UK Solar VS US Rollbacks

The U.K. doubles down on solar while the U.S. dismantles climate progress.

In a bold and unequivocal move, the UK has announced that nearly all new homes built beginning in 2027 will be required to have rooftop solar panels. The policy, part of a broader building code update aimed at cutting energy bills and reducing emissions, solidifies the UK’s position as a global leader in climate-forward policy.

It’s a common-sense approach to integrating proven, cost-effective technology into the built environment—one that aligns with consumer demand, economic logic, and our collective need to decarbonize quickly.

Meanwhile, across the pond, the U.S. is unraveling decades of climate progress.

From attacking California’s electric vehicle emissions standards to repealing rebates and incentives for energy efficiency and electrification upgrades, the current administration is engaging in a systematic effort to dismantle climate protections.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency boasted that it was launching “the biggest deregulatory action in U.S. history,” targeting foundational policies that protect our air, water, and soil.

The administration taken other arcane actions like canceling dozens of U.S. Geological Survey climate research projects, firing scientists working on the National Climate Assessment report, and worked to dismiss a landmark youth climate lawsuit, Juliana VS. United States, brought by 21 young Americans demanding action on the climate crisis.

Strange Victims

Just this week, the administration announced that it was planning to cancel the ENERGY STAR program, a baffling move given the efficacy and popularity of the certification.

As reported by MSNBC, “Support for the Energy Star program has long been bipartisan—it was created under George H.W. Bush’s presidency—and it’s one of only a handful of landmark energy policies that have been celebrated by environmentalists and industry advocates alike. It costs almost nothing to administer, and it’s delivered massive annual savings every year for decades.”

Nearly every major manufacturer of appliances and other relevant products already offers ENERGY STAR-certified products—typically at no additional cost to consumers—and the energy savings they deliver translate to lower utility bills and fast payback periods.

Eliminating the program won’t save taxpayers meaningful money, but it will create unnecessary confusion in the marketplace and undermine decades of progress toward smarter energy use.

The move appears more politically motivated than grounded in economic or environmental logic. However, if the program is dismantled, you can bet the industry won’t stand still—alternative certifications will emerge to fill the gap, because the ethos that drives efficiency, savings, and climate responsibility is here to stay.

Against the Grain

The administration’s decisions are particularly perplexing given the marked shift in consumer demand for sustainable products, vehicles, and homes. Green Builder Media’s COGNITION Smart Data shows that consumers are not just ready—they’re eager—for more efficiency, electrification, and climate resilience in their homes.

Over 70% of homebuyers now say energy efficiency and sustainable features are essential, not optional. Builders are listening. Adoption of all-electric systems, advanced insulation, and smart energy management solutions is increasing—even as the policy winds blow backward. Builders are innovating not because they are forced to, but because their customers demand it and their businesses depend on it.

According to COGNITION, more than 60% of U.S. builders are already integrating renewable energy into their housing designs, and nearly half are installing solar-ready infrastructure, even without mandates.

This aligns with data from SEIA, which shows a remarkable rise in solar installations across the country, even in traditionally conservative regions—demonstrating that solar isn’t political, it’s practical. In fact, some of the fastest-growing solar adoption is happening in deep red states, proving that clean energy transcends partisan boundaries when it provides real economic benefit.

The irony is striking: while the administration undercuts climate policy, it simultaneously disrupts American innovation. These decisions don’t just hurt companies—they stifle job creation, weaken our energy independence, and stall economic growth.

Stark Contrast

The contrast between the UK’s policy momentum and the U.S.’s policy regression is glaring. While one nation moves decisively toward a carbon-free future, the other is retreating into fossil-fueled denialism, spitefully dismantling climate programs and policies that have worked for decades.

But progress isn’t a partisan issue. It’s a planetary one. And the good news? Even if the U.S. federal government won’t lead, states, cities, companies, and consumers are filling the whitespace.

Let’s be clear: repealing climate policies won’t stop the climate crisis, but it will delay the development of innovative solutions, weaken our global competitiveness, and erode public trust.

As the UK and other countries around the world chart a course toward a cleaner, more resilient future, the U.S. risks being left behind, not just technologically, but morally.

If we want to stay relevant in the global economy, if we want to protect our communities, and if we want to offer future generations more than political whiplash and climate chaos, we must reject performative rollbacks and demand leadership rooted in science, equity, and long-term thinking. There’s too much at stake for anything less.

Want to learn more about zero carbon building? Enroll in Green Builder Media’s COGNITION Academy, which has robust courses on net zero carbon building, green building fundamentals, green product essentials and green building program like ENERGY STAR, Zero Energy Ready Homes, Indoor airPLUS, WaterSense, and HERS ratings.  

And, be sure to check out the COGNITION Carbon Offsets Marketplace if you’re interested in purchasing carbon offsets to mitigate emissions from your products, projects or lifestyle.