The Energy Star program has delivered remarkable economic benefits since its launch in 1992, helping American families and businesses save more than $500 billion in energy costs over three decades.123 This translates to approximately $350 in energy cost savings for every dollar the EPA has invested in the program.14 Beyond the cumulative savings, the program continues to deliver substantial annual benefits:

• In 2020 alone, Energy Star helped Americans save over 520 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity and avoid $42 billion in energy costs.25

• A typical household can save about $450 annually by choosing Energy Star certified products while still enjoying expected quality and performance.13

• The program has stimulated significant private investment, with every dollar spent by the EPA resulting in $230 invested by American businesses and households in energy-efficient infrastructure and services.25

• Energy Star supports approximately 750,000 American jobs in manufacturing and installing certified products, representing roughly 35% of U.S. energy efficiency employment.36

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has announced plans to dramatically reduce the agency's workforce to Reagan administration levels, targeting a reduction from approximately 15,000 current employees to around 11,400 - the staffing level seen in 1984 during Reagan's presidency.12 This restructuring aims to save taxpayers an estimated $300 million annually by fiscal year 2026 while maintaining the agency's core environmental protection mission through what Zeldin describes as "common sense policies."13

The current downsizing mirrors Reagan's early 1980s approach to the EPA, when the administration cut the agency's budget by 21% and reduced staff by 26% between 1981 and 1983.45 The restructuring affects multiple departments, including the Office of the Administrator, Office of Air and Radiation, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, and Office of Water.1 Most significantly, the agency plans to dissolve its stand-alone Office of Research and Development, redistributing scientific staff to program offices to "tackle statutory obligations and mission essential functions."26

The Energy Star program has historically enjoyed strong bipartisan support in Congress, with lawmakers from both parties recognizing its economic and environmental benefits. When the Trump administration first proposed eliminating the program in 2017, more than 1,000 companies and organizations signed a letter urging Congress to protect it12. This broad coalition of support helped preserve the program's funding during Trump's first term.

Current efforts to save Energy Star are similarly bipartisan. A recent Consumer Reports survey found that 81% of Americans support government incentives for home energy efficiency improvements, with backing across political lines3. Organizations like the Alliance to Save Energy and U.S. Green Building Council are again mobilizing businesses and stakeholders to demonstrate widespread support45. The program's modest annual budget of approximately $50 million (less than 1% of EPA's spending) delivers a remarkable return on investment, making it popular with fiscal conservatives and environmentalists alike5. As one state regulator noted, "Some of the most successful programs, mandatory and voluntary, like [the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act] and Energy Star, are slated for elimination notwithstanding their bipartisan and significant support among stakeholders"2.