USGBC Sees More Green Retrofitting

The United States Green Building Council (USGBC), Washington, says energy and climate legislation passed by the U.S. House in late June “includes several significant provisions to incentivize and accelerate the benefits of green building across the country.”

“From programs that would generate billions of dollars to spur and scale green retrofitting of our existing building stock to inclusion of the GREEN Act, which would create new opportunities for green affordable housing, this bill recognizes that green building is a major part of the solution to our economic and energy challenges,” says Rick Fedrizzi, president and CEO of the USGBC.

The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 includes several initiatives or provisions supported by or developed in consultation with USGBC, says the group, including:

•         The Retrofit for Energy and Environmental Performance (REEP) program, which supports the creation of retrofitting initiatives throughout the country for residential and non-residential buildings that may offer a variety of incentives, including credit enhancements, interest rate subsidies, and initial capital for public revolving loan funds.

•         The GREEN (Green Resources for Energy Efficient Neighborhoods) Act (H.R. 2336), which provides incentives to lenders and financial institutions to provide lower interest loans and other benefits to consumers who build, buy or remodel their homes in ways that improve energy efficiency. The bill also increases energy efficiency standards for Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) owned and assisted housing.

•         Extension of power purchasing authority for federal agencies, which allows the federal government to enter contracts for the purchase of renewable power for a period of up to 20 years.

USGBC offers a detailed summary of green building tie-ins to the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 at www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=6070.