Here’s a summary of the CNBC article, focusing on the potential impacts of EPA restructuring on the Energy Star Portfolio Manager program:
Key Points:
EPA Cuts & Potential Impact: The EPA announced job cuts and restructuring in May, and reports suggest Energy Star, specifically the Portfolio Manager tool, is affected.
Portfolio Manager’s Importance: This tool is widely used by landlords (over 330,000 buildings, nearly 25% of US commercial space) to track energy performance, comply with regulations, and identify needed upgrades. It’s also used by seven states, 48 local governments, and two Canadian provinces for energy benchmarking.
Data Loss Concerns: If the EPA defunds the program, the data collected within Portfolio Manager could be lost, disrupting the flow of energy information between utilities, landlords, and governments.
Significant Savings at Stake: The program supports roughly $14 billion in annual energy cost savings.Losing access to this data would hinder efforts to improve energy efficiency and implement retrofits.
Industry Opposition: Organizations like the NAHB, NAA, and NMHC are actively working to preserve the program.
Potential for Increased Costs & Bias: A shift to private management could lead to user fees and perhaps biased promotion of specific energy technologies (like electrification) rather than a neutral focus on overall energy efficiency.
Compliance Complications: Without a standardized government-run program,compliance with energy regulations could become fragmented and more difficult.
Data Backup Efforts: Companies like Cambio are offering services to back up existing Portfolio Manager data,but won’t be able to access future data if the EPA shuts down the system.
In essence, the article highlights the significant risk that changes at the EPA could jeopardize a valuable, cost-effective tool for energy management and potentially hinder progress towards greater energy efficiency in the real estate sector.
