional buildings are also a part of the ENERGY STAR program, with the government encouraging building owners to focus on energy efficiency during the design and construction phase, as well as manage their energy usage on an ongoing basis. For more information on the ENERGY STAR program visit www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy/efficiency.