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Frequently Asked Questions

 

What does Eco-rate provide?


Eco-rate provides you with detailed and unique information on the products we use everyday, including:

► Economic-feasibility ratings and specifications (e.g. how much the product will cost you in utility expenses throughout its lifetime).

► Environmental impact ratings and specifications (e.g. how much energy and/or water the product uses throughout its lifetime).

► Manufacturing information, including who makes the product, where it is made and how the manufacturer is committed to environmental stewardship.

► Price comparison shopping via PriceGrabber.

► A Rebate Directory that gives you local, regional and federal rebate information and a list of qualifying products.

► Detailed Buying Guides so you know what to look for before making a purchase.

► LEED, ENERGY STAR, EPEAT and WaterSense product compliance information.

► Product reviews submitted by people with first-hand user experience.

► Recycling locations by Zip Code (for your retired products).

► An Eco-Dictionary to help you understand eco-terminology.

We also provide a Compare Technologies evaluation tool where we rate a variety of heating, cooling, insulating, lighting and water heating technologies to allow you to see what is the most sustainable and cost-effective technology on the market today.

Additionally, Eco-rate features a eco-news outlet and interactive forum to help you stay informed and engaged in the marketplace.


Products


How do I find products?

  1. Click on the product category titles listed on the left hand side of the Home Page.
     
  2. Mouse over the house image on the Home Page and click on a room to see product category titles. Click on a title to view products.
     
  3. Type in the search window or use the drop down menu within the search window.


What type of products will I find on Eco-rate?

Eco-rate features products that meet the following criteria:

  1. Are commonly found in U.S. homes and have significant impacts on the environment and on household budgets.
     
  2. Can be found and purchased online.
     
  3. Have adequate data that supports Eco-rating formulations and is obtainable via online research and/or communications with manufacturers and product representatives.

The following categories feature products and Eco-ratings:


What kind of information will I find on each product?

After clicking on a product category title, e.g. "Dishwashers", you will be brought to the Product Results page. From here, you can click on a product title, "Bosch SHE4AM02UC" for example, or on the image of the product, to be brought to the Product Detail page. This page features a variety of tabs that when clicked on, reveal information about the product, including:

► Specifications: typically includes model number, water and/or energy use, cost of ownership, how much better the product is than federal standard, ENERGY STAR qualification and more.

► Manufacturer: includes who the product is made by, where it is made and if its manufacturer is committed to environmental stewardship (and if so, how).

► Reviews: includes words of wisdom from people who have experience with the product.

► Rebates: enter your Zip Code to see if a rebate is available in your area for the product.

► Eco-ratings: learn how the product is rated by Eco-rate.

► Price: includes prices and vendors that when clicked on, will direct you to a website where you can purchase the product.

► Buying guide: includes useful information that will help you make informed decisions (visit our Buying Guide Directory to find guides for other categories).

► LEED compliance: some products include a LEED compliance tab that will give you information on whether the product is compliant with the USGBC's LEED for Homes Rating System. Click here to learn more about LEED.

► Recycle: use the Earth 911 widget to discover where you can responsibly dispose of your old product to make way for your new one.

Click here to see an example of the tabs described above.


How do I know what to look for in a product?

Eco-rate has created Buying Guides for each of its featured product categories. Our Buying Guides are designed to help you make well-informed, strategic purchasing decisions. The Buying Guides are updated frequently based on our continued research and your feedback. Click here to view the Buying Guide Directory.

You can also visit our Forum to search for product information and reviews submitted by other Eco-rate visitors.


How do I buy a product featured on Eco-rate?

From the Product Results page, click on "Compare Prices" to be brought to the "Prices" tab of the product. Here, you will see prices and vendors courtesy of our partnership with Pricegrabber. Click on a price or vendor logo to be taken to a website where you can buy the product.


How do I find product rebates?

There are 2 ways you can find rebates on Eco-rate:

  1. Visit our Rebate Directory.
  2. Click on the "Rebates" tab on a Product Detail page and enter in your Zip Code.


Technologies


How do I use the Compare Technologies pages?

The Compare Technologies section of the site is designed to enable you to evaluate the pros and cons of various heating and cooling, insulation, lighting, water heating, and renewable energy technologies available on the market today. It reveals the most cost-effective and environmentally-friendly option currently available (as revealed by the technology with the highest Average Eco-rating).

You can sort each technology by our five Eco-ratings to help you choose a technology that is most aligned with your household preferences.

We recommend you consult with a local, certified professional before choosing a heating and cooling, water heating, insulation or renewable energy system and use our ratings for educational and comparative purposes only. They were created using estimates that may not adhere to the demands of your property and/or climate.


Ratings


How do I understand the Eco-ratings?

Visit our How We Rate page to learn more about our Eco-ratings. To learn how ratings are formulated for each product category, visit our "How We Rate Featured Products" page. To learn how ratings are formulated for each technology, visit our "How We Rate Featured Technologies" page.


What is the Average Eco-rating?

The Average Eco-rating represents the average of all five Eco-ratings: Environmental Impact, Consumption, Toxicity, Lifecycle Cost and Price. Each rating is weighed equally. The product with the highest Average Eco-rating is Eco-rate's top recommendation; this product is both environmentally responsible and cost-effective to own and operate. 


How does my Zip Code impact the ratings?

In the top right hand corner of the Product Results page, you have the option of entering your Zip Code to calculate the distance a product must travel in order to get from its manufacturing location to your home. The distance travelled affects the Environmental Impact Rating; the longer the distance, the lower the Environmental Impact Rating. If you do not choose not to enter your Zip Code, Eco-rate calculates the distance travelled using the center of the United States as the destination point; this ensures consistent ratings across all products.


Why are some ratings featured for certain product categories but not for others?

Ratings are sometimes not displayed within a product category because the data used to generate the rating is currently not available. This is most often the case with the Toxicity Rating. Toxicity often cannot be calculated either because some products are not innately toxic, are prone to being toxic, are toxic upon disposal, or, because Eco-rate is currently in the process of gathering the data necessary to make toxicity calculations.


Other


How do I find definitions for the "green" terminology used on Eco-rate?


Please visit our Eco-Dictionary to view over 100 green terms defined.

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