An announcement three months ago that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Energy Star program was on the budget-cutting chopping block sent shockwaves through a number of industries—many of which built campaigns around the blue star logo. A number of people and organizations have since stepped up, fighting for the program. A letter of support was signed by more than 1,000 companies and organizations.
The US Green Building Council (USGBC) reported earlier this month that before the current congressional recess, the “House Appropriations Committee advanced its fiscal year 2026 (FY26) spending bill,” including a bipartisan directive that the EPA “maintain level funding of $32 million for the Energy Star program.” Around the same time, a nearly unanimous vote in the Senate Appropriations Committee passed a spending bill that dog-eared $36 million for the program.
Per USGBC, “by including the provision in the bill text, the Senate version would place a clear and binding legal requirement on the administration to fund the program at that level.” The Senate group also included “directional report language,” that isn’t as binding as a bill, but still sends a strong statement, officials said.
USGBC is just one of many parties with a vested interest in the fate of the Energy Star program. USGBC leadership joined with Alliance to Save Energy in spearheading an industry letter in support of Energy Star. The letter was signed by more than 1,000 companies and organizations.
Meanwhile, a motley group of industry-specific organizations have come together to champion Energy Star representation for different markets. Grist reported that the American Chemistry Council, the Spray Foam Coalition, American Bakers Association, the Pool and Hot Tub Alliance, and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)—among others—have banded together to protect the Energy Star program.
The collective pointed out that many industries or localities have regulations for products and their performances that are based on Energy Star standards. The potential elimination of the program would create a vacuum that would leave those that have built their benchmarks around Energy Star with no viable alternative, the collective suggested.
As Congress returns to work in September, the fate of Energy Star remains unclear. How the larger governing body votes to go forward with funding, in general, could leave Energy Star vulnerable in the near future, USGBC officials suggested.