ENERGY STAR® Program Shifts to DOE Oversight as Industry Leaders Call for Stability

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has officially assumed leadership of the ENERGY STAR^® program, following a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed on March 3, 2026. The transition marks a significant structural change to one of the nation’s most recognizable and successful energy efficiency initiatives.

Key Points of the MOA:

• Transfer of Authority: DOE will take over responsibility for administering ENERGY STAR, which has historically been managed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
• Timing: The agreement established a 90-day window for the agencies to develop and implement a transition plan covering staffing, operational responsibilities, and continuity of program functions.
• Transition Plan: Both agencies intend to maintain the core functions of ENERGY STAR during the transition, including the operation of ENERGY STAR^® Portfolio Manager^® and other core benchmarking and certification infrastructure.

Deb Cloutier, Chief Innovation Officer at Legence and founder of RE Tech Advisors, responded to the news, stating that “What matters most is that the mission remains unchanged: empowering businesses and consumers to save energy, reduce costs, strengthen energy security, and cut pollution through voluntary, high-performance solutions.” Cloutier also highlighted that the transition offers an opportunity for deeper alignment between policy, technology, and market adoption as DOE steps into its new role.

The Institute for Market Transformation (IMT) issued a formal statement underscoring ENERGY STAR’s critical role in the U.S. economy, noting that the program has helped families and businesses save more than $500 billion in energy costs since its launch. Nearly 90% of American households recognize the ENERGY STAR label, and sectors across a $20 trillion real estate and finance ecosystem rely on the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager platform for building performance benchmarking.

While acknowledging DOE’s strong track record in energy programs, IMT also urged federal agencies to maintain continuity by ensuring EPA staff and contractors—who possess decades of specialized expertise—remain central to program operations until DOE can onboard equivalent capacity. IMT stressed that any instability could lead to economic harm, increased energy waste, and reduced grid reliability.

As the transition unfolds, stakeholders across the built environment are calling for transparency, public engagement, and a robust plan to ensure that ENERGY STAR continues to deliver on its proven legacy. RE Tech remains optimistic during this change and will continue to champion ENERGY STAR, as we’ve seen first-hand the benefits of the program’s benchmarking platform, certification standards, and reporting tools.

Learn more about ENERGY STAR here.

Stay up to date on the latest ENERGY STAR happenings on DOE’s website.