The future of funding ENERGY STAR
Sabine Rogers, federal policy manager at the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) gives her perspective on the federal future of ENERGY STAR. ENERGY STAR, was founded in 1992 and is currently run and funded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The third party certification is available for products and commercial, residential and industrial buildings.
While most of the federal government and its agencies are facing shifts in budgeting and substantial cuts, there is strong bipartisan support for funding ENERGY STAR. The house and senate are in the appropriations process before finalizing and voting on spending bills. However, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the program should be privatized and with funding still not set in stone, the future is still in the air.
“That could leave the ENERGY STAR program vulnerable to being defunded or privatized.” said Sabine Rogers. “For now, the program remains operational, although its future status is uncertain.”
