Energy Star Program For Homes And Appliances Is On Trump's Chopping Block (npr.org)

Appliance manufacturers and home builders are in Washington, D.C., today to celebrate a popular energy efficiency program, even as it's slated for elimination in President Trump's proposed budget. NPR adds: You probably know the program's little blue label with the star -- the Environmental Protection Agency says 90 percent of U.S. households do. [...] The 25-year-old Energy Star program appears to be targeted simply because it's run by the federal government. It's one of 50 EPA programs that would be axed under Trump's budget plan, which would shrink the agency's funding by more than 30 percent. Critics of Energy Star say the government should get involved in the marketplace only when absolutely necessary. But that argument doesn't hold sway for the program's legions of supporters, which span nonprofits, companies and trade groups.

Comments

Re:It's pretty simple

[cayenne8]

Now, Energy Star isn't a safety standard, so it's not exactly critical, but it's still a great thing to have a common measuring stick for all to use.

While I'm generally in favor of having more information on product labels (especially food which I ingest), has anyone ever really used this Energy Star rating when choosing appliances?

I mean, I recently got a fridge. First thing I looked at was dimensions...what is the largest fridge I can get that will fit the space in my kitchen, and allow full access from the doors.

Next, I looked at those with ice maker and water access on the door.

I cook a lot, so I wanted to maximize my fridge space for food and hence, I opted for models that had ice makers in the door, rather than having the unit in the fridge taking up shelf space (french door with freezer below models).

With this I looked how the insides were cut up..opting for more shelf space vs too many drawers.

It happened to be a sale weekend (memorial day?) so I found my perfect model on sale delivered and installed for about $1K off normal regular price.

I've yet to see the "Energy Star" rating on this unit. I supposed it it were a coin flip between 2 units, I might give the Star rating a look and use it as a factor.

But if not that many people are using this and it would save 30% off a federal agency, then why keep it?

Re:It's pretty simple

[cayenne8]

it will affect future generation more than us

I'll let them worry about it LOOOONG after I"m dead and buried.

Another outrage article

[Okian Warrior]

Every other "outrage" article on Slashdot has had a reasonable explanation.

It's happened so many times that we shouldn't even bother looking into them any more - they are so often wrong and too trivial to worry about.

Perhaps the EnergyStar program didn't actually do anything, but took up federal money. (Like that axed Obama-era justice standards group that didn't do anything useful.)

Perhaps it was being run by the wrong agency, and was perceived as overreach outside of the agency's jurisdiction (like that net-neutrality law).

Perhaps it held virtually no value to the consumer, by adjusting the standards to meet the industry products instead of the other way around (such as the drive to give more of America access to "broadband" internet).

Perhaps there were better and cheaper alternatives in the free market.

Historically speaking, this is almost certainly a non-issue.

It's most likely fake news intended to provoke outrage in the reader.

Re:Another outrage article

[Archangel Michael]

The Energy Star program costs almost nothing. There are zero government employees actually testing products.

Then, almost by definition, it is worthless. Does nothing, cost nothing and yet people are whining about it disappearing. Do you see the problem yet? Do you even begin to realize that the whole thing is a sham / scam feel good "But the evil _______ are cutting this valuable program!" anytime someone wants to remove it?

And there are thousands such programs with little more than nothing useful, but we can't cut them without some bleeding heart trotting out some anecdotal case.