The Trump administration is planning to eliminate a program responsible for saving Americans over $500 billion since its inception, according to insider information.
Many homeowners and tenants in the United States are familiar with the recognizable blue label found on household appliances. While it may often be overlooked, this label has been instrumental in saving significant amounts of money for consumers.
Established in 1992, the label indicates the energy efficiency of home appliances. Currently, it is estimated to save Americans approximately $40 billion each year.
This translates to an average saving of $1,176 per American annually, based on the population of 340 million in the United States.
The impressive $500 billion savings figure is detailed in a federal report from 2023, while the $40 billion annual savings estimate is provided by Ben Evans, the federal legislative director at the US Green Building Council.
“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,” Evans stated to The Washington Post. “And it does that at a cost of $32 million. So it is an incredible bang for the buck.”
Despite these benefits, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reportedly plans to discontinue the Energy Star program, according to three unnamed sources cited by the newspaper.
Evans criticized the proposed termination of the program as ‘incredibly shortsighted,’ arguing it contradicts Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) goal to reduce taxpayer expenses.
Anonymous sources reported to The Post that during a company-wide meeting at the EPA’s Office of Atmospheric Protection, officials from the Trump administration announced the planned closure of the office and the termination of the Energy Star program.
Energy Star has implemented standards that allow construction workers to claim a $2,500 federal tax credit for building energy-efficient homes, among other measures aimed at saving Americans money.
It remains uncertain what will happen to these tax credits, as well as those available to homeowners for energy-efficient upgrades.
The 2023 federal report highlights that Energy Star has prevented approximately four billion metric tons of greenhouse gases from being emitted into the atmosphere, equivalent to removing more than 933 million gas-powered cars from American roads annually.