WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Alliance to Save Energy released the following statement from President Kateri Callahan in response to the U.S. House of Representatives passing an appropriations package (H.R. 3354) that includes an approximately 40 percent cut to the Energy Star program:
“Let’s be clear: This would be a debilitating cut to one of the most popular federal programs in history. Energy Star has been such a money-saver for consumers and businesses because the products deliver enormous energy savings, and we can trust the label. Now Congress is threatening the integrity of the program.
“Taking an ax to Energy Star would make it difficult if not impossible for the program to certify new energy-efficient products,” Callahan said. “This would not only hurt consumers but also the more than 16,000 companies and organizations that have invested valuable time and resources to make products that qualify for Energy Star.
“This bill is penny-wise, pound foolish,” she says. “In pursuit of savings, it would stick consumers and businesses with inefficient products that cost us far more in the long run. Congress needs to fully fund Energy Star and other federal energy efficiency programs.”
Funding Would Drop to $31 Million
The House Appropriations Committee’s report on the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill—one component of H.R. 3354—calls for a roughly 40 percent cut to the EPA’s Energy Star program, lowering funding to $31 million.
Energy Star was created in 1992 under President George H. W. Bush’s administration and has maintained strong bipartisan support for more than 25 years. More than 16,000 companies and other organizations participate. The program delivered $34 billion in savings to American households and businesses in 2015 alone. Almost half of all American households knowingly purchased an Energy Star product from 2014 to 2015.
Due its success, Energy Star has expanded from appliances and electronics to residential homes, commercial buildings and even manufacturing plants. Certified Energy Star homes, commercial buildings and industrial plants have saved almost $13 billion in energy costs through the program.
Energy Star by the numbers:
- Program costs about $50 million per year to administer yet delivered $34 billion in savings to American consumers and businesses in 2015 alone. Since 1992, American households and businesses saved $430 billion on utility bills.
- 2.7 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have been avoided since 1992.
- Americans purchased over 300 million ENERGY STAR certified products in 2015 across more than 70 product categories, for a cumulative total exceeding 5.5 billion products.
Americans have saved $4.50 in lower utility bills for every $1 invested in energy efficiency through Energy Star products.
