For appliances, does energy efficiency sell?

Our take: Many Energy Star electronics and appliances include latest trends causing people to be energy efficient. Jen Wieczner, from the Wall Street Journal, analyzes this trend:

"A new study suggests that energy-efficient products now dominate sales in some appliance and electronic categoriesand lag in others. Whether or not people buy those products may in some cases have less to do with eco-friendliness and utility bill savings than with the products' secondary perks.

Energy Star is a program run by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy that identifies the most energy-efficient products on the market. Energy Star products account for close to 100 percent of the sales of some appliances like dishwashers and televisions, but they command relatively little of the markets for desktop computers and freezers, making up 17 percent and 21 percent, respectively, according to a new report by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The report measured market penetration of Energy Star products in 2011."

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