• Trump administration plans to eliminate the Energy Star program, impacting appliance certification.
• The program has saved consumers over $500 billion in energy costs since its inception.
• Trade groups and lawmakers express concerns over rising consumer energy costs and environmental impacts.

The Trump administration intends to eliminate the Energy Star program, a certification for energy-efficient home appliances that has been in place for over 30 years. This proposal is part of a broader reorganization of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which includes dissolving parts of the offices responsible for environmental protections. The elimination of the Energy Star program was discussed during an EPA meeting where the agency indicated reorganization efforts that are framed as benefiting the American public, though specific comments on Energy Star were not made, according to Reuters, CBS News, and NPR.

The Energy Star program, initiated in 1992, has been credited with helping American consumers save over $500 billion in energy costs and preventing about 4 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions. It allows consumers to identify appliances that meet specific energy efficiency standards established by the EPA. Critics, including environmental and consumer groups, argue that discontinuing this program would eliminate critical consumer choice and could lead to higher energy expenses, as noted by officials from multiple organizations concerned about the changes, according to Reuters, CBS News, and NPR.

The proposal has sparked concern among trade associations and lawmakers, who claim that eliminating the Energy Star program would raise costs for consumers by forcing them to purchase appliances that are less efficient and more expensive to operate. Senator Jeanne Shaheen referred to the decision as another instance of prioritizing corporate profits over the everyday challenges faced by American households, highlighting the risks involved in scaling back such energy efficiency initiatives, as reported by Reuters, CBS News, and NPR.

A coalition of industry groups, including appliance manufacturers and the Chamber of Commerce, has urged the EPA to reconsider, citing that Energy Star is a successful, collaborative effort between the private sector and the government. They argue that its elimination could have adverse effects on consumer choices and environmental policy, underscoring that the program has considerable public recognition and acceptance, as emphasized by comments from association representatives and business groups in the documents obtained, as referenced by Reuters, CBS News, and NPR.