ATLANTA - The human, environmental, economic, and total societal impact of high performance buildings is being recognized during High-Performance Building Week, May 23-29. The High-Performance Building Congressional Caucus Coalition (HPBCCC), established by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), will highlight the importance of high-performance buildings to federal, state, and local policymakers and the general public.

“We have a growing stock of high-performance buildings that provide a healthy environment and use less energy, water, and other resources than conventional buildings,” said ASHRAE President Lynn G. Bellenger. “Highlighting these achievements will promote integrated design practices and accelerate the transformation of our design and construction approach from minimum code compliance to high-performance buildings.”

Events for the week will kick off on Tuesday, May 24, with a Congressional press event, held at 9:30 a.m. in 2325 Rayburn House Office Building. A luncheon presentation will also be held that day. “Introduction to High-Performance Buildings: How Buildings Keep Americans Safe, Grow the Economy and Protect the Environment” will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on May 24, 2325 Rayburn House Office Building. Reps. Judy Biggert (R-Ill.) and Russ Carnahan (D-Mo.), who serve as co-chairs of the High-Performance Buildings Caucus, have been invited to make the welcoming remarks.

Speakers include Bellenger from ASHRAE, as well as representatives from the Institute for Market Transformation, the International Code Council, the National Institute of Building Sciences, and the U.S. General Services Administration, among others. Panelists will discuss how high-performance buildings impact jobs, the economy, environment, safety and security, as well as what high-performance building means in practice and what it takes to get there.

Additional activities in Washington, D.C., include a Congressional budget briefing featuring perspectives from the House Tea Party Caucus and Congressional Progressive Caucus, May 25; site visits, such as a tour of American University’s energy efficiency retrofits, May 25; a discussion on Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) certification at the National Building Museum, May 26; and a tour and reception at the American Society of Landscape Architects Congressional Green Roof, also May 26.

At the state and local level, members of the building community are encouraged to celebrate the week through public outreach and contact with public officials. Members of the HPBCCC participating organizations are asked to contact their member of Congress by phone and email and encourage them to join the High-Performance Buildings Congressional Caucus. Tips and resources for getting in touch with local representatives can be found at www.hpbccc.org/hpbweek.

Publication date:05/23/2011