E.P.A. Plans to Shut Down the Energy Star Program

The Environmental Protection Agency plans to eliminate Energy Star, the popular energy efficiency certification for dishwasher, refrigerators, dryers and other appliances, agency chordination and a recording of an internal meeting.

The EPA managers announced the duration of a staff meeting on Monday that divisions that supervise climate change and energy efficiency would be eliminated as part of a reorganization of the agency. That includes the EPA climate change office, as well as the division that supervises the energy star.

“The Energy Star program and all the other climate work, outside of what the statute requests, is being destroyed and eliminated,” said Paul Gunning, director of the EPA Atmospheric Protection Office, to the empty durable to the New and work. Mr. Gunning’s office is also scheduled for elimination.

During the last 33 years, Energy Star has been known for its elegant blue label, which shows that a device has with the energy efficiency standards established by the federal government.

It has attributed to change the way Americans buy encouraging manufacturers to make products that use less energy, as well as with the reduction of pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

Since its creation under the first President George Bush in 1992, Energy Star has helped homes and companies save more than $ 500 billion in energy costs and obtain reimbursements and tax credits, according to the report of programs 2024. At the same time, it has also prevented four billion metric tons of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere from being released.

Almost 90 percent of US consumers recognize the Energy Star label, according to the government. “It is an easy way for them to identify high energy efficiency equipment,” said Steve Nadel, executive director of the American Council for an efficient energy economy.

“He has had broad support from all presidents, except Trump,” Nadel said.

President Trump has criticized the appliances and energy efficiency tasks, the particular objective of the showers and toilets that are designed to preserve the water.

Duration in his first mandate, Trump tried to eliminate the funds for Energy Star, describing it as not essential for the central mission of the EPA and something that could be administered by the private sector. The effort to define the program caused a violent reaction from legislators in both parties that said that privatizing it could reduce the standards of the programs.

Trump’s 2026 budget plan for the EPA cuts the Atmospheric Protection Office, but does not specifically mention the energy star.

Molly Vaselu, spokesman for the EPA, did not confirm that the program was being eliminated. She said in a statement that the agency had announced “organizational improvements to the structure of the personnel that will directly benefit the American people and move better in the main mission of the agency.”

A table obtained by the New York Times indicates that other programs in the cutting block include the EPA work on climatic economy, climatic science, climatic policy, greenhouse gas reports and a voluntary program in what Ish Stactenties, Agancy to Slashy.

The picture says that the staff “can reallocate other positions” in the EPA air offices.

Paula R. Glover, president of the Alliance for Save Energy, a group that promotes energy efficiency, said the Energy Star program cost $ 32 million but delivered $ 40 billion in annual savings on public service invoices.

“Eliminating the Energy Star program is contradictory for the promise of this administration to reduce home costs,” he said.

Mr. Trump also caresses that the United States faces an energy emergency.

Mrs. Glover said that she agreed that the country faced an energy crisis, and the demand for electricity is expected to grow by 35 to 50 percent by 2040. That makes energy efficiency efforts such as Energy Star crucial, he said.

“We will not be able to get out of our energy needs,” he said.

In March, the deans of companies and commercial organizations, including the United States Chamber of Commerce, implored Lee Zeldin, the EPA administrator, to protect Energy Star. They represented a variety of industries that include heating, lighting, appliances and manufacturers of food equipment.

“The Energy Star program is an example of a program and non -regulatory association between the government and the private sector,” they wrote. “Eliminating it will not serve the American people.”

The changes in the EPA are part of a broader restructuring. Last week, staff members were informed that scientists would disperse from the agency’s independent research office to other divisions where, among other things, they would be an answer for the use of new chemicals.

Marie Owens Powell, the president of the largest union in the EPA, said Tuesday that she had been “prohibited to attribute” meetings in which reorganization was discussed. When he tried Jin to the Sprians Virtunuly, MS. Powell said he received a message informing him that he had no permission to enter.

“The agency’s actions yesterday were nothing less than a rupture of the Union and a complete contempt for the rights of EPA employees,” he told Mr. Rarer.

Mr. Rarin also announced that the agency’s review would reduce staff to the last -time levels, qualifying the Reagan Administration, when it had 1,000 to 3000 Fower employees.