[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 71 (Monday, May 20, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E701-E702]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HIGH PERFORMING BUILDING WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL G. GRIMM

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 20, 2013

  Mr. GRIMM. Mr. Speaker, this week, architects, code officials, 
homebuilders, architects, engineers and representatives from the 
building trades will convene in Washington to celebrate High-
performance Building week.
   The annual event features briefings, meetings, and other educational 
opportunities to showcase and promote the good work being done to 
construct and maintain buildings that are more resilient, use less 
energy, and mitigate their impact on the environment.
   As a member of the High-Performance Building Congressional Caucus, I 
know that building owners and operators work hard to find new creative 
ways to minimize the impact that rising energy costs have on their 
operations.
   Many of these owners and operators are beginning to see the fruits 
of their labor, as improved designs of new buildings, and smart 
retrofits of existing buildings, free up capital and allow managers to 
commit more resources to their core operations, rather than to utility 
bills.

[[Page E702]]

   One of the easiest, most cost effective ways to improve building 
performance is to ensure that proper insulation is installed in a 
building.
   While most of us think that insulation is only for our walls and 
attics, thermal insulation for piping and equipment, known as 
mechanical insulation, is a vital component for commercial and 
industrial applications.
   In an effort to address this issue, I introduced H.R. 184, the 
Mechanical Insulation Installation Incentive Act of 2013. This 
legislation is designed to incentivize commercial and industrial 
facility owners to make their buildings and facilities more efficient 
and put people back to work.
   According to the National Insulation Association, improved 
insulation for piping and mechanical components in commercial and 
industrial settings will help business save more than $4.8 billion a 
year.
   These improvements will also save resources to the tune of more than 
82 million barrels of oil, or 19 million tons of coal.
   I ask all my colleagues to consider supporting H.R. 184. It's a 
commonsense bill that will save money, improve facility operations, put 
people to work, and help our buildings and facilities perform to a 
higher standard.
   Mr. Speaker, in closing I would like to acknowledge the hard work 
that our nation's architects, engineers, and building professionals do 
to improve the condition of our homes, schools, and businesses.

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