ENERGY STAR Program Transferred From EPA To DOE

As of March 3rd, 2026, the EPA is transferring the ENERGY STAR program to the Department of Energy (DOE) through a 10-year Memorandum of Agreement. This shift, driven by a desire to unify labeling with DOE’s efficiency standards, initiates a 90-day transition period for transferring partnerships, IT systems, and databases.

Key Details of the Transition:

• Action: The EPA and DOE signed an updated MOA on March 3, 2026, establishing the DOE as the lead federal agency.
• Timeline: A 90-day transition plan will move activities, partnership agreements, trademarks, and IT systems from EPA to the DOE’s Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation.
• Staffing & Funding: The move follows recent federal staff reductions at both agencies.
• Industry Response: Some industry associations are claiming this is a positive move that aligns program management with technical expertise.
• Stability: Although Congress recently approved $33 million for the program in FY2026, the shift follows efforts to terminate the program previously.

This transfer is designed to streamline efficiency improvements across products by placing the voluntary ENERGY STAR program under the same administration as mandatory federal appliance standards.

The March 3rd Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between EPA & DOE can be found here.

David Shiller

David Shiller is the Publisher of LightNOW, and Senior Business Development Consultant at Capacity Consulting, a North American consulting firm providing business development services to advanced lighting manufacturers. The ALA awarded David the Pillar of the Industry Award. David has been co-chair of the ALA’s Engineering Committee since 2010. David established MaxLite’s OEM component sales into a multi-million dollar division. He invented GU24 lamps while leading ENERGY STAR lighting programs for the US EPA. David has been published in leading lighting publications, including LD+A, enLIGHTenment Magazine, LEDs Magazine, and more.

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