What the Latest ENERGY STAR Decision Means, and Tools to Keep Saving

By mid-summer 2025, the ENERGY STAR program found itself on the chopping block. A full termination had been proposed, raising alarm bells across industries that rely on its tools and standards. But on July 25, the Senate Appropriations Committee stepped in, pushing back against the cuts and instead backing level funding: $36 million for FY 2026. In doing so, they effectively rejected the push to dismantle or privatize the program.

Still, the fight isn’t over. The Senate may be holding the line, but the House hasn’t weighed in yet. If they don’t come to terms, or if the federal government ends up operating under a Continuing Resolution, ENERGY STAR could face a partial suspension. That would throw a wrench into everything from rebate programs to reporting tools.

The Department of Energy has already voiced concern; without ENERGY STAR, coordination under the Inflation Reduction Act could falter, leaving gaps in rebate delivery and program alignment. The Office of Management and Budget echoed that worry, warning that eliminating the program could derail compliance pathways for new building performance standards in at least 11 states.

The implications are broad. ENERGY STAR’s Portfolio Manager remains the go-to benchmarking tool for more than 40 local ordinances and every federal GHG reporting framework. Its product labels are the foundation for HVAC, refrigeration, and plug-load efficiency standards used by over 80 utilities for incentive programs. And on the reporting side, ENERGY STAR scores continue to flow into CDP filings, LEED certifications, and REIT sustainability disclosures.

For those of us in energy management, this isn’t just a policy debate, it’s a looming operational risk.

Take advantage of free resources

For many, the ENERGY STAR logo is the first thing that comes to mind when people think of their appliances. However, the ENERGY STAR program is set up to be much more than a program to evaluate appliance efficiency. ENERGY STAR offers a variety of tools and resources to help organizations strengthen their energy management programs. These resources are available online and they’re all free!

Several are highlighted below to provide a flavor of what’s available. Check them out!

• Energy Program Assessment Matrix: This matrix (spreadsheet) can be used by small/medium sized companies to help them get started and/or advance their energy management program. Energy program directors can use this tool when working with site energy leaders to assess how the organization-wide program has been implemented at each facility.
• Utility Genius Rebate Finder: Search using an interactive map to find utility rebates and incentives for commercial buildings.
• Cash Flow Opportunity Calculator: Helps one make decisions about when and how to finance energy efficiency projects.
• ENERGY STAR Healthcare Energy Savings Financial Analysis Calculator: Designed to help organizations quantify cumulative savings and communicate the value of their savings by translating it into metrics that resonate with key decision makers.
• US Water Use Intensity by Property Type: Technical Reference: Benchmarks a building’s water use as a function of its size or other characteristics.

And don’t forget about EnergyCAP’s Benchmarking calculator to help assess opportunities to save. 

EnergyCAP is a proven utility management platform that helps large organizations like yours streamline energy accounting, track consumption trends, and identify cost-saving opportunities across all of your sites. With built-in support for bill auditing, meter tracking, GHG reporting, and ENERGY STAR integration, it replaces clunky spreadsheets and scattered data with one centralized system. For teams managing complex utility portfolios, especially with sustainability and compliance targets, it’s a practical, scalable tool that saves time, flags anomalies, and drives actionable insight.