Introduction Of Energy Efficient Buildings Promotion Act Of 2007

Floor Speech

INTRODUCTION OF ENERGY EFFICIENT BUILDINGS PROMOTION ACT OF 2007 -- (Extensions of Remarks - June 28, 2007)

* Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Madam Speaker, many of us recognize that one of the great challenges facing our nation today is combating global warming by reducing the greenhouse gas emissions responsible for the rapidly rising temperatures on our planet. What many may not realize, however, is that the largest source of emissions and energy consumption both in this country and around the world is buildings. Given this fact, any attempt to stem the tide of growing greenhouse gas emissions and improve energy efficiency must include the building sector. The federal government has an important role to play on this count, and must provide leadership to the rest of the country and world. To that end, I rise to introduce today the Energy Efficient Buildings Promotion Act of 2007.

* This legislation takes up ``The 2030 Challenge,'' issued by Ed Mazria of the organization Architecture 2030, who, I am proud to say, is one of my constituents and who was also instrumental in developing this legislation. The 2030 Challenge calls on the global architecture and building community to adopt targets to ensure that all new buildings, new developments and existing buildings undergoing major renovations, achieve carbon neutrality, or use no fossil fuel greenhouse gas emitting energy to operate, by 2030.

* Organizations, architects, local governments, and individuals wanting to do their part have all taken up this challenge. The U.S. Conference of Mayors has adopted it for all buildings in all cities. It is time for the federal government to do so as well. In the United States, the building sector accounts for approximately 48 percent of all annual energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Several states have implemented building standards for state government buildings, but the federal government needs to lead the rest of the nation by example, to encourage reduced fossil-fuel energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in the ``built'' environment.

* My legislation ensures that the federal government answers Architecture 2030's call by establishing an energy performance standard for new federal or federally supported buildings. For new federal buildings and federal buildings undergoing major renovations, they must meet the United States Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) silver level standards, or an equivalent standard approved by EPA. They must achieve at least a 60 percent reduction compared to the regional average energy consumption for that building type, and they must be built in a manner that will allow for declining fossil fuel energy consumption in amounts of 70 percent by 2011, 80 percent by 2015, 90 percent by 2020, and 100 percent by 2025.

* In addition, my legislation establishes similar standards for new buildings and buildings undergoing major renovations that were built with at least 10 percent of federalfunds. These buildings or renovations must be designed to achieve at least a 50 percent reduction compared to regional average energy consumption for that building type. Also, they must be built in a manner that will allow for declining fossil fuel energy consumption in amounts of 60 percent by 2011, 70 percent by 2015, 80 percent by 2020, 90 percent by 2025, and 100 percent by 2030.

* Madam Speaker, I believe these two new standards and the improved energy efficiency that will result will be a strong marker of Federal leadership towards more environmentally friendly buildings.

* It is not enough by itself, however. Another avenue for Federal leadership is the U.S. tax code. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 recognized this and established several very important tax credits and deductions to promote energy efficient construction and improvements to homes and commercial buildings. Many of these tax provisions are not only scheduled to expire in 2008, but in the estimation of many, were also set at amounts too low to spark the level of construction and efficiency improvements needed.

* To that end, this legislation extends to 2013 and increases the Nonbusiness Energy Property Tax Credit from $500 to $1,000, it extends to 2013 and increases the New Energy Efficient Homes Tax Deduction from $2,000 to $4,500 per unit, and extends to 2013 and increases the Energy Efficient Commercial Buildings Tax Deduction from $1.80 to $2.75 per square foot.

* Madam Speaker, we must take steps to address the greenhouse gas emissions and energy inefficiencies in the building sector. The Federal Government has a unique opportunity to provide the leadership for the rest of the country and even the world in promoting greener building. I urge my colleagues to cosponsor this legislation and help begin stemming the tide of a significant portion of the greenhouse gas emissions contributing to the problem of global warming.

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