Effective January 1, 2011, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will require that any product seeking federal ENERGY STAR® program participation have their energy performance validated by an accredited third-party certifier prior to product labeling, and undergo post-market verification testing to validate continuing energy performance. With such dynamic changes taking place in the regulatory environment, it is important to understand the latest criteria for the ENERGY STAR certification process. As an official EPA-recognized certification body, Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is committed to helping manufacturers comply with the latest requirements, conserve resources, reduce energy costs and deliver quality products. Part one of this two-part podcast focuses on the ENERGY STAR program’s recent enhancements and where we can expect to see the ENERGY STAR program heading in the future. Part two will shift focus to what manufacturers need to know, what resources currently exist for them and how certification bodies like UL can contribute to best practices.For more information, visit www.ul.com/energystar.