Standards and Legislation

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This course explores how to obtain significant energy savings and obtain USGBC LEED credits by following the new, more stringent requirements of Standard 90.1-2013 and Appendix G rules and procedures. 

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.

For small business owners, including many in the HVACR industry, repealing the estate tax — or “death tax,” as it is also called — could have a significant positive impact on those who hope to pass their family businesses onto their descendants.

As buildings are constructed to be tighter and more efficient than ever before, mechanical ventilation has become increasingly important in order to maintain a healthy and comfortable indoor environment. Further affecting the ventilation market are increasingly stringent standards and codes, which are influencing both commercial and residential projects across the country.

The bill codifies and strengthens a 2005 executive order that prohibits government entities from requiring contractors to enter into project labor agreements as a condition of performing work on publicly funded construction projects.

As the HVAC industry faces increasing regulatory pressure, the effects of new efficiency and environmental standards are impacting compressors.

Despite receiving bipartisan support in both chambers of Congress last year as well as support from the HVAC industry and small businesses, the bill must pass the Senate and overcome a veto threat from President Barack Obama to become law.

 Comments regarding these proposed initiatives are being solicited from stakeholders and the general public. If you would like to submit a comment, please contact standards@bpi.org by April 12.

The inability or unwillingness of the DOE and the EPA to coordinate rulemakings and coalesce around energy-efficiency and environmental goals will “devastate” the industry, Anderson said.

The bill would require a thorough analysis of any new proposed regulation, including a cost-benefit analysis. It also calls for increased public participation throughout the regulatory process.