July 26, 2004: Legislation Introduced To Promote Green Building
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sens. Jim Jeffords, I-Vt., and Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., have introduced legislation to promote green building practices for 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."