Is Energy Star Portfolio Manager Disappearing?
The Institute for Market Transformation (IMT) is sounding the alarm over recent reports that the federal government is considering terminating the ENERGY STAR® program—a move that would undermine one of the most successful and cost-effective energy efficiency initiatives in U.S. history.
Established in 1992 under President George H.W. Bush, ENERGY STAR has become a cornerstone of the nation’s efforts to reduce energy waste, lower utility bills, and promote sustainable building practices. Its public-private model, rooted in bipartisan support, has helped Americans save more than $40 billion annually, all while costing taxpayers just $32 million a year.
The Far-Reaching Impact of ENERGY STAR
The ENERGY STAR program isn’t just about labels on appliances—it’s a sophisticated, data-driven system that tracks energy performance across nearly a quarter of the commercial building space in the U.S. through tools like Portfolio Manager®. This platform has enabled building owners, businesses, and real estate professionals to benchmark performance, identify savings opportunities, and measure climate progress.
Some of ENERGY STAR’s most notable benefits include:
- $40 billion+ in annual savings for U.S. consumers and businesses
- Monitoring of nearly 25% of all U.S. commercial building space
- Enhanced sustainability and climate resilience across real estate sectors
A Critical Tool for the Real Estate Industry
More than 1,200 companies and organizations—including major trade associations representing over $20 trillion in real estate assets—rely on ENERGY STAR to guide cost-effective sustainability investments. These stakeholders have made their voices heard, expressing strong support for maintaining the program under the oversight of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Removing federal support would not only jeopardize these economic and environmental gains but also sow uncertainty across markets that depend on ENERGY STAR benchmarks for investment, leasing, and operational decisions. The EPA’s technical expertise is essential to preserving the integrity and credibility of the program.
Now Is the Time to Act
IMT and its partners, including the Building Innovation Hub and the U.S. Green Building Council, urge business leaders, building owners, and policymakers to take immediate action. The U.S. Green Building Council has launched a national campaign encouraging individuals and organizations to contact Congress and advocate for the continued funding and administration of the ENERGY STAR program.
What Happens if Energy Star Portfolio Manager Goes Away?
While the future of ENERGY STAR remains uncertain, property managers and building owners must begin preparing for potential disruptions to their compliance workflows, benchmarking routines, and ESG reporting. Without a federally supported standard like Portfolio Manager, cities with benchmarking mandates may need to rapidly revise their requirements, creating confusion and compliance risks across jurisdictions. Critical initiatives tied to carbon tracking, energy grading, and building certification could also stall, especially for portfolios that rely heavily on automated ESPM connections.
At Workflow Control, we’ve built our platform to integrate seamlessly with ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager—but we’re also ready for what comes next. Our system already aggregates, stores, and benchmarks utility data independently, so our clients maintain access to their building performance insights no matter what.
If ENERGY STAR is sunset, Workflow Control will be there to ensure your operations remain compliant, your data stays intact, and your sustainability goals continue moving forward. The transition may be coming, but with the right tools, your buildings don’t have to miss a beat.
