U.S. ENERGY STAR Program Overview

Established by EPA in 1992 under the Clean Air Act, ENERGY STAR is a voluntary program that evaluates and certifies the energy efficiency of products and buildings. It covers more than 75 product categories, including appliances, office equipment, lighting, and HVAC, and awards the ENERGY STAR mark to products that rank among the top approximately 25% in energy efficiency performance. The mark is also incorporated into federal procurement standards (FAR) and underpins brand trust in the U.S. market.

In 2025, the Trump administration's budget proposal called for eliminating or privatizing the program, raising concerns within industry. However, following requests from over 1,000 companies and organizations, Congress passed and codified a $33 million budget for the program in January 2026, securing its continuation. Further, in March 2026, EPA and the Department of Energy (DOE) signed a 10-year memorandum of agreement (MOA) to fully transfer administration of the program from EPA to DOE. Since June 2026, operations have been transitioning toward integration with the federal appliance standards program (EPCA) under DOE leadership.