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Where Every Issue is a Green Issue| Providing Wisdom in Building a Sustainable Future | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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House Passes Major Energy Bill In August, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a far-reaching energy bill that includes a number of AIA-backed initiatives, including carbon-neutral federal buildings by 2030, an extension of the energy-efficient commercial buildings tax deduction, and the construction of a photovoltaic sun wall on the Department of Energy's headquarters. According to Andrew Goldberg, Assoc. AIA, the AIA's senior director of federal affairs, "By including many AIA priorities in the bill, the House showed that it understands the role sustainable design plays in promoting energy efficiency and reducing our carbon footprint. It shows that when our members speak out, Congress will listen." Carbon-Neutral Federal Buildings. The House bill, H.R. 3221, The New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security and Consumer Protection Act, requires that all new federal buildings and buildings undergoing major renovations meet the targets of the AIA-sponsored SustAIAnability 2030 Challenge. Section 6204 of the bill requires federal agencies to use sustainable design features to ensure that their facilities achieve the following fossil fuel-generated energy reduction percentages in upcoming years: Fiscal Year Percentage Reduction
Tom Bergan, manager of federal legislative affairs, notes that the carbon-neutral federal building provision was one of the three issues, or "asks," that AIA members brought to Capitol Hill during the 2007 Grassroots Legislative and Leadership Conference last February. "Our members' advocating for this provision truly paid off," he said. "Members of Congress really embraced the goal of having the federal government lead the way in making buildings more energy efficient." The Senate approved a similar provision in their energy bill earlier this summer. When Congress reconvenes in September, one of their first tasks will be to reconcile the two energy bills and produce a final piece of legislation to send to the White House. The AIA will continue to work with both the House and the Senate to ensure that the final bill includes the 2030 targets for federal buildings. Energy Efficient Commercial Buildings Tax Deduction. Another of the AIA's top "asks" from the Grassroots conference, extending the energy-efficient commercial buildings tax deduction, was also included in the House-passed energy bill. Section 10113 of the legislation extends the tax deduction until 2013. This provision allows for a tax deduction of $1.80 per square foot for the construction of energy-efficient commercial buildings and the installation of energy-efficient systems in existing commercial buildings that result in the reduction of energy consumption by 50 percent or more as compared to a reference building. Sun Wall Competition winning entry image Sun Wall. Another AIA-sponsored provision included in the bill will authorize funding for the long-delayed photovoltaic "Sun Wall" project at the Department of Energy's Washington, DC, headquarters. The AIA has championed this for more than five years. The wall would generate 200 kW of electricity and would be the largest building-integrated solar energy system on any federal building in the U.S. The design incorporates photovoltaic panels with a solar thermal installation for hot water. Studying Sustainable Schools. The House approved an AIA-backed amendment to the House bill that authorizes a study to explore the link between sustainable school design and student performance. The amendment, introduced by Reps. Darlene Hooley (D-OR), Michael McCaul (R-TX), and Jim Matheson (D-UT), will "help develop the knowledge base that will lead to the design and construction of schools that enable our students to be competitive with those in the rest of the world," according to a letter that the AIA sent to the representatives endorsing the amendment. |
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