Specific Guidelines: Partnership and Promotional Marks

ENERGY STAR Learn More Mark on a shirt

Contents

ENERGY STAR Partnership Mark

  • ENERGY STAR Partner Mark

    What It Is. The Partnership Mark helps ENERGY STAR partners communicate their commitment to the ENERGY STAR program and energy efficiency.

  • Who Can Use It. Organizations that have signed Partnership Agreements or Partnership Letters and are currently active partners with the EPA’s ENERGY STAR program.
  • Correct Use. Examples of common uses of the Partnership Mark are listed below: 
    • Annual reports and other collateral about your organization.
    • Stationery, such as business cards or letterhead.
    • Web pages that provide organization-wide information, such as an “About Us” page. 
  • Prohibited Use. In addition to the General Guidelines and Prohibitions, please observe the following prohibitions when using this mark:
    •  Do not use on or near any product, product packaging, home, building, or plant, whether certified or non-certified.
    • Do not use to denote or imply EPA or ENERGY STAR endorsement of an organization or its products, homes, buildings, plant, or services. 
    • Do not use to signify or suggest ENERGY STAR certification (Use the Certification Mark, instead.).
    • Do not use on cars, vans, or other vehicles.

Promotional Mark

  • Promotional Mark

    What It Is. The Promotional Mark is used in educational and promotional materials that are intended to raise awareness of the ENERGY STAR program. It may be used in any materials that promote the benefits of improved energy efficiency with ENERGY STAR. A Spanish-language version and a French-language version are also available.

  • Who Can Use It. This mark is available to organizations that have signed Partnership Agreements or Partnership Letters and are currently active partners with the EPA’s ENERGY STAR program. This mark is also available upon request for members of the media or other organizations interested in communicating about ENERGY STAR.
  • Correct Use. 
    • Advertisements, point-of-purchase materials, and other promotional materials that do not identify a particular product, home, building, or plant as ENERGY STAR certified.
    • Pins, hats, and other promotional items.
    • Web pages that provide organization-wide information, such as an “About Us” page.
    • Company-owned cars, vans, or other vehicles. 
  • Prohibited Use. In addition to the General Guidelines and Prohibitions, please observe the following prohibitions when using this mark:
    • Do not use on a product or product packaging. 
    • Do not use in association with any product, home, building, or plant to signify or suggest certification with ENERGY STAR.
    • Do not use near non-certified products, homes, buildings, or plants in promotional materials. 
    • Do not use in materials without including the partner’s name and/or logo.

Linkage Phrase Marks

  • Linkage marks

    What They Are. The Linkage Phrase Marks show that an organization offers ENERGY STAR certified products or builds ENERGY STAR certified new homes or apartments. The marks are used on promotional materials designed to provide consumers with general information about ENERGY STAR certified products, homes, and apartments.

  • Who Can Use Them. 
    • Partners: The following versions of the Linkage Phrase Mark are available to organizations that have signed Partnership Agreements or Partnership Letters and are currently active partners with the EPA’s ENERGY STAR program:
      • We Sell ENERGY STAR
      • Ask About ENERGY STAR Certified Homes
      • Ask About ENERGY STAR Certified Apartments
      • Ask About ENERGY STAR Verified HVAC Installation
      • Ask About Home Performance with ENERGY STAR
    • Other organizations: One version of this mark is available upon request for members of the media or other organizations interested in communicating about ENERGY STAR: 
      • Ask About ENERGY STAR
  • Correct Use. 
    • Advertisements, point-of-purchase materials, and other promotional materials that do not identify a particular product as ENERGY STAR certified.
    • Stationery, such as letterhead, correspondence, and business cards. 
    • Web pages that do not identify a particular product as ENERGY STAR certified.
    • Company-owned cars, vans, or other vehicles.
  • Prohibited Use. In addition to the General Guidelines and Prohibitions, please observe the following prohibitions when using this mark:
    • If multiple product models or homes are featured in an advertisement and some do not meet the ENERGY STAR requirements, the We Sell ENERGY STAR or Ask About ENERGY STAR Marks may be used to indicate that ENERGY STAR products or homes are available without identifying specific models.
    • Do not use on a product, product packaging, home, building, or plant.
    • Do not use in promotional materials alongside non-certified products, homes, buildings, or plants. 
    • Do not use on materials without also including the partner’s name and/or logo.

ENERGY STAR Verified HVAC Installation Linkage Phrase Mark

  • Ask About Verified HVAC Installation mark

    What It Is. The ENERGY STAR Verified HVAC Installation Linkage Phrase Mark is used in promotional materials to educate consumers about the EPA’s ENERGY STAR Verified HVAC Installation Program and promote an organization’s support of the program.

  • Who Can Use It. HVAC contractors participating in the EPA’s ENERGY STAR Verified HVAC Installation Program (ESVI) for existing homes. Program sponsors that have signed an ESVI Partnership Agreement may also use the mark.
    • NOTE: Program sponsors are responsible for ensuring that program participants’ use of the mark is consistent with the terms of these guidelines.
  • Correct Use. 
    • Advertisements, point-of-purchase materials, and other promotional materials.
    • Web pages that promote ENERGY STAR Verified HVAC Installations.
    • Company vehicles and uniforms.
    • Signs and placards associated with installations designed to meet the ESVI program requirements. 
  • Prohibited Use. In addition to the General Guidelines and Prohibitions, please observe the following prohibitions when using this mark:
    • Do not use in association with services that do not meet ESVI program requirements.
    • Do not use on a product or product packaging.
    • Do not use to promote participation in the ENERGY STAR Certified Homes Program. 
    • Do not use on load calculations or company-specific commissioning forms.

Seal and Insulate Graphic

  • Seal and Insulate with ENERGY STAR

    What It Is. The Seal and Insulate Graphic is used to educate consumers about products and practices that, when used together, improve the energy performance of a home’s envelope. It is also used to show that an organization carries products or offers services that clearly contribute to the improvement of the home envelope (as recommended by the EPA’s ENERGY STAR program). 

  • Who Can Use It 
    • Insulation manufacturers that have signed a Partnership Agreement or Partnership Letter and are currently active partners with the EPA’s ENERGY STAR program.
    • Retailers. 
  • Correct Use
    • The graphic should be placed in a general location that is not product specific.
    • Insulation manufacturers can use the graphic in advertisements or other promotional materials, like websites and brochures.
    • Retailers can use the graphic to promote qualified insulation products in advertising and in-store displays.
  • Prohibited Use. In addition to the General Guidelines and Prohibitions, please observe the following prohibitions when using this mark:
    • Do not use on products, labels, or packaging (use the Insulation Product Graphic, instead).
    • Do not associate with a specific product.
    • Do not use in materials without including the partner’s name and/or logo.
    • Do not use on cars, vans, or other vehicles.

Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Marks

  • Home Performance with ENERGY STAR

    What It Is. The Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Mark is used in promotional materials to educate consumers about the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program or to show that an organization participates in a locally sponsored program. 

  • Who Can Use It. Active Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program sponsors and participants. 
    • NOTE: Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program sponsors are responsible for ensuring that program participants’ use of the mark is consistent with the terms of these guidelines. 
  • Correct Use. 
    • It is recommended, but not required, that the following language appear next to the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Mark, where applicable, for educational purposes: “Working to deliver whole-house energy savings to improve comfort and help protect the environment.” 
    • Uses of the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Mark include:
      • Advertising and promotional or educational materials that do not identify a specific product, home, building, or plant and that feature services that are directly related to participation in a Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program.
      • Pins, hats, and other promotional items.
      • Web pages that promote the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program.
  • Prohibited Use. In addition to the General Guidelines and Prohibitions, please observe the following prohibitions when using this mark:
    • Do not display alongside other ENERGY STAR marks (e.g., if an organization participates in Home Performance with ENERGY STAR also sells ENERGY STAR certified windows, the organization should display either the “We Sell ENERGY STAR” Mark or the “Home Performance with ENERGY STAR” Mark, but not both). 
    • Do not use in association with any product, home, building, or plant to signify certification with ENERGY STAR. 
    • Do not use to imply that any product, service, or organization has met ENERGY STAR performance criteria. 
    • Do not use on a product or product packaging.
    • Do not use on promotional materials featuring services that are not directly related to participation in a program using Home Performance with ENERGY STAR.

100% Commitment Marks

  • 100% Commitment Mark

    What They Are. The 100% Commitment Marks identify builders and developers that commit to building 100% of their homes and apartments to be ENERGY STAR certified. 

  • Who Can Use Them:
    • Home builders and developers that have signed Partnership Agreements or Partnership Letters, are currently active partners with the EPA’s ENERGY STAR program, and have made the 100% commitment by updating their partner information in their My ENERGY STAR Account (MESA).
  • Correct Use.  
    • Advertisements, point-of-purchase materials, and other promotional materials that do not identify a particular home or product as ENERGY STAR certified. 
    • Stationery, such as letterhead, correspondence, and business cards.       
    • Web pages that do not identify a particular home or product as ENERGY STAR certified. 
  • Prohibited Use. In addition to the General Guidelines and Prohibitions, please observe the following prohibitions when using this mark: 
    • Do not use on a home or apartment. 
    • Do not use in promotional materials alongside non-certified homes or apartments.
    • Do not use in conjunction with commercial buildings or industrial plants.
    • Do not use on materials without also including the partner’s name and/or logo.
  • Portfolio Manager logo

    What It Is. The ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager logo is used to promote the use of the EPA’s ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool and the benefits of measuring and tracking energy performance.

  • Who Can Use It. Any organization can use this logo. 
  • Correct Use. 
    • The Portfolio Manager Logo may be used in educational and promotional materials that are intended to raise awareness of the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool. 
    • The name “ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager” and the Portfolio Manager logo are registered trademarks owned by the U.S. the EPA. Please refer to the following requirements when talking or writing about ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager:
      • The ENERGY STAR name should always precede the Portfolio Manager name the first time the words appear.
      • The registration symbol ® must be used after both ENERGY STAR and Portfolio Manager the first time that either one of them appears in a heading/title and then in the text (i.e., ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager®).
      • The ® symbol should always be in superscript.
      • There should be no space between “Portfolio Manager” and the ® symbol.
      • The ® symbol should be repeated in a document for each chapter title or Web page.
      • ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager should never be portrayed as an acronym (e.g., PM or ESPM).
  • Prohibited Use. In addition to the General Guidelines and Prohibitions, please observe the following prohibitions when using this mark:
    • Do not use in association with any product, home, building, or plant to signify or suggest certification with ENERGY STAR.
    • Do not use near non-certified products, homes, buildings, or plants in promotional materials.

Works with Portfolio Manager Badge

  • Works with Portfolio Manager badge

    What It Is. The “Works with Portfolio Manager” badge affirms that a Web Services platform exchanges data with the EPA’s ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool. This badge is designed to increase customer confidence that third-party platforms are compatible with Portfolio Manager—and that they will be able to access Portfolio Manager metrics, such as the 1–100 ENERGY STAR score.

  • Who Can Use It. Approved users of the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager web services application programming interface (API) who are currently offering such services to customers.
  • Correct Use.
    • The badge may be used within an approved software tool and in related technical and marketing materials.
  • Prohibited Use. In addition to the General Guidelines and Prohibitions, please observe the following prohibitions when using this mark:
    • Do not use in association with any product, home, building, or plant to signify or suggest certification with ENERGY STAR. 
    • Do not use near non-certified products, homes, buildings, or plants in promotional materials.