The Future, or Fate, of the Energy Star Program A Status Update from John Boling, Vice President of Advocacy and Building Codes Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International
Status Update - The Energy Star program has not been shut down and is still operating. The last official comments regarding the program’s status were when asked about plans for closure were, “no final decisions have been made.” The fact that the Trump Administration has yet to make a move regarding closure means that the education component of the industry’s outreach is working. BOMA International’s argument is that, because the program was created in the 1992 Clean Air Act Amendments and officially stood up in the 2005 Energy Policy Act, it means that the program cannot be shut down without an act of Congress. There are rumors about moving the program from the EPA to the Dept. of Energy (DOE). I have not been able to confirm the rumor. BOMA has been agnostic about where the program is housed, as long as it is in existence and performing its role. At this point, because the program’s authorization is not in question it becomes a funding issue, which will be determined by the annual appropriations process. Energy Star is funded mainly through the Interior and Environment Appropriations Bill and gets some funding from the Energy & Water spending bill. These two bills are key for BOMA on this issue.
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