Federal Funding for ENERGY STAR® Secured for FY 2026 Jan 28, 2026 ENERGY STAR was an IFMA Advocacy Priority in the 119th Congress IFMA GLOBAL HQ – (28 January 2026) – The International Facility Management Association (IFMA) applauds the U.S. government’s recent action to allocate US$33 million to the Department of Energy to continue the ENERGY STAR® program. The bill – H.R. 6938 – was signed into law on 23 January, after bipartisan approval from the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate the previous week. For decades, IFMA has recognized and championed the business case for energy efficiency, highlighting its role in enhancing U.S. economic competitiveness, reducing environmental waste and strengthening national security. The enactment of the Energy and Water Appropriations Bill, which includes funding for the ENERGY STAR program, was a policy priority of IFMA’s advocacy efforts and supported through individual outreach and coordinated coalition efforts with the High Performance Buildings Congressional Coalition. "IFMA has long supported pragmatic, bipartisan programs like ENERGY STAR that have a substantial and measurable impact on building operations, maintenance and performance," said Michael V. Geary, CAE, IFMA President and CEO. "Across four decades, ENERGY STAR has been a proven and reliable tool for facility managers, providing consistent data on energy consumption to improve efficiency, productivity and operations for organizations and their building portfolios." Since 1992, ENERGY STAR has been one of the most successful voluntary government initiatives, saving 5 trillion kilowatt-hours of electricity, more than US$500 billion in energy costs, and preventing 4 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions. In that time, ENERGY STAR established methodologies and benchmarks to create energy performance ratings that have influenced global green buildings standards. Funding for ENERGY STAR and other essential programs that serve the building sector has been a priority in the 119th Congress. Support for ENERGY STAR was an IFMA Advocacy Priority in the 119th Congress. IFMA Advocacy Efforts are dedicated to providing reliable information to decision-makers and stakeholders on issues with the potential to impact the built environment including energy, sustainability, workforce, building health and safety. About IFMA Founded in 1980, the International Facility Management Association (IFMA) is the world’s largest, most widely recognized association for facility management (FM) professionals. Supporting more than 25,000 members in over 140 countries, IFMA is a key contributor to the development of international FM standards and works with decision-makers to inform FM-related policy. IFMA provides career resources and continuing education, offers three industry-respected credentials, maintains the largest repository of FM-related content on the web and hosts year-round global events. With a vision to lead the future of the built environment to make the world a better place, IFMA believes in the benefit of global diversity, inclusion and social equity, and recognizes that sustainability, resilience and responsible environmental stewardship are paramount. For more information, visit ifma.org and our LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, Threads, X and Flickr pages. Follow IFMA’s Connected FM podcast and blog for expert insights on trending industry topics.
