On August 28, 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) finalized a 2026 Energy Star Program Transition Plan for shifting trademark ownership, programmatic leadership and operational oversight from the EPA to the DOE. While the EPA will transition to a supporting role, the DOE is set to assume full control of its information technology portfolio and associated databases by July 2027.
The decision to relocate Energy Star follows a turbulent period for the program. In May 2025, a reorganization plan showing its parent division removed from the EPA’s organizational chart sparked termination fears. This was compounded by EPA layoffs in July 2025, which reduced agency staff from 16,155 to 12,448. Congress later stepped in with bipartisan support and $33 million to fund Energy Star at the EPA.
The official transition began with a March 3, 2026, Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) designating the DOE as the lead agency, aligning with the EPA’s proposed fiscal year 2027 budget, which cuts funding by 52% to $4.2 billion. According to EPA officials, the agency is refocusing on core statutory responsibilities, like permitting and remediation, while transferring “non-core” programs, like Energy Star, to reduce administrative overlap. Under the proposal, the EPA would allocate just one full-time employee to Energy Star.
According to the Transition Plan, EPA’s Office of the General Counsel and DOE’s Office of the General Counsel are collaborating on the development of a detailed plan for the transfer of the Energy Star trademark, EPA-only partnership agreements, and Energy Star agreements and other arrangements with foreign governments. The communication indicates that DOE and EPA will finalize the Trademark and Agreement Transfer Plan by September 1, 2026, while transfer of control of the trademarks will not occur until after the Trademark and Agreement Transfer Plan is finalized, with the transfer date to be specified as part of the plan.
Impacts on Door and Window Companies
Both agencies have pledged to minimize disruptions to the approximately 1,500 manufacturers and 1,200 retailers depending on the Energy Star program and label. Partners can continue to access energystar.gov and the help desk during the transition, officials said.
Among 15,000 active Energy Star partners, most existing agreements are already joint contracts with both the EPA and the DOE, officials explained. Only a small percentage are EPA-only. According to plan documents, door and window manufacturers should review their original partnership filings; those holding EPA-only agreements will need to modify them to include the DOE.
Since the DOE is taking over shipment data databases, manufacturers should also watch for upcoming data request notifications from the DOE as it establishes intake of this information.
So far as specification is concerned, the DOE will lead future updates.
Both EPA and DOE are committed to a successful transition and efficient continuity of operations for the program with minimal disruption to outside stakeholders and continued service to the American public, officials said. The next twelve months are critical to ensuring a successful transition and ongoing operation of the Energy Star program.
Congress will receive at least three business days prior notification before the transition plan is finalized. Upon finalization, EPA and DOE will send a joint email to Energy Star partners.
While the transition of such a large program comes with administrative hurdles, consolidation under the DOE is expected to streamline efficiency regulations. As Janice Yglesias, executive director of the Fenestration & Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA) noted, “The DOE previously managed Energy Star successfully, so we expect a smooth transition from EPA during this time.”