The EPA plans to do away with its Energy Star program

telcodad

Trump administration plans to end Energy Star program for home appliances
Since 1992, the program has helped American families and businesses save more than $500 billion in energy costs, a federal report says.
By Maxine Joselow, The Washington Post - May 6, 2025
https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2025/05/06/energy-star-program-epa-trump/

The Environmental Protection Agency plans to end Energy Star, a popular program whose iconic blue labels have certified the energy efficiency of home appliances for more than three decades, according to three people briefed on the matter and documents reviewed by The Washington Post. … The end of Energy Star, first reported by CNN, builds on the Trump administration’s broader attacks on energy efficiency standards for appliances found in millions of American homes. …

urbanriot

telcodad I don’t know that this program was ever really effective at doing anything, or at least hasn’t been relevant in years. There was a time when one state cared more about energy usage than all the other states but since the cost of electricity has gone up for everyone on this continent, we’re all looking for energy efficient devices regardless of the logos on the side.

Trump administration’s broader attacks on energy efficiency standards for appliances found in millions of American homes.

It’s not an attack on “standards” when submissions are voluntary. I’ve never heard anyone say, “oh, but is it Energy Star approved!?” before buying a device.

telcodad

urbanriot I don’t know that this program was ever really effective at doing anything, or at least hasn’t been relevant in years.

telcodad the program has helped American families and businesses save more than $500 billion in energy costs, a federal report says.

InternetJeff

urbanriot I don’t know that this program was ever really effective at doing anything

I’ve never paid attention to these ratings. When buying an appliance I go by how well the appliance performs its primary function to the exclusion of everything else.

I’m not going to consider “ratings” that are not related to the primary function of something I’m going to buy, especially when some of those ratings are cheated or fake.

https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-10-470

broknsymetry

InternetJeff The ratings are part of my consideration to purchase; however, my primary concern is function and utility. But, all else equal, I would choose the most energy efficient.

egeezer

In addition to other information and specs, I’ve found energy and water consumption specifications to be very helpful pieces of information when selecting appliances, lighting, water heating, faucets toilets etc.

In our case I calculated the difference in energy costs between the freezer and refrigerator I selected and the least efficient models. The savings in electricity over the life of these appliances far exceeded the purchase cost difference.

Somewhat-Reticent

Perhaps Marketing will provide, and FTC will regulate, such info? /Sardonic

egeezer

Somewhat-Reticent
The problem with manufacturers providing consumption specs is that there will be no single standardized process for arriving at the numbers. The marketing gerbils will do whatever they can to obfuscate deficiencies and make inaccurate and dubious claims to peddle products.we even saw outright fraud with VW’s emissions claims. Marketers can tweak their methodology to favor their products. We saw that with audio equipment where output wattage and specs have been cited using vastly different metrics.

cypherstream

As long as they still produce the energyguide labels. It’s interesting to see how much estimated yearly cost one TV is over another… or how much one gas water heater is to another. It’s an interesting metric, like MPG or something when comparing two similar devices.

Working in IT, I have first dibs on decommissioned equipment. I’ll throw a kill-a-watt on something and see if it’s worth bringing home. I passed on lots of high end servers and storage arrays just because I don’t want to pay for that electricity use. Instead I run my stuff on a mini Dell Optiplex at 40 watts vs a Dell R620 at 200+ watts.

px_eliezer_

cypherstream It’s an interesting metric, like MPG….

Quiet, they’ll want to kill that too.