ENERGY STAR
U.S. voluntary program for energy efficiency certification
MAS TRM
Singapore guidelines for financial technology risk management
Quick Verdict
ENERGY STAR certifies energy-efficient products and buildings voluntarily for cost/emission savings, while MAS TRM mandates technology risk controls for Singapore FIs to ensure cyber resilience and avoid fines.
ENERGY STAR
U.S. EPA ENERGY STAR Program
Key Features
- Mandatory third-party certification and verification testing
- Category-specific performance thresholds above federal minimums
- Standardized DOE test procedures for consistent metrics
- Strict brand governance and mark usage controls
- Portfolio Manager for building energy benchmarking scores
MAS TRM
MAS Technology Risk Management Guidelines (2021)
Key Features
- Board and senior management accountability for TRM
- Proportional, risk-based control implementation
- Third-party risk assessment and ongoing monitoring
- Annual penetration testing for internet-facing systems
- Integrated ERM with CSRR and metrics
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 certification program established in 1992. It promotes superior energy efficiency across products, homes, commercial buildings, and industrial plants through category-specific performance specifications, standardized testing, and independent verification.
Key Components
- Performance thresholds exceeding federal minimums (e.g., 15% better for refrigerators)
- DOE-referenced test procedures (e.g., EER, IEER, AFUE)
- Third-party certification via EPA-recognized labs and bodies
- Post-market verification testing (5-20% of models annually)
- Portfolio Manager for building scores (75+ for certification)
- Brand governance with strict mark usage rules
Why Organizations Use It
- Achieves massive savings (5 trillion kWh since inception)
- Unlocks rebates, procurement advantages, and ESG credibility
- Builds consumer trust (90% household recognition)
- Mitigates risks from specification updates and enforcement
- Enhances market differentiation and operational efficiency
Implementation Overview
Involves partnership enrollment, lab testing, certification submission via QPX, ongoing verification, and benchmarking. Applies to manufacturers, builders, and facility managers across U.S./Canada; requires continuous compliance, annual data reporting, and third-party audits for buildings.
MAS TRM Details
What It Is
MAS Technology Risk Management (TRM) Guidelines (January 2021) are supervisory guidelines from Singapore's Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) for financial institutions. This risk-based framework governs technology and cyber risks across governance, operations, cybersecurity, and resilience, emphasizing proportional implementation based on risk profile and complexity.
Key Components
- Covers 15 sections: governance, asset management, SDLC, IT service management, resilience, access controls, cryptography, cyber operations, testing, and audit.
- Core principles: board accountability, defence-in-depth, security-by-design, continuous monitoring.
- No fixed controls count; focuses on outcomes for confidentiality, integrity, availability (CIA).
- Compliance via supervisory review, no formal certification.
Why Organizations Use It
- Mandatory for MAS-regulated FIs to avoid fines, license actions.
- Enhances operational resilience, reduces cyber threats.
- Builds stakeholder trust, enables digital innovation safely.
- Aligns with NIST CSF, ISO 27001 for global best practices.
Implementation Overview
- Phased: governance setup, asset inventory, risk assessment, controls, testing.
- Applies to banks, insurers, fintechs in Singapore.
- Involves board approval, independent assurance; audits by internal/external functions.
Key Differences
| Aspect | ENERGY STAR | MAS TRM |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Energy efficiency in products, buildings, plants | Technology/cyber risks in financial IT systems |
| Industry | All sectors, consumer/commercial, US-focused | Financial institutions, Singapore-regulated |
| Nature | Voluntary certification/labeling program | Supervisory guidelines with enforcement |
| Testing | Third-party lab tests, verification sampling | Penetration testing, vulnerability scans, DR tests |
| Penalties | Delisting, label revocation | Fines, license revocation, executive bans |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about ENERGY STAR and MAS TRM
ENERGY STAR FAQ
MAS TRM FAQ
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