CANADA GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL
ENERGY STAR FUNDED IN 2026: Good news for Canada's green building sector

Last year, the green building sector was shocked to hear that the US White House's FY2026 budget proposal eliminated all funding for the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA)  Atmospheric Protection Program, which oversees ENERGY STAR. Staff were let go, signaling plans to eliminate the program's core infrastructure. During the spring and summer, CAGBC engaged with the federal government and coordinated with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to advocate for the continuity of the Energy Star Portfolio Manager (ESPM) program in Canada, sending letters and setting meetings along with our partners, REALPAC and BOMA Canada.

A bipartisan negotiated bill was adopted yesterday by the House of Representatives that, according to USGBC, "includes US $33 million for the EPA to carry out the ENERGY STAR program. It represents a compromise between the House and Senate proposals from last summer and a modest increase over the $32 million provided in fiscal year 2024. Once signed into law, it will also be the very first time that Congress has stipulated a mandatory annual spending level for ENERGY STAR, placing a clear and binding legal requirement on the administration to fund the program for fiscal year 2026."  

Read the USGBC article here.

As an internationally recognized symbol of energy efficiency, ENERGY STAR is more than a label - it's a framework that underpins benchmarking, certification, and consumer trust across North America with Energy Star Portfolio Manager (ESPM). That's why CAGBC welcomes the news that funding for ENERGY STAR has been secured for the coming year.  

Energy Star is deeply embedded in Canada's sustainability ecosystem, and through Natural Resources Canada's partnership with the EPA, it provides:

• Benchmarking Tools for Performance 
  The ESPM is used by over 35,000 Canadian buildings to track energy and water use, identify efficiency opportunities, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It's the backbone of transparent reporting and performance improvement. 

• Consumer Confidence and Market Transformation 
  The ENERGY STAR label signals quality and efficiency, making it easier for builders, businesses, and homeowners to choose products and practices that save energy and reduce costs. 

Preserving this program is essential for Canada's green building sector and for 17 jurisdictions across the country using ESPM to support their policies, by providing a reliable and credible tool for advancing data transparency, access and for enabling benchmarking - all aspects critical to ensure the competitiveness of the real estate sector and meeting our climate goals.