Overview

• The Trump administration has internally announced plans to shut down the EPA's Energy Star program, which has saved Americans over $500 billion in energy costs since 1992.
• The program's elimination is part of a broader reorganization of the EPA, which also includes plans to close the Climate Protection Partnerships division and Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program.
• Energy Star, a voluntary public-private partnership, provides energy efficiency certifications and links consumers to tax credits, saving households an average of $450 annually on utility bills.
• The move has drawn bipartisan opposition from manufacturers, retailers, and lawmakers, who highlight the program's 350-to-1 return on investment and its role in reducing emissions by 4 billion metric tons.
• Legal experts suggest that ending Energy Star without congressional approval may violate the Energy Policy Act of 2005, potentially leading to legal challenges.