[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 492 Engrossed in House (EH)]

H. Res. 492

                In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

                                                          June 8, 2009.
Whereas the High-Performance Buildings Congressional Caucus Coalition has 
        declared the week of June 15 through June 19, 2009, as ``High-
        Performance Building Week'';
Whereas the House of Representatives has recognized the importance of high-
        performance buildings through the inclusion of a definition of high-
        performance buildings in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 
        2007;
Whereas our homes, offices, schools, and other buildings consume 40 percent of 
        the primary energy and 70 percent of the electricity in the United 
        States annually;
Whereas buildings consume about 12 percent of the potable water in this country;
Whereas the construction of buildings and their related infrastructure consume 
        approximately 60 percent of all raw materials used in the United States 
        economy;
Whereas buildings account for 39 percent of United States carbon dioxide 
        emissions a year approximately equaling the combined carbon emissions of 
        Japan, France, and the United Kingdom;
Whereas Americans spend about 90 percent of their time indoors;
Whereas poor indoor environmental quality is detrimental to the health of all 
        Americans, especially our children and elderly;
Whereas high-performance buildings promote higher student achievement by 
        providing better lighting, a more comfortable indoor environment, and 
        improved ventilation and indoor air quality;
Whereas high-performance residential and commercial building design and 
        construction should effectively guard against natural and human caused 
        events and disasters, including fire, water, wind, noise, crime, and 
        terrorism;
Whereas high-performance buildings, which address human, environmental, 
        economic, and total societal impact, result from the application of the 
        highest level of design, construction, operation, and maintenance 
        principles--a paradigm change for the built environment; and
Whereas the United States should continue to improve the features of new 
        buildings, and adapt and maintain existing buildings, to changing 
        balances in our needs and responsibilities for health, safety, energy 
        efficiency, and usability by all segments of society: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of High-Performance Building Week;
            (2) recognizes and reaffirms our Nation's commitment to High-
        Performance Buildings by promoting awareness about their benefits and by 
        promoting new education programs, supporting research, and expanding 
        access to information;
            (3) recognizes the unique role that the Department of Energy plays 
        through the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's Building 
        Technologies Program, which works closely with the building industry and 
        manufacturers to conduct research and development on technologies and 
        practices for building energy efficiency;
            (4) recognizes the important role that the National Institute of 
        Standards and Technology plays in developing the measurement science 
        needed to develop, test, integrate, and demonstrate the new building 
        technologies; and
            (5) encourages further research and development of high-performance 
        building standards, research, and development.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.