Washington, D.C. – Today Congressman Jerry McNerney (CA-09) announced the House Committee on Energy and Commerce unanimously passed his bipartisan bill on improving the energy and water efficiency of federal buildings.
Rep. McNerney’s bill, HR 4801, would require the Department of Energy to submit a report to Congress on the impact of thermal insulation on energy and water use systems in federal buildings and the return on investment of installing such insulation. The bill was cosponsored by Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL).
“It is important for us to look for ways to save taxpayer money and ensure the federal government is doing its part to preserve our natural resources,” said Rep. McNerney. “Thermal insulation can be a simple and effective way to reduce costs and help conserve both water and energy. Additionally, we can use the findings from this study and make sure we are doing everything we can in both federal and private buildings to maximize energy and water efficiency.”
The National Insulation Association (NIA) expressed its support for Rep. McNerney’s bill: “Thermal insulation has so much potential to conserve energy and water resources, which is particularly important at a time when we need to embrace cost-effective, commonsense solutions,” said NIA Executive Vice President and CEO Michele Jones. “The National Insulation Association (NIA) and its members are thrilled to see members of Congress taking active leadership roles in bringing this simple but far-reaching technology into the spotlight. We hope to continue to work with Congress to ensure more projects can enjoy the financial, energy, and water savings associated with the increased use of thermal insulation.”
The NIA estimates that thermal insulation in commercial and industrial buildings could save $4.8 billion a year, as well as creating nearly 90,000 jobs. The carbon emission reduction would be the equivalent of removing 8 million cars from U.S. roadways.
