U.S. Sens. Jim Jeffords, I - Vt., and Frank Lautenberg, D - NJ, today introduced legislation to promote the development and construction of environmentally friendly federal buildings and schools. The "High-Performance Green Buildings Act of 2004," authorizes $35 million over five years to support federal buildings and schools that are designed and operated to boost environmental, economic, health and productivity performance above that of conventional buildings.
Jeffords, the ranking member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee said, "Green buildings are an environmental investment in our future. This legislation promotes buildings that incorporate energy efficiency, waste reduction and other efficient design features. Green buildings improve the health of their occupants, protect our natural resources, and in the long-run can save our nation billions of dollars in energy and other costs. It's time for the federal government to catch up to the private sector and work together to reap the many benefits of high-performance buildings."
Lautenberg said, "Since people, on average, spend 90% of their time indoors, we must encourage the proliferation of 'green buildings' to make those hours healthier. We will do a lot through our legislation to improve the indoor air quality and safety of school buildings, while saving taxpayers billions of dollars in energy costs."
The legislation:
expands existing green building research;
provides $10 million in grants to state and local education agencies for the implementation of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Tools for Schools Program, school facility design, construction, and renovation; and systematic improvements with school siting, indoor air quality, contaminants, and other health issues;
promotes research on schools to identify relations between school facilities and student health, safety, and productivity;
aids security efforts by providing alternative sources of energy and water in the event of a terrorist attack;
improves the coordination of federal green building efforts;
provides for public outreach and assistance to states;
supports green building-related markets;
creates an incentive for making investments in federal green building purchases and practices;
requires the Comptroller General to review the federal budget process to identify and incorporate long-term savings that can accrue from the use of life-cycle costing in building construction;
creates an Office of High-Performance Green Buildings at the General Services Administration (GSA) to promote public outreach, research and development;
creates an Interagency Steering Committee (ISC) to increase the coordination of all relevant agencies in their implementation of the multiple laws and executive orders.
Jeffords and Lautenberg drafted the legislation based on the findings of two recent reports: "Building Momentum: National Trends and Prospects for High-Performance Green Buildings," prepared by the U.S. Green Building Council; and "The Federal Commitment to Green Building: Experiences and Expectations," prepared in 2003 by the President's Office of the Federal Environmental Executive.
Joining Jeffords and Lautenberg in sponsoring the legislation are Senators Tom Carper, D - Del., Hilary Clinton, D - NY, Tom Harkin, D - Iowa, Patrick Leahy, D - Vt., Harry Reid, D- Nev., and Ron Wyden, D - Or.
In the United States, buildings account for: 36% of total energy use; 65% of electricity consumption; 30% of greenhouse gas emissions; 30% of raw materials use; 30% of waste output (136 million tons annually) and 12% of potable water consumption. According to the U.S. Green Building Council there are 118 certified green buildings across the United States with 1,395 in the pipeline.
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