Standards Comparison

    ENERGY STAR

    Voluntary
    1992

    U.S. voluntary program for energy efficiency certification

    VS

    MAS TRM

    Mandatory
    2021

    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 Efficiency

    ENERGY STAR

    U.S. EPA ENERGY STAR Program

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

    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
    Technology Risk Management

    MAS TRM

    MAS Technology Risk Management Guidelines (2021)

    Cost
    €€€€
    Complexity
    High
    Implementation Time
    12-18 months

    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

    Scope

    ENERGY STAR
    Energy efficiency in products, buildings, plants
    MAS TRM
    Technology/cyber risks in financial IT systems

    Industry

    ENERGY STAR
    All sectors, consumer/commercial, US-focused
    MAS TRM
    Financial institutions, Singapore-regulated

    Nature

    ENERGY STAR
    Voluntary certification/labeling program
    MAS TRM
    Supervisory guidelines with enforcement

    Testing

    ENERGY STAR
    Third-party lab tests, verification sampling
    MAS TRM
    Penetration testing, vulnerability scans, DR tests

    Penalties

    ENERGY STAR
    Delisting, label revocation
    MAS TRM
    Fines, license revocation, executive bans

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Common questions about ENERGY STAR and MAS TRM

    ENERGY STAR FAQ

    MAS TRM FAQ

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