Trump administration plans to end Energy Star program for home appliances

illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Washington Post or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: The Trump administration plans to terminate the Energy Star program, a widely recognized federal initiative that has certified energy-efficient appliances since 1992
• During an EPA staff meeting, officials outlined a restructuring that would dissolve the Office of Atmospheric Protection, effectively ending Energy Star
• Despite bipartisan support over the years, this move aligns with broader efforts by the Trump administration to roll back energy efficiency standards

🔭 The context: Energy Star has helped American consumers and businesses save over $500 billion in energy costs and prevented roughly 4 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions
• Previous efforts to eliminate or privatize the program during Trump’s first term were unsuccessful
• The administration's current budget proposal also seeks significant cuts to the Department of Energy’s efficiency initiatives, reflecting its ongoing deregulatory agenda

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Ending Energy Star could significantly undermine national efforts to reduce carbon emissions, making it harder for consumers to identify and invest in energy-efficient appliances
• The program’s termination risks reversing decades of progress in energy conservation and climate mitigation, particularly as federal tax incentives tied to Energy Star certifications face uncertainty

⏭️ What's next: Congressional debate is expected, with moderate Republicans and environmental groups likely to push back against the decision
• Discussions may center on whether to preserve, relocate, or privatize Energy Star, possibly transferring oversight to the Department of Energy
• Outcomes could impact related tax credits and the broader regulatory landscape for appliance efficiency standards

💬 One quote: “Energy Star saves consumers and businesses more than $40 billion every year just by giving them clear information about the energy efficiency of products or buildings — and it does that at a cost of $32 million. So it is an incredible bang for the buck.” — Ben Evans, U.S. Green Building Council

📈 One stat: Since its inception, Energy Star has helped avoid emissions equivalent to removing more than 933 million gasoline-powered cars from U.S. roads for a year

Click for more news covering the latest on public governance