Energy Star: Simplifying the American House Appliance Manufacturers Program to Improve Air Quality, Water, and Land for all Americans, as stated by the EPA and the American Association for Energy Efficiency

The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers supports the streamlined Energy Star program. A spokeswoman said that it would be in line with the administration’s goals ofpreserving a full selection of products for consumers to choose and reducing unnecessary regulatory burden.

Molly Vaseliou, EPA Associate Administrator for Public Affairs, confirmed to The Verge via email that the agency is going through the “next phase of organizational improvements” to “better provide clean air, water, and land for all Americans.”

According to Francis Dietz, a trade association representative, people immediately recognize Energy Star, so they should probably go with this one.

Steven Nadel, executive director of the American Council for Energy-Efficient Economy, said that the program was supported by both Democrats and Republicans. It promotes efficiency by tightening standards when lots of products are able to meet the label requirements, he said.

The program has prevented about 4 billion metric tons of planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions according to the website. The carbon dioxide, methane, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and fine particulate matter that produce the electricity emissions into the atmosphere are responsible for tons of air pollution. These pollutants can harm the heart and lungs, and cause other health issues.

But Sarah Gleeson, climate solutions research manager at the climate action nonprofit Project Drawdown, said America’s energy independence depends on the ability to meet U.S. energy demands, and cutting the program imperils that and strains households at the same time.

Energy Star: Promoting Energy-Efficient Products with Energy Labels and Reducing Their Importance to the U.S. Economy

The Department of Energy requires products to meet minimum efficiency levels in order to be sold legally, but the Energy Star label makes it easy to meet certain efficiency levels. In the 2000s, Congress directed the EPA and Department of Energy to run an energy-efficiency program and promote Energy Star.

The DOE did not comment on the changes and its role moving forward, deferring questions to the EPA. The program’s website says that the DOE is involved in developing product testing procedures. The EPA is responsible for setting performance levels and ensuring consumers can rely on the label.

The president has been particularly keen on eliminating efficiency standards, arguing they result in products that cost more and are less effective, and that they deny consumer choice. Trump has reversed rules restricting water flow for showerheads and other household appliances.

” Trump continues to attack any and all efforts to save energy through efficiency because he knows the country is facing an energy emergency,” said X-ray Boatright, deputy legislative director for clean energy and electrification at Sierra Club. Fossil fuel industries use inefficient appliances as an excuse to extract more product from Americans and make more money, despite the fact that they use less energy.

The program gives information about how much energy an appliance uses. Without it, your next large appliance purchase could end up costing you more money than you bargained for. Buying Energy Star-rated products can also qualify you for rebates on appliances as well as tax credits of up to $3,200 annually.

The Office of Radiation & Indoor Air Quality and the Office ofTransportation & Air Quality are not included in the chart shown by Vaseliou. The program falls under these departments, but Vaseliou did not respond to the questions about Energy Star specifically.