EPA to continue Energy Star program
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which oversees Energy Star appears to reconsider efforts to end the program. The Energy Star program is the leading certification in energy efficient appliances. Since its establishment in 1992, it has saved Americans an estimated $500 billion in energy costs. The program continues to have overwhelming bipartisan support for its continued trust of American builders and consumers.
Despite the administration alluding to eliminating, privatizing or reducing the dozens of regulation of the certification back in August.
According to reporting from The New York Times, shortly after EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said he would eliminate Energy Star, the EPA renewed four contracts with ICF. They are a consulting firm that helps administer the program. According to federal records the program has no plan to shut down soon. One contract was renewed through September of 2030.
Brigit Hirsch, a spokesperson for the EPA, said in email that “no final decision has been made at this time” on whether to keep Energy Star. “It is unclear what the economic activity generated by the Energy Star program is versus what the economic activity would be without this program,” Hirsch said, adding that “the Trump EPA is committed to being good stewards of taxpayer dollars.”
