Energy efficiency is driving innovation in policies, practices, and technologies, and with that is becoming much more significant to our economy, noted speakers at the 2016 Energy Efficiency Forum, held at the National Press Club in Washington, District of Columbia, cosponsored by Johnson Controls and the U.S. Energy Association.
While certain provisions within the House and/or Senate versions of the bill have received support from industry and environmental organizations, many differences exist between the House and Senate versions of the bill that must be reconciled during conferencing.
Mayor Ed Murray applauded the Seattle City Council for passing building energy legislation that establishes policies aimed at driving energy efficiency and reducing climate impact. The legislation was first mentioned in Murray’s State of the City on Feb. 17.
While HR 8 does contain some appealing provisions for HVACR industry stakeholders, including a fix for the contentious 92 percent AFUE proposed furnace rule, many stakeholders are more concerned about language in the bill that threatens to reduce the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) role in helping to create and promote model building energy codes across the U.S.
Barring an act of Congress, the 30 percent federal tax credit for residential geothermal heat pump (GHP) systems will expire at the end of 2016. The industry is worried about what that means for the future.
The Tenant Star program will give tenants and building owners a way to work together to achieve significant energy savings in leased commercial spaces.
The legislation, which many are calling symbolic, represents a victory and a large step in the right direction for both Congress and energy-efficiency advocates across the nation.
The Energy Efficiency Improvement Act of 2015 aims to promote benchmarking and public disclosure of energy usage for buildings. While it is presently unclear if or how the disclosure of energy usage for buildings will be accessible to the public, the HVAC industry could greatly benefit from such legislation if that is indeed the case.
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed S. 535, the Energy Efficiency Improvement Act of 2015, sponsored by Sens. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, and Jeanne Shaheen, D-New Hampshire. The two senators have been attempting to get an energy efficiency bill passed since 2011. This is a no-cost, no-mandate bill, previously passed by the Senate on March 27, 2015.