Author: Rock Ridolfi and Allan Skodowski

Since its launch in 1992, ENERGY STAR has been a widely recognized federal program for helping building owners, operators and consumers identify energy-efficient products and practices. On August 28, 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) finalized the 2026 ENERGY STAR Program Transition Plan, as provided for in a March 3, 2026, Memorandum of Agreement between the two agencies. Under the plan, DOE assumes ownership of the ENERGY STAR trademark, leadership of the program and oversight of core operations, and EPA moves to a support role.

For commercial building owners, the key point is that the published transition plan provides for ENERGY STAR to continue operating under DOE leadership. In its August 28 announcement, EPA stated that the agencies are committed to a smooth transition and that a complete transition of the program, including its IT portfolio and associated databases, will occur by July 2027. Transition activities are subject to available appropriations, and funding transfers between the agencies require approval through the annual congressional appropriations process.

This matters because ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager is the tool many owners and facility teams use to benchmark building performance, track energy and water use, and calculate greenhouse gas emissions. Many state and local benchmarking and building performance standard laws require owners to report through Portfolio Manager, so maintaining accurate, consistent records during the transition remains important.

EPA’s announcement does not identify any change to how owners use Portfolio Manager, apply for ENERGY STAR certification or manage existing benchmarking workflows. EPA stated that throughout the transition, users will continue to have access to resources at energystar.gov and to the ENERGY STAR and Portfolio Manager Help Desks, and that EPA and DOE will provide updates as the process moves forward. Building teams should watch for DOE guidance, system updates and communications that may affect user accounts or reporting processes.

The agency transition does not by itself amend state or local benchmarking or building performance standard laws. Owners remain responsible for the requirements and deadlines of each jurisdiction where they own or operate buildings. The practical priority is data quality: utility data, building characteristics, occupancy information and historical benchmarking records should be reviewed regularly so owners are prepared for reporting deadlines and certification applications.

DOE is not new to ENERGY STAR; the Energy Policy Act of 2005 codified the program as a joint EPA–DOE effort. As the lead agency, DOE will now be responsible for future program updates.

What building owners can do now:

· Continue benchmarking.

· Keep Portfolio Manager information current.

· Review performance trends.

· Confirm that internal teams and service providers understand applicable compliance obligations and deadlines.

· Monitor DOE and ENERGY STAR communications as transition milestones approach.

· Periodically export Portfolio Manager records and retain supporting utility data.

ENERGY STAR’s lead agency is changing, but the need for accurate building data and proactive energy management remains the same. Owners who stay engaged will be better positioned to respond to future updates and continue making informed decisions about building performance.

Sources: EPA ENERGY STAR partner notice, August 28, 2026; 2026 ENERGY STAR Program Transition Plan (energystar.gov/sites/default/files/2026-08/ENERGY%20STAR%20Transition%20Plan%20Final%2008.28.2026_508.pdf); EPA–DOE Memorandum of Agreement, March 3, 2026 (epa.gov/system/files/documents/2026-03/exec-2026-001205-moa-between-doe-and-epa-as-of-march-3-2026-doe.pdf). Information reviewed October 12, 2026.

Rock Ridolfi is an Associate and Allan Skodowski is a Principal with EEI Building Performance.