Tim De Chant, a senior climate reporter at TechCrunch, has raised significant concerns regarding the potential elimination of the Energy Star program by the current administration. This new program is aimed solely at energy efficiency. It has become an invaluable partner in cutting America’s household energy costs, protecting the environment, and advancing sustainable practices across the country.
De Chant has a PhD in environmental science, policy and management from the University of California, Berkeley. She starts by stressing the value of the Energy Star program. He contends that eliminating the program would go against the administration’s pledge to reduce energy costs for American families.
“Eliminating the Energy Star program would directly contradict this administration’s promise to reduce household energy costs,” said De Chant. His claim is illustrative of a larger fear brewing in the environmental community about the fate of energy efficiency programs.
In his analysis, De Chant points out that the Energy Star program does incredible work on a shoestring budget. “For just $32 million a year, Energy Star delivers $12 billion in benefits for every federal dollar invested,” he explained. This impressive return on investment demonstrates the tremendous impact of the program on advancing energy-saving technologies and practices.
De Chant’s deep and wide experience in environmental studies runs like a current through his thinking. He has a BA degree in environmental studies, English and biology from St. Olaf College. Afterward, he launched a career that masterfully combines the practices of journalism and environmentalism. As a lecturer in MIT’s Graduate Program in Science Writing, he continues to inspire aspiring writers and journalists. He distills his expertise so that they begin to understand the nuances of climate-related challenges.
In 2018, De Chant was awarded the Knight Science Journalism Fellowship at MIT. It was this prestigious award that truly cemented for him and everyone else his lead as a thought leader in climate reporting. He’s long aimed his research and reporting on that policy space—especially where it dovetails with technology. This focus has made him a leading voice in sustainability conversations.
Questions regarding the future of the Energy Star program and its funding continue. De Chant’s encouraging conclusions help reinforce the importance of protecting hard-fought initiatives that deliver big wins for consumers and the environment.