ICYMI: NPR: “Trump Administration Seeks To Eliminate Or Privatize Energy Star Program”
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Washington, D.C. – Today, NPR reports that the Trump administration’s efforts to kill Energy Star, a critical energy efficiency standards program, will increase consumer costs and create uncertainty for businesses.
NPR: Trump administration seeks to eliminate or privatize Energy Star program
NPR: “The Environmental Protection Agency estimates the Energy Star program has saved Americans over a half trillion dollars in energy costs since 1992. That’s why supporters, like Jeremy Simons of the Environmental Protection Network, a group of former EPA employees, are defending ENERGY STAR against plans to privatize or eliminate it.”
Jeremy Simons, Environmental Protection Network: “It’s like sticking a vacuum into the wallets of American families and businesses and sucking cash out for no reason.”
NPR: “Administrator Lee Zeldin, at a May congressional hearing, questioned his own agency’s calculations for the money ENERGY STAR saved…
NPR: “NPR asked the EPA if Zeldin has learned more since then. Press Secretary Bridget Hirsch said ENERGY STAR’s economic benefits remain unclear, but EPA’s own staff backed up that half-trillion dollar savings estimate with five pages of technical notes about how the calculations were made…
NPR: “Eliminating or privatizing ENERGY STAR also would be disruptive for many in the real estate industry. Energy Star includes a program called portfolio manager that helps building owners track energy and water consumption. That information is then used to comply with local conservation regulations. Matt Ellis is the CEO of the real estate technology firm Measurable.”
Matt Ellis, Measurable: “If there were to be any diminution or dismantling of Energy Star, what we can’t do is lose the underlying data.”