Commercial Building Owners Want To Save Energy Star - CleanTechnica

The article discusses the controversy surrounding the future of the Energy Star program, a government-run initiative aimed at promoting energy efficiency in commercial buildings. Lee Zeldin, the current EPA administrator aligned with MAGA ideology, has proposed eliminating the program or outsourcing it to private contractors, arguing that it requires excessive taxpayer funding and government staffing. Critics of this view highlight the program’s significant public benefits, including preventing over 4 billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions in the past 30 years and enabling businesses to avoid $14 billion in energy costs through tools like Portfolio Manager, which tracks and benchmarks energy use across properties. Energy Star’s Portfolio Manager tool is especially valued by the real estate industry and sustainability advocates for providing a trusted, government-backed, and objective source of data on building energy performance. It helps owners identify inefficient buildings, comply with local energy disclosure mandates, and make informed decisions on energy-saving investments. Given that buildings contribute a substantial portion of emissions—over two-thirds in cities like New York—Energy Star plays