Helps Contractors Meet Green Building Owners’ Requirements
AGC, as a member of the High Performance Building Coalition, on Nov. 7 expressed support for the federal government’s Energy Star program, as the House of Representatives weighs significant changes to the successful program. The program helps contractors select cost-saving energy efficiency building solutions and products as a means toward achieving various green building owner requirements. Earlier this year, the Trump Administration’s proposed budget zeroed out funding for the program.
Currently, the House Energy and Commerce Committee is considering legislation that would move the Energy Star program wholesale to the Department of Energy from its home of the last 25 years in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, relax third-party certifications, and require the voluntary and non-regulatory program to comply with the Administrative Procedures Act. The AGC and the HPB Coalition urged caution against making changes to this time-tested program that has helped industry deliver over $146 billion in energy costs savings to businesses and homeowners. The coalition also urged further study on the costs of moving the program before such a decision is made.
For more information, contact Melinda Tomaino at tomainom@agc.org or (703) 837-5415.