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AIA Opposes Effort to Repeal Energy Reduction Law for Federal Buildings

AIA Position

The AlA recognizes a growing body of evidence that demonstrates current planning, design, construction, and real estate practices contribute to patterns of resource consumption that will inhibit the sustainable future of the Earth. Architects, as the leaders in design of the built environment, are responsible to act as stewards of the Earth. Consequently, we encourage communities to join with us to take the leadership to change the course of the planet's future and support legislative and regulatory strategies that implement sustainable design practices to advance the goal of achieving carbon-neutral buildings by the year 2030.

Background

The Energy Independence and Security Act, signed into law in 2007 by President George W. Bush, contains a mandate for new federal buildings and retrofits totaling $2.5 million or more to reduce fossil-fuel generated energy consumption in scalable increments in the years leading up to 2030. According to Sec. 433, new federal buildings and large scale retrofits will be required to eliminate the use of fossil fuels entirely by 2030. The AIA supported this provision and has worked with the Department of Energy during its rulemaking process.

Recently, Congress proposed to significantly weaken or eliminate this provision, despite the rulemaking process being incomplete. We need your help to tell congress that building and sustainability professionals are already succeeding in making federal facilities meet Sec. 433.

 It is up to us to educate Congress on this important provision. Requiring significant energy reduction targets in new and renovated federal buildings demonstrates to the private sector that the federal government is leading by example. It is helping spur the development of new materials, construction techniques, and technologies to make buildings more energy efficient. And it is showing that significant energy reductions are both practical and cost-effective.

Useful Links

AIA Policy Research and Analysis: EISA Sec. 433

DOE’s Overview of the Energy Independence and Security Act

The 2030 Challenge