[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 98 (Monday, June 23, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H5606-H5607]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             THERMAL INSULATION EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENT ACT

  Mr. KINZINGER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and pass the bill (H.R. 4801) to require the Secretary of Energy to 
prepare a report on the impact of thermal insulation on both energy and 
water use for potable hot water.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4801

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. REPORT ON ENERGY AND WATER SAVINGS POTENTIAL FROM 
                   THERMAL INSULATION.

       (a) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy, in 
     consultation with appropriate Federal agencies and relevant 
     stakeholders, shall submit to the Committee on Energy and 
     Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Energy 
     and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report on the 
     impact of thermal insulation on both energy and water use 
     systems for potable hot and chilled water in Federal 
     buildings, and the return on investment of installing such 
     insulation.
       (b) Contents.--The report shall include--
       (1) an analysis based on the cost of municipal or regional 
     water for delivered water and the avoided cost of new water; 
     and
       (2) a summary of energy and water savings, including short 
     term and long term (20 years) projections of such savings.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Kinzinger) and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Sarbanes) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.


                             General Leave

  Mr. KINZINGER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend 
their remarks and insert extraneous materials in the Record on the 
bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. KINZINGER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  I thank the Speaker for the time today to discuss H.R. 4801, the 
Thermal Insulation Efficiency Improvement Act.

                              {time}  1630

  Today, millions of gallons of water and energy are wasted due to 
heating losses that could be prevented through the increased use of 
thermal insulation. The purpose of this legislation is to help identify 
opportunities in which we can maximize energy and water efficiency 
through the minimization of waste in our Federal facilities.
  With the Federal Government being the single-largest consumer of 
energy in the country, the potential savings from the increased use of 
thermal insulation has the potential to be very significant in the 
amount of resources, both natural and financial, that can be saved.
  For example, we have seen what the benefits of mechanical insulation 
maintenance in commercial buildings can be, with savings potentially 
topping $4.8 billion annually. That is enough energy savings to light 
nearly 4 million homes per year.
  Up to this point, there have only been small-scale studies conducted 
to show the benefits such insulation can have on water and energy 
resources that are otherwise being wasted. The potential increase in 
energy efficiency is tremendous, as has been shown through the use of 
mechanical insulation, but this has not yet been demonstrated on a 
large scale.
  That is why I introduced H.R. 4801 with Congressman McNerney. This 
legislation takes a step in the right direction in demonstrating the 
benefits of thermal insulation not only to the private sector, but to 
show the Federal Government how it can increase energy

[[Page H5607]]

efficiency and cost savings by applying these techniques in our Federal 
facilities. The bill does this by simply having the Department of 
Energy compile a study on the impact of thermal insulation on both 
energy and hot and cold water systems in Federal buildings.
  I believe the addition of thermal insulation to the proper systems in 
our Federal facilities is both a relatively simple yet cost-effective 
way to reduce heat gains and losses that result in money simply going 
up in thin air. Estimates also show that thermal insulation saves up to 
500 times more energy over its lifespan than its cost, which translates 
into fairly generous returns on energy efficiency. Simply put, thermal 
insulation saves energy, water, and money.
  Once again, I urge passage of this bill.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bipartisan 
bill sponsored by Mr. Kinzinger and Mr. McNerney.
  The bill is straightforward. It simply tasks the Department of Energy 
with preparing a report on the impacts of using thermal insulation in 
Federal buildings.
  Insulating ducts and pipes can prevent a significant amount of energy 
from being wasted. That saves taxpayers money and it reduces pollution. 
This bill would ensure that the Department of Energy quantifies those 
potential savings so that the Federal Government can make commonsense 
energy efficiency investments.
  The bill has broad stakeholder support and was reported by voice vote 
in the Energy and Commerce Committee.
  Again, I congratulate my colleagues for their collaboration on this 
bill, and I urge my colleagues in the full House to support it.
  With that, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. KINZINGER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, once again, I want to thank 
Congressman McNerney for working with me diligently on this. I thank my 
colleagues on both sides of the aisle, and I urge passage of the bill.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Kinzinger) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4801.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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