Two pieces of legislation were introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate in March with the words “energy savings” in their titles. If Congress chooses to pass these bills, they will ultimately have an impact on how HVAC contractors conduct their businesses.

More than a year since its introduction, could Congress finally be ready to vote on S. 1000, the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act (ESICA) of 2011?

Energy-efficiency aficionados are heralding the Senate’s approval of a bill that includes measures they have been touting for years. On Sept. 22 — at 3 a.m. — the U.S. Senate unanimously approved H.R. 4850, the Enabling Energy Savings Innovations Act.

Barack Obama has been re-elected president, Republicans have retained control of the House of Representatives, and Democrats continue to rule the Senate. To naysayers, the election may have seemed like one big waste of energy; however, to energy-efficiency advocates, the election may help eliminate a great deal of energy waste.

President Obama has signed H.R. 6582, the American Energy Manufacturing Technical Corrections Act, into law. The bill, which was supported by the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), was passed by the House of Representatives and Senate in early December.