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“IN RECOGNITION OF THE IMPORTANCE OF BUILDING ENERGY CODES AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Energy was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E788-E789 on May 25, 2016.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
IN RECOGNITION OF THE IMPORTANCE OF BUILDING ENERGY CODES AND ENERGY
EFFICIENCY
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HON. DANIEL LIPINSKI
of illinois
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the importance of building energy codes. As a member of the High Performance Building Caucus, I recognize the need to pursue cost effective means to promote energy efficiency.
American homes and commercial buildings consume 71 percent of our nation's electricity, 54 percent of its natural gas, and 42 percent of all its energy. The model residential and commercial building energy codes developed by the International Code Council and ASHRAE, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers, have the potential to benefit both consumers and the environment. The Department of Energy's Building Energy Codes Program participates in this process by researching, further developing, and implementing these codes. A study of this program by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory found that model energy codes saved consumers roughly $44 billion and cut greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 3.9 billion metric tons over the past 20 years. In addition, the energy efficiency gained by updating building energy codes stands to stabilize the U.S. demand for electricity and decrease the need to construct more power plants.
The economic and environmental benefits of model building codes are also appreciated by homebuyers. According to a 2013 survey conducted by the National Association of Home Builders, 9 out of 10 Americans will pay 2 to 3 percent more for a new home with energy efficient features. Homeowners understand that having an energy efficient home reduces monthly utility bills and provides long-lasting savings. Additionally, many homebuyers are aware that energy efficient features make their homes quieter and more comfortable, while also raising their resale values.
Mr. Speaker, it is clear from all of the benefits gained from building energy codes that we should continue to support upgrading model codes, adopting the codes in state and local jurisdictions, and improving compliance. This will save Americans money, contribute to our nation's energy security, and help protect our environment.
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