Emerging Technology Award for Industry Stakeholders

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Launched in 2011, the ENERGY STAR^® Emerging Technology Award raises the profile of innovative technologies that have the potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions once more widely adopted. The annual Award recognizes promising technologies that may not yet meet key principles associated with categories eligible for the ENERGY STAR label (e.g., broadly available, cost effective) or may be relatively more complex to properly install and operate. As products become more mainstream, Award categories may become candidates for ENERGY STAR specification development.

Benefits of the ENERGY STAR Emerging Technology Award:

• Recognition. Award winners will be featured on website and will have the opportunity to promote their accomplishments in product literature and marketing materials in accordance with EPA guidelines.
• Match-making. With over 17,000 partners in dozens of sectors, ENERGY STAR and EPA are uniquely placed to help match award winners with partners interested in emerging efficient technologies.
• Barrier removal. All emerging technologies face barriers to wider market acceptance. In some cases, EPA may be able to help companies develop strategies to overcome these barriers.

How Award Categories are Selected:

Award categories are selected through a transparent stakeholder process that evaluates technologies based on the following criteria. The technology must be:

• Commercially available, but not widely adopted (<5% market share)
• Offered by more than one supplier
• Third party-verified to demonstrate environmental performance
• Likely to significantly reduce greenhouse gases at competitive costs
• Environmentally acceptable (technology use is a net plus for the environment)
• Supported by capable partners who are adequately financed with established business records
• Well matched to EPA/ENERGY STAR competencies and appropriate roles

As a first step, EPA seeks nominations from manufacturers and stakeholders for product categories. Next, EPA develops performance requirements for those products, and seeks applications from manufacturers. Manufacturers can be ENERGY STAR partners, but it is not a requirement. EPA is equally interested in working with companies that are entering to market with new products. Finally, after announcing the award winners, EPA works with manufacturing partners to help break down market barriers to wider adoption of the technology.

2025 Emerging Technology Award Final Criteria

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is pleased to recognize Smart Circuits and Hybrid Rooftop HVAC systems for the ENERGY STAR Emerging Technology Award for 2025.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is also pleased to extend recognition of Modular Packaged Commercial Refrigeration Systems and Commercial HVAC Electric Motors for the ENERGY STAR Emerging Technology Award to 2025.