Standards Comparison

    ENERGY STAR

    Voluntary
    1992

    U.S. voluntary program for energy efficiency certification

    VS

    ISO 22301

    Voluntary
    2019

    International standard for business continuity management systems.

    Quick Verdict

    ENERGY STAR certifies energy-efficient products and buildings via third-party testing for cost savings and emissions cuts. ISO 22301 builds business continuity systems for disruption resilience. Companies adopt ENERGY STAR for market edge and incentives, ISO 22301 for risk mitigation and trust.

    Energy Efficiency

    ENERGY STAR

    EPA ENERGY STAR Program

    Cost
    €€€
    Complexity
    High
    Implementation Time
    6-12 months

    Key Features

    • Mandatory third-party certification by EPA-recognized bodies
    • Category-specific performance thresholds above federal minima
    • Standardized DOE test procedures for products
    • Ongoing post-market verification testing (5-20% annually)
    • Portfolio Manager for building benchmarking and scores
    Business Continuity

    ISO 22301

    ISO 22301:2019 Business Continuity Management Systems

    Cost
    €€€
    Complexity
    Medium
    Implementation Time
    0-6 months

    Key Features

    • PDCA cycle for continual BCMS improvement
    • Business Impact Analysis (BIA) and risk assessment
    • Leadership commitment and policy requirements
    • Operational testing and exercise mandates
    • Annex SL integration with ISO 27001

    Detailed Analysis

    A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.

    ENERGY STAR Details

    What It Is

    ENERGY STAR is a U.S. EPA-administered voluntary labeling and benchmarking program for energy-efficient products, homes, buildings, and industrial plants. It establishes category-specific performance specifications to signal superior efficiency, using standardized test methods and independent verification.

    Key Components

    • Performance thresholds (e.g., 15% above federal minima for appliances)
    • DOE-referenced test procedures
    • Third-party certification via EPA-recognized labs/CBs
    • Post-market verification (5-20% models annually)
    • Portfolio Manager for 1-100 building scores (75+ for certification)
    • Strict brand governance and mark usage rules

    Why Organizations Use It

    Drives cost savings ($500B since 1992), emissions reductions (4B tons GHG avoided), incentives, and market differentiation. Builds trust via credible labeling; supports ESG, rebates, procurement. Voluntary yet de facto standard in many markets.

    Implementation Overview

    Phased: assess gaps, test/certify products or benchmark buildings, deploy with labeling compliance, maintain via verification. Applies to manufacturers, builders, owners across sectors; requires lab testing, annual data submission, third-party audits for certification.

    ISO 22301 Details

    What It Is

    ISO 22301:2019 is the international standard titled Security and resilience — Business continuity management systems — Requirements. It specifies requirements for a Business Continuity Management System (BCMS) to protect against disruptions, using a flexible, risk-based PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) cycle.

    Key Components

    • 10 clauses: Clauses 4-10 form PDCA core (context, leadership, planning, support, operation, evaluation, improvement)
    • Key processes: Business Impact Analysis (BIA), risk assessment, recovery strategies, testing
    • Built on Annex SL for integration with ISO standards like 27001
    • Certification: 3-year validity, annual surveillance audits

    Why Organizations Use It

    • Builds resilience, reduces downtime/financial losses (e.g., 20% annual disruptions)
    • Meets regulations (NIS Directive, NIST)
    • Enhances risk management, stakeholder trust, reputation
    • Provides competitive edges, lower insurance premiums

    Implementation Overview

    • Phased: gap analysis, BIA, documentation, training, testing, audits
    • Suits all sizes/sectors globally
    • Timelines: 60 days possible with tools; 6-8 weeks certification (178 words)

    Key Differences

    Scope

    ENERGY STAR
    Energy efficiency in products, buildings, plants
    ISO 22301
    Business continuity management against disruptions

    Industry

    ENERGY STAR
    All sectors, U.S./Canada focus, all sizes
    ISO 22301
    All industries worldwide, all organization sizes

    Nature

    ENERGY STAR
    Voluntary certification program
    ISO 22301
    Voluntary international management system standard

    Testing

    ENERGY STAR
    Third-party lab tests, post-market verification 5-20%
    ISO 22301
    Internal audits, exercises, 3-year certification audits

    Penalties

    ENERGY STAR
    Delisting, label removal, no legal fines
    ISO 22301
    Loss of certification, no direct legal penalties

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Common questions about ENERGY STAR and ISO 22301

    ENERGY STAR FAQ

    ISO 22301 FAQ

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