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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
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