The Department of Energy (DOE) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a detailed plan outlining how DOE will assume leadership and core operations of the federal ENERGY STAR program. The transition is expected to be completed by July 2027, with continued congressional oversight. (ENERGY STAR Transition Plan, Aug. 28)

ENERGY STAR Transition

• The plan details the steps DOE will take to assume ownership of the ENERGY STAR trademark, lead the program, and oversee its core operations. (Utility Dive, Sept. 4)

• DOE is expected to host ENERGY STAR’s information technology portfolio—including Portfolio Manager and related datasets—once the transition is complete by July 2027. (Government Market News, Sept. 7)

• The plan also calls for ENERGY STAR appropriations to be transferred from EPA to DOE as needed to financially support the program.

• Congress provided approximately $33 million for ENERGY STAR through EPA in the FY 2026 appropriations law, preserving the program’s funding through Sept. 30.

• The transition plan calls for DOE to leverage the expertise of existing EPA staff and contractors while recruiting personnel to support ENERGY STAR’s essential functions. (ENERGY STAR Transition Plan, Aug. 28)

ENERGY STAR by the Numbers

• More than 2,100 non-data center buildings have earned ENERGY STAR certification so far in 2026.

• Since 2025, 240 buildings have earned ENERGY STAR NextGen certification, according to the program’s national buildings registry.

• ENERGY STAR has helped families and businesses save more than $500 billion in energy costs since 1992.

Roundtable View

• The transition plan aligns with RER’s policy priority to maintain and evolve ENERGY STAR as a voluntary federal program and continue building the industry’s relationship with DOE’s implementation team.

• “It has been a privilege for RER to be involved in the discussions around transition of ENERGY STAR from the EPA to the DOE. RER has productively partnered with the Agency and the Department on a number of issues, and we are fortunate that ENERGY STAR, a critical program for our industry, has found a logical home to provide us with a credible, voluntary, global framework to measure building performance, reduce wasted energy, and improve profitability,” said RER Sustainability Policy Advisory Committee Chair Anthony Malkin (Chairman and CEO, Empire State Realty Trust, Inc.).

• Malkin continued, “ENERGY STAR’s continued success depends on the expertise and reliable data available that is fully housed at the DOE.  ENERGY STAR’s Portfolio Manager is a unique tool that provides our industry with the most widely used software to measure and quantify building performance. The DOE’s stewardship will allow ENERGY STAR to evolve alongside the market and continue to provide owners, tenants, and investors with its immensely valuable objective metrics.”

• Following the announcement of the Memorandum of Agreement in March, RER joined a broad coalition representing the consumer products, manufacturing, real estate, and retail sectors earlier this year in support of DOE’s new leadership role. (Letter, March 30 | RER News Release, March 31 | Memorandum of Agreement, March 3)

• “This plan provides a clear roadmap for DOE to assume responsibility for ENERGY STAR while maintaining Congress’s oversight of the program,” said RER President and CEO Jeffrey DeBoer. “RER will continue working with DOE, the House and the Senate to support adequate funding, retain essential expertise, and ensure a smooth transition that strengthens America’s energy and global economic competitiveness.”

RER and its coalition partners will continue working with DOE, Congress, and other stakeholders to support the program and help ensure a smooth transition