Coalition Praises Pennsylvania House for Passing Green Building Bill

Pennsylvania Works!, a coalition of environmental, conservation, preservation, housing, and research groups, praised the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for its passage of the Green Buildings Bill (HB 444) on July 13, 2009. This bill requires many new and renovated state-owned buildings, as well as certain state-funded buildings such as schools, to meet green building standards.

“This bill is a win-win for both the environment and taxpayers, since green buildings save money, energy, and resources,” says Ed Boito, coalition campaign director, who works for PennFuture. “Green Buildings also create a better and healthier environment for working and learning. They are less expensive to operate, with significantly lower energy costs. They cause far less pollution, particularly reduced heat-trapping gases that cause global warming. And this bill will grow green jobs, increasing the demand for workers who can build and operate green buildings.”

House Bill 444 is sponsored by Representative Matt Smith (D-Allegheny), who has been a strong champion for green buildings the past two legislative sessions. Representative Kate Harper (R-Montgomery) amended the bill so that it now includes the buildings under the control of the General Assembly, state courts, state-affiliated agencies such as the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and the State System of Higher Education, and state-related institutions such as Penn State University, the University of Pittsburgh and Temple University.

“Our coalition believes that job creation is job number one,” continues Boito, “and they must be good, family-sustaining jobs of lasting value that can’t be outsourced. This bill will help us meet that need. We urge the Pennsylvania State Senate to join the House and pass the Green Buildings Bill without delay.”