Latest News

Trump to terminate Energy Star program for home appliances amid EPA reorganization

Two sources familiar with the reorganization said that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to discontinue Energy Star. This program, which has been certifying the energy efficiency in home appliances since more than 30 years, will be discontinued as part of the reorganization.

As part of Friday's announcement of agency reorganization, the EPA Office of Atmospheric Protection and Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards will be dissolved.

After a Monday staff meeting, OAP announced that it would be closing the Energy Star program. This news was first reported by CNN & Washington Post.

The EPA declined to comment on Energy Star on Tuesday, but stated that "EPA is delivering organization improvements to the staff structure which will directly benefit American citizens."

In March, almost three dozen appliance and trade groups, including the Chamber of Commerce, Bosch, Carrier, and the Air-Conditioning, Heating, & Refrigeration Institute, sent a message to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin urging that he not end Energy Star, as it was a great "non-regulatory collaboration" between the federal government and private sector.

Eliminating it would not be in the best interest of Americans. The letter stated that because the ENERGY STAR program is so well-known to consumers, its elimination would likely be replaced by initiatives that produce results that are contrary to the administration's goals, such as reduced features, decreased functionality, increased performance or increased costs.

The future of other OAP programs is uncertain due to the reorganization. This includes the voluntary reporting program for oil and gas.

Jeanne Shaheen, a New Hampshire Democrat senator, said that ending the program would increase costs for consumers.

She said, "Let's not be confused: cutting the Energy Star program would mark yet another rash effort by this administration to line billionaires' pockets and utility companies on the backs of hardworking Americans." Reporting by Valerie Volcovici and Ismail Shakil, both in Washington; editing by Andrea Ricci

(source: Reuters)