Federal Energy Star is among the most successful government initiatives in modern history. The distinctive blue brand is now almost known such as Nike Swoosh or Coca-Cola, and the devices it holds provides American consumers about $ 40 billion in energy costs-or about $ 350 per dollar of taxpayer that enters.
This week, however, the administration of President Donald Trump moved to kill it, Washington Post mentioned for the first time. GRIT reviewed the Environmental Protection Agency, or the Environmental Protection Agency, a document obtained by the Environment and Public Works Committee of the Senate, which shows that the program is scheduled to be “canceled”.
“Energy star and American companies have saved more than half a trillion dollars in energy costs,” Senator Shieldon Whitch, a member of the committee, said in a statement to Greens. “By eliminating this program, [Trump] The Americans will force the purchase of devices that cost more to operate and waste more energy. “
It was launched in 1992, during the chairmanship of George Hero Bush, the energy star puts efficiency specifications for products ranging from dishwashers to entire homes. These criteria exceed the minimum government, and Energy Star says on Energy Star that the goal is to provide “simple, reliable and unbiased information” that people can use to make better decisions.
While the Energy Star Certificate is voluntary, most major manufacturers participate. According to the governmentAbout 9 out of 10 families get to know the star of energy. Depending on the year, up to 80 percent says that the mark is “a lot” or “to some extent” affected its purchases. In general, consumers bought more than 300 million devices with Energy Star and the program Cumulatively helped avoid 4 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions.
“Energy Star is one of the most effective tools of the two parties to ensure the reliability of energy and the ability to bear the costs and the American competitiveness.” She also pointed to the broader economic impact of the program, including the creation of hundreds of thousands of jobs in manufacturing and retail services industries, real estate and energy. “Close it is a danger to those jobs.”
For years, though, President Trump complained about the standards of efficiency for devices. He said that the bottom flow shower made the shower “Five times longer.” LED lamp Make it look orange. People flow Effective toilets “10 times, 15 times” And with dishwashers, “The electrical bill is ten times more than water.These allegations are largely inaccurate.
Regardless of health, Trump’s efforts are played in the biggest Cultural war against devices standards – One that the White House has continued to launch strongly since its second term began. In February, and The Ministry of Energy has announced that it is delaying the competency regulation One of the devices ranging from central air conditioners and frozen to washing machines and dryers. In March, She withdraws four efficiency criteria The Biden administration has proposed, and it was declining the date of the implementation of others. Last month, Trump He issued an executive order entitledIn all hats, “maintain the acceptable water pressure in the shower heads.”
The power star decline is likely to be the most obvious attack on devices efficiency, and even worries manufacturers. last month More than 1000 companiesCities and groups wrote a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency official, Lee Zeladen urges him to support the program.
“This will be a very big problem,” said the representative of one of the manufacturers, who asked not to be called, given the sensitivity of the potential closure. They made it clear that Energy Star helps companies market and move higher quantities of highly efficient products. “It is strange to give up a voluntary partnership between the public and private sectors that cost an approximate error in the Environmental Protection Agency budget and allow consumers billions of dollars of value.”
In addition to eliminating employees, the accurate plans of the Environmental Protection Agency and the timetable for any retreat from the energy star are still unclear. The agency did not respond directly to questions about the future of the program, but in an e -mail statement, Grist told that “the Environmental Protection Agency provides regulatory improvements to the staff of employees who will benefit the American people directly.”
The loss of the energy star can have a set of ripple effects. In addition to making the choice of products more confused for consumers, it may hinder their ability to qualify for federal or government incentives or the benefit associated with the certificate. There, for example, a federal tax incentive to build the homes of energy stars. Devices are often associated with appointment.
“How will these programs now know the types of devices that they want to give a discount or a tax incentive?” Countries or auxiliary tools can fill this void with their own standards, creating a group of organization and incentives. “Owning the energy star who gives a federal standard is much more logical. It is certain that it is easier for consumers to understand what their options are.”
This is among the many details that should be placed if the Trump administration continues with its plan.
Steve Nadid, CEO of the American Economy Economy Economy, said about the interest of the media that was obtained by the last change. “This is getting a lot of advertising.”
He said that this step may also face legal challenges 2005 Energy Policy Law As one possible way to management. It directs the Environmental Protection Agency and the Ministry of Energy, among other things, “strengthening the technologies that are compatible with the energy star as the market’s favorite technologies” and “maintaining the integrity of the star’s power sticker.”
Another possibility is that the Ministry of Energy takes the main responsibility of the energy star. But as with other aspects of President Trump’s ambitious agenda, it may take some time to sort the influence of the real world.
If the energy star is finally eliminated, Nadel says the stickers will eventually go away, and billions of dollars are likely to be in consumer savings.
But he added, “This is not done yet.”
