July 25, 2025 | Josh Valentine, Communications Director

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For more than 30 years, the ENERGY STAR® label has helped consumers and businesses identify products, homes, and buildings that save energy, lower utility bills, and reduce climate pollution. Established in 1992 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), ENERGY STAR has become one of the most successful voluntary programs in federal government history — delivering more than $500 billion in consumer energy savings while avoiding more than four billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

Earlier this year, when Congress passed a budget reconciliation bill zeroing out ENERGY STAR’s federal funding for the next fiscal year, headlines warned the program might be disappearing. Fortunately, those reports were premature. In a recent conversation with the ENERGY STAR team, the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP) confirmed that the program remains operational. Certifications are still being issued, qualified product lists are up to date, and ENERGY STAR standards remain valid and in force.

While its future is under review within the federal government, ENERGY STAR’s core functions continue — and that’s particularly important for the Southwest, where residents face some of the nation’s highest energy burdens and fastest-rising utility costs. In Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming, ENERGY STAR has already delivered more than $4 billion in cumulative energy cost savings for households and businesses since its inception. Those savings are crucial as extreme heat, drought, and rising energy demand drive up bills across the region.

ENERGY STAR also plays a critical role in SWEEP’s work. From supporting state appliance standards and clean building codes to shaping utility rebate programs and informing consumer education, ENERGY STAR is a trusted, science-based foundation for advancing energy efficiency. Utilities across the Southwest rely on ENERGY STAR to set benchmarks for rebate eligibility on appliances, HVAC systems, and lighting. State and local governments reference ENERGY STAR when setting procurement policies, energy codes, and performance targets for public buildings.

Even with its funding uncertain, ENERGY STAR’s existing certifications remain valid. Products, homes, and buildings that have earned the ENERGY STAR label keep that designation indefinitely — unless future updates change the underlying specifications, which is unlikely in the short term. States, cities, and businesses can continue referencing ENERGY STAR in policies, incentive programs, and legislation.

But the program’s visibility and momentum can’t be taken for granted. Without adequate federal support, ENERGY STAR risks slowly fading from public awareness — a loss that would hurt consumers, utilities, and climate progress alike. That’s why the EPA has asked partners like SWEEP to help set the record straight: ENERGY STAR is alive, it’s still saving money, and it remains one of the most effective tools we have for cutting energy waste and reducing emissions.

At SWEEP, we’ll continue to:

• Highlight ENERGY STAR’s benefits through our work with utilities, policymakers, and communities.
• Incorporate ENERGY STAR benchmarks into our efforts to advance building performance standards and appliance efficiency policies.
• Support ENERGY STAR-aligned programs that help Southwestern families and businesses lower energy costs and protect the climate.

ENERGY STAR has helped save Southwestern families and businesses billions of dollars while cutting pollution and strengthening resilience. It’s too valuable to let slip quietly away.