What exactly defines Energy Star Equipment?

What is ENERGY STAR®?
It is a government-backed program helping businesses and individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency. Appliances and products that exceed federal energy efficiency standards are awarded the ENERGY STAR by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). ENERGY STAR helps consumers quickly and easily identify those products that will save energy and save money. ENERGY STAR qualified appliances, for example, often exceed the efficiency levels of other new products on the shelf by 20%, but in some cases by as much as 75%. This high level of energy efficiency reduces the cost of operating the product or appliance throughout the course of its lifetime.
Manufacturers and retailers place the ENERGY STAR on those models that meet the qualifying criteria. The ENERGY STAR can be found on the product itself, on the packaging, or in advertising. So far, I have replaced the windows at home with Energy Star rated windows and washing machine. To my knowledge, they have not yet offered an Energy Star rated dryer to date.

If you cannot find it, ask a salesperson, check at http://www.energystar.gov/ or call the toll-free ENERGY STAR hotline at 1-888-STAR-YES (1-888-782-7937). I have found the salestaff at Lowes to be very helpful when discussing Energy Star equipment and materials.

Also look for the EnergyGuide Major appliances have a big yellow tag called the EnergyGuide. It is provided to help consumers compare the operating cost of similar models when shopping for new appliances. All new refrigerators, freezers, water heaters, dishwashers, clothes washers, room air conditioners, central air conditioners, heat pumps, furnaces and boilers have an EnergyGuide label.
While the EnergyGuide is helpful since it indicates the operating cost and energy consumption of a product, only the ENERGY STAR® tells you which ones are energy efficient.

Good luck shopping for energy saving equipment.