Some good news for energy efficiency from Washington, DC. Before leaving Washington for its summer break, the Republican controlled appropriation committees of both the US Senate and House voted to ensure funding of EPA’s ENERGY STAR program in the 2026 Fiscal Year, roughly at the same levels it was funded this fiscal year. The Senate Appropriations Committee voted to fund ENERGY STAR at its current level – $36 million. The House Appropriations Committee voted to fund ENERGY STAR at $32 million. Both the House and Senate committees’ budget language stated that the ENERGY STAR program was mandated by Congress. The Trump Administration advocated defunding the program, arguing that there was no Congressional mandate for the program. The action by the House and Senate appropriation committees shows that the private sector support for ENERGY STAR is being heard by Congress. In terms of the ENERGY STAR Homes Program, the Leading Builders of America and the National Association of Home Builders have been active in supporting the program. RESNET® joined nearly 1,100 companies and organizations in a letter urging the maintenance of the full funding and staffing levels in the ENERGY STAR program The committee’s action now needs to be considered by the full House and Senate. While there is still a ways to go, the recent action by the two GOP-controlled committees shows that the future of ENERGY STAR now does look a lot brighter. Now is the time for people who support the ENERGY STAR program to contact their Congressional representatives and educate them on the value of the program in their market. To learn how to contact your Congressional representative, click on https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative To learn how to contact your US Senator, go to https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm?Class=1
