US government to stop "Energy Star", industry and climate activists protest
The Energy Star program, known for promoting efficient appliances since 1992, faces criticism as Donald Trump proposes its termination.
Computer with alienated Energy Star logo
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The blue sticker labeled "Energy Star" on computers and household appliances has been around for over 30 years and indicates to consumers that the product in question saves electricity in the long term and is therefore climate-friendly. However, Energy Star is a voluntary program of the US government, and Donald Trump is planning to discontinue it as part of cost-cutting measures at his own environmental authorities. This has been heavily criticized by both climate protection associations and industry associations.
The"Energy Star" was launched back in 1992 under the then Republican US administration of George H.W. Bush and is regarded as a designation for particularly energy-efficient appliances. Appliances bearing the Energy Star are supposed to meet the requirements of the American environmental authority. However, any manufacturer can label their appliances with the Energy Star, the authority does not check whether the manufacturer's claims are actually true.
Energy Star has saved billions in costs
Nevertheless, the Energy Star program has led to more energy-efficient appliances and has saved US consumers an estimated 500 billion US dollars in electricity costs over the last 33 years, writes Ars Technica. Consumers trust this award. According to a survey conducted in 2022, 90 percent of all US households know and understand Energy Star.
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However, the program is set to fall victim to the US government's austerity measures under Donald Trump. According to a report in the Washington Post, employees of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), effectively the US federal environmental agency, were informed of this at an internal meeting in recent days. The EPA itself did not comment directly when asked, but referred to an internal reorganization of the agency that was announced at the beginning of May. This is intended to "directly benefit the American people", but no details were given.
Reason for Energy Star end disputed
However, it is unclear whether the US government has the authority to end the Energy Star program without the approval of Congress. It is also possible that the Energy Star is only affected because the programme is organizationally assigned to the EPA's Climate Protection Division and the Trump administration is currently closing many offices with the word "climate" in their name, says Steven Nadel, head of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, a non-profit organization for an energy-efficient economy. "I'm not sure they've really thought it through."
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But Joseph Goffman, who was responsible for air pollution programs at the EPA under Joe Biden, thinks Trump's plans are well thought out. "I think we're seeing a conclusion of the ideology of this administration: a decided hostility to anything the government does to help people," Goffman explains. "If you want to destroy the relationship between the public and the government, you have to target the Energy Star program."
Trump criticism from industry associations and climate activists
Industry associations and the US Chamber of Commerce have also criticized the move. They describe the Energy Star as "an example of an effective non-regulatory program and a partnership between the government and the private sector". Manufacturers would have invested in more energy-efficient products as a result of the program and could use Energy Star to convince consumers to buy more expensive products in order to save electricity and water in the medium and long term.
Criticism has also come from climate activists. "Eliminating the Energy Star program would directly contradict the government's promise to lower household energy costs," Paula Glover, president of the non-profit Alliance to Save Energy, told CNN. "For just $32 million a year, Energy Star helps American families save over $40 billion in annual energy costs. That's a return of $350 for every dollar invested."
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