[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 106 (Thursday, June 28, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1448]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    INTRODUCTION OF ENERGY EFFICIENT BUILDINGS PROMOTION ACT OF 2007

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                             HON. TOM UDALL

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, 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 federal funds. 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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