[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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