PHOENIX (AZFamily) — A popular program that helps people save money on their utility bills may be going away.
The Trump administration is reportedly planning to eliminate the Energy Star program. The bright yellow cards used when shopping for appliances have played a big part in consumers’ shopping decisions for more than 30 years.
Real estate agent Kathy Chance said she likes to know how energy efficient an appliance is and which can save her the most money.
“It absolutely matters to me,” said Chance. “I’m looking to save dollars any way I can, so energy efficiency is one those areas I’m very concerned about.”
The Energy Star program began in 1992, during the first Bush administration, as a way to help the public find products, incentives and tax credits that would lower their electric bills.
According to the nonprofit Alliance to Save Energy, Energy Star helps American families save $40 billion in annual energy costs, but that may not be enough to save the program.
The Trump administration is set to eliminate Energy Star as part of its push to reduce the size of federal agencies. Alliance to Save Energy president Paula Glover told CNN that “eliminating the Energy Star program would directly contradict this administration’s promise to reduce household energy costs.”
Still, not everyone is convinced doing away with Energy Star is a big deal.
Rick Biederbeck, CEO of Spencer’s TV and Appliance, told Arizona’s Family that appliances are far more energy efficient than 20 years ago, so there’s not much difference in savings between an Energy Star appliance and a non-Energy Star unit.
He explained that even if Energy Star disappears, consumers will still be able to see an appliance’s efficiency information.
“They won’t notice very much, because everything in your home, Energy Star versus no Energy Star, you might spend about $4 to $5 a month more to operate a non energy star home vs energy star, there’s very little difference,” said Biederbeck.
There has been no announcement about when the Energy Star program would end.
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