A joint program between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy, the program is designed to identify and promote energy-efficient products to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Started in 1992 as a voluntary program, Energy Star first labeled computers and monitors before expanding to other industries, including appliances. Many appliance manaufacturers says that the Energy Star label helps them promote and market their units by showing consumers the appliance actually meets all the requirements for energy-efficiency.