Trump is trying to kill a program that saved Americans $40 billion a year. This private company is rebuilding a key part of it

"But in June, when the EPA offered a second round of early retirement (or deferred resignation), Zatz was one of more than 1,400 employees to step away. The offer came after President Trump and the so-called Department of Government Efficiency rolled out mass terminations and program cuts to shrink the federal workforce at large."

"It also came after Trump took aim at Energy Star specifically. In May, Trump announced his plans to shut the program down, part of a larger attack on energy efficiency measures since his return to office. No matter that the program was voluntary, that it saves Americans $40 billion on energy bills annually, that it's notably cost-effective for a government program (for every one federal dollar invested, Energy Star delivers a return of $350), or that it has long had bipartisan support."

"At Energy Star, Zatz was crucial to getting commercial buildings on board with Portfolio Manager, a free tool to track and benchmark building energy use, which helps owners and operators comply with local laws, get green financing loans for investing in efficiency measures, and earn environmental recognitions. Zatz even helped expand Portfolio Manager to Canada. Under him, the tool became the industry standard in North America: a trusted, free, essential resource."

Mike Zatz spent two decades managing the commercial building side of Energy Star and helped make Portfolio Manager the industry standard in North America. He accepted a second-round early retirement in June among more than 1,400 EPA departures after President Trump and the Department of Government Efficiency enacted mass terminations and program cuts. Trump announced plans in May to shut Energy Star despite the program saving Americans $40 billion annually and returning roughly $350 for every federal dollar invested. Portfolio Manager is a free benchmarking tool used for compliance, green financing, and environmental recognition; Zatz expanded it to Canada and now works at Measurabl as senior vice president of Global Data Ecosystems and Partnerships.

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