Overview

• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced plans to eliminate the Energy Star program, a voluntary initiative certifying energy-efficient appliances and buildings since 1992.
• Energy Star has reportedly saved American households and businesses over $500 billion in energy costs and prevented 4 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions.
• The EPA has not specified when Energy Star certifications will cease, leaving consumers uncertain about future access to energy efficiency labels and related tax credits.
• Critics, including consumer groups and industry leaders, warn that ending the program will increase household energy bills and create confusion over energy-efficient product standards.
• The move aligns with broader deregulatory efforts by the Trump administration, which has rolled back numerous climate policies and efficiency mandates in recent months.