Activation of estrogen receptor alpha induces beiging of adipocytes

•Selective activation of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) increases markers of beiging in white adipocytes.•Selective ERα activation increases glycerol release, lipolysis, markers of beiging of adipose tissues.•Mice lacking ERα are cold intolerant demonstrating the necessity of ERα to facilitate brown adipose tissue activation.•Mice with ERα only in the membrane (MOER mice) are more sensitive to a β3-adrenergic receptor induced beiging when compared to mice that express nuclear only ERα (NOER).