More Than 1,000 Companies Call On Trump & Congress To Strengthen ENERGY STAR Program

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More than 1,000 US companies are calling on the country’s Congress and administration to strengthen the EPA’s ENERGY STAR program, instead of following through on its proposed elimination, as per Trump’s recent budget proposals.

A joint letter (PDF), organized by the Alliance to Save Energy, and signed by more than 1,000 US companies was directed to leaders of both the House and Senate, and called on both parties “to oppose any efforts to reduce the effectiveness of this highly successful public-private partnership.”

The US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ENERGY STAR program is the “most successful voluntary energy efficiency movement in history,” providing graded certifications to buildings and consumer products which meet a certain level of energy efficiency — which in turn provides consumers and industry the opportunity to choose energy efficient products and services.

“ENERGY STAR is a model for successful collaboration between the public and private sectors,” the letter states. “It enjoys a long track record of success and should be strengthened, not weakened, to ensure it continues providing these important benefits to the public while helping us meet our energy and environmental goals.”

Launched 25 years ago under Republican George H.W. Bush, the ENERGY STAR program boasts more than 16,000 partner companies and organizations, and serves not just the United States, but also the European Union, Australia, Canada, and more. ENERGY STAR provides certification across a wide scope — from appliances, electronics, buildings, and manufacturing facilities — and many will be aware of its work by the small blue ENERGY STAR logo that appears on qualified products.

According to the Alliance to Save Energy, the ENERGY STAR program costs $50 million a year to administer, but saves consumers more than $34 billion annually in reduced energy costs through increased energy efficiency.

“Shutting down this program would hurt American businesses, consumers and our overall economy, and we strongly encourage the administration to reconsider the budget proposal,” said Kateri Callahan, president of the Alliance to Save Energy, an energy efficiency advocacy group based in Washington. “This letter demonstrates the enormous business support for a venerable public-private partnership and sends a clear directive to Washington: keep the Energy Star program going and growing.”

The program’s popularity is behind the 1,050 organizations and businesses which signed on to the letter, including big-name companies such as Cree, a global manufacturer of LEDs and other products; Ingersoll Rand, parent company of brands such as Trane; Seattle City Light, the city’s publicly owned electric utility; and United Technologies Corp., parent company of Carrier and other brands.

“ENERGY STAR has played an important role in helping Americans adopt more energy efficient products and technologies, including LED lighting, that have saved them money and saved energy,” said Greg Merritt, Cree Vice President of Marketing and Public Affairs. “Consumers are able to rely on the ENERGY STAR brand to give them confidence when buying new technologies, and the ENERGY STAR program has benefited consumers, manufacturers and utilities.”

“When consumers see the blue ENERGY STAR logo, they know they’ll be conserving energy and saving money,” added Seattle City Light General Manager and CEO Larry Weis. “This trusted guide is one of the simplest and most effective means to promote energy efficiency to our customers, which benefits us all.”