Mitigating Global Warming Through Building Efficiency Standards: A Proposal for Federal Legislation in the U.S.

Mitigating Global Warming Through Building Efficiency Standards: A Proposal for Federal Legislation in the U.S.By:Jake Tonkel, Dan Ibanez, Jossued Rivera, Jen Spartz, Ian Sweeney

The Dangers of Global WarmingOzone LayerPolar Ice CapsExtinctionSea LevelsHeat WavesSmog

www.break.comWho We RepresentGreen Building CouncilVisionThrough leadership collaboration, the global construction industry will transform traditional building practices and fully adopt sustainability to ensure the future health of our planet.MissionEnsure Green Building Councils are successful and have the tools necessary to advance.Stand as the premier international voice for green building design & development.Foster effective communications and collaboration between Councils, countries, and industry leaders.Support effective green building rating systems.Share best practices globally.

http://www.worldgbc.org/about-worldgbc/who-we-are/vision-a-missionMultinational 5LEEDLeadership in Energy and Environmental DesignGreen Building Rating SystemStandardsSustainable sites (14 points total)Water efficiency (5 points total)Energy and atmosphere (17 points total)Materials and resources (13 points total)Indoor environmental quality (15 points total)Innovation and design process (5 points total)Cert. (26-32); Silver (33-38); Gold (39-51); Platinum (52-69)

Created by GBCStandards for environmentally sustainable construction6AimsLegislative advocacy projectEffort to pass federal legislationUnited States governmentMainly CongressSupport from a CongresspersonTargeted at E&E Subcommittee of Energy and Commerce Committee of the HouseThis a legislative advocacy project aiming to commence an effort to pass federal legislation that implements a multi-faceted scheme to ensure the energy efficiency of large commercial buildings

Our target audience is the United States government concentrating on Congress

We seek the support from a Congressperson, whose state already employs similar legislation

This legislation would be targeted at the Energy and Environment Subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce Committee of the House of Representatives7RationaleRationaleEnergy increases of +57% in 25 years31% increase in the United StatesElectricity in U.S. to grow by 40%

Why Commercial Buildings?Account for 18% of U.S. energy consumption

Expected to grow at 1.6% annually in 25 years

Many Great Examples to follow

High Probability of success

Help the Construction Sector

Examples: The Aldo Leopold Foundation Headquarters, located in Wisconsin, has been certified as the the first ever, fully LEED-platinum certified, carbon neutral building in the world< www.inhabitat.com/2007/11/08/first-leed-platinum-carbon-neutral-building/>, Academy of Sciences Museum, the largest LEED Platinum building in the world as well as the worlds most sustainable museum building. < greenbuildingelements.com/2008/10/10/largest-leed-platinum-building-in-the-world/>Successful because: Technology exists, many solutions are not costly, all investments payback over time, many buildings/companies already heading in this direction, very noticeable within communities250,000 jobs will be created by 2020 through the energy efficiencyProvisions from the American Clean Energy and Security Act- this will create even more!10Why will it pass?Addresses the most important issues of our time

Many easily noticeable positive effectsAddresses: Climate Change Important step to reducing carbon emissions and energy use, City Pollution- reduce smog, National Security reduce dependence on foreign energy/oil (electric cars plugged in to building ports, Economic Savings/circulation every year saves money in energy billsLess money spent by owners, that can be spent elsewhereLess smog in citiesIncreased living/working conditions11OverallSave MoneySave ElectricityReduce CO2 EmissionsHelp with Energy IndependenceCreate Cleaner Cities and more comfortable livingAdvocacyAdvocacy LogisticsSub-federal level testingState governments utilizing LEED certification programsSupportPotential Congressional SponsorsStakeholdersOther sponsors

To test the project on a sub-federal level, it is best to experiment on state governments which employ LEED certification programsA city would be too small to compare to the whole country

The proposal needs to gain support from inside and outside Congress to be even made into a billCongressional sponsors are those Congresspersons that would actually propose the billThe most prominent stakeholders should voice their support for the legislationOther major sponsors that have joined our cause would also publicly support the bill14Legislation ProcessPropose legislation to CongresspersonCongressional legal team refines and edits itThe bill is then at the mercy of the CommitteesOur focus then shifts to approval form Committee with minor publicity on the general Congress

Since only a Congressperson can actually introduce a bill, our drafted proposal would go to his or her hands to be submitted to review

Congressional legal team would complete the final processes of refinement

At this point the proposal is out of our hands and the Committee has the power of in-depth and powerful review of the bill

We then focus to lobby the approval from the Committee, while at the same time doing some publicity on the rest of Congress15Support during legislation processReps. Ed Perlmutter and Earl Blumenauer and Sen. Sheldon WhitehouseCongressional HearingEnergy and Environment Building AllianceHigh Performance Building CouncilAlliance to Save EnergyBuilding Science Corporation

Rep. Ed Perlmutter, of Colorados 7th District, and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse have brought forward a bill to regulate energy efficiency in the residential building sectorRep. Earl Blumenauer, of Oregons 3rd District, resides over the district containing Portland, OregonPortland is the nations leading city in the construction of environmental structures and communities

Because of the legislations large scope, a hearing will be deemed necessary. There, experts on the matter will testify afford or against the bill. Our list of expert witnesses will come form:Energy and Environment Building Alliance (EEBA)- Board of DirectorsConsists of certified experts on fields that apply to our proposal including:Energy efficiencyBuilding sciencesEngineeringArchitecture, etc.High Performance Building Council of the National Institute of Building SciencesConsists of member organizations working to put standards in place to define the performance goals of a high performance buildingAlliance to Save EnergyInfluential in the passage of both the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007Building Science CorporationA building science consulting and full service architecture firm servicing North America16The Legislation

1717The Efficiency Gap$EfficiencyThe GapProfit !Lee, W.L., & Yik, F.W.H. (2004). Regulatory and voluntary approaches for enhancing building energy efficiency.18Solutions

http://i.treehugger.com/images/2007/10/24/stat-green-building.jpg Schemes Rating Label Incentive Regulation2020BenchmarkkWh/m^2/year

2121CoverageBuildingsAll public, commercial structuresNot residential homesInspectorsEPA inspection groupsSome private inspectors for full coverageCost of inspection minimizedRotation ensures quality

Addresses: Climate Change Important step to reducing carbon emissions and energy use, City Pollution- reduce smog, National Security reduce dependence on foreign energy/oil (electric cars plugged in to building ports, Economic Savings/circulation every year saves money in energy billsLess money spent by owners, that can be spent elsewhereLess smog in citiesIncreased living/working conditions22

62.369.262.368.564.268.963.561.462.962.6

51.552.52323Raw Data

24Sort, Select Benchmark

AB25Other rating creditsPower use patternRenewable power supportReduce emissions on site such as:Natural gas heatingTransportation (fossil fuel powered)Other environmental considerations26Below Benchmark Period of support from administrationSuggestions of solution technologiesFocus on closing profit gapIdentify any limitations Penalties:Cooperation -> extended support / managementNo cooperation -> taxes for excess energy usedNo payment of taxes -> lose ownership27SupportExpertiseSkills Required:Knowledge of energy efficient improvement technologiesKnowledge of good construction practicesPersuasive speakersPublic educatorsGood relations skillsLegal expertiseHigh-tech modeling and prediction capabilities

People with knowledge of energy effic. tech : costs, defining factors of effectiveness, when comparing various technologiesGood practices being defined as affordable, feasible, and efficientPersuasive speakers, public educators, and good relations skills are required to help other people understand our goals and help when trying to garner supportLegal expertise to avoid any unpredicted outcomes and help with legal jargon when writing the billModeling and prediction is important to have numbers behind our reasoning. It is also helps to state possible futures using predicted numbers such as economic predictions.

29People Required:LobbyistsLegal consultants/government legal teamCongressional supportTechnology analysts, researchers, high-tech modeling teams, and civil engineering analystsArchitectural Consultants

Lobbyists to introduce and promote the idea within the government.Legal consultants and government legal teams to help write the bill in a way that it can be presented before congress.Whole point is to get bill passed. If there is no support within Congress, this cant be accomplished (expected from representatives from Oregon and the Energy and Environment committee within the House of Represenitives.Researchers and analysts to work with the numbers behind the proposal to help gather support and to update the standards once the policy is passed.Architects to bring us up to date on current technologies being used to help energy efficiency. Plus since they are one of the main groups to be affected by new standards, it would help to have their input.

30Sources of FundingFunds for building projects across the U.S.:Local LEED programsHHS and HUDCommunity Development Financial InstitutionA variety of other economic institutionsFunds for Policy change:Organizations with a similar purpose

LEED programs may give out money if going above and beyond lowest standard.Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Housing and Urban Development offer grants to community development corporations.U.S. treasury departments community development financial institution gives out $3.5 billion a year in tax credits.Some other groups consist of Bridgemer Investment Properties, Federal Business Tax Credit, Federal Energy Efficiency Tax Deduction for Commercial Buildings, Kresge Foundations Challenge Grant program, and Sustainable Jobs Fund. Offered through grants and tax credits based on potential energy efficiency and overall success at the completion of the project.Meet similar interest groups through High Performance Building Council.

31StakeholdersStakeholdersReasoningPRO:ArchitectsCity Residents

CON:Energy Companies

Government

Lease OwnersNew standards for planningCleaner air, general comfort

Lower profits from fossil fuelsComplications with legislationCost of upgradingSocial AlliancesAlliance for Sustainable Built EnvironmentsGreen Building AllianceThe Alliance for a Sustainable FutureVarious state and local alliancesAlliance for Sustainable Built Environments: a group of industry leaders that are committed to high performance sustainable solutions for the built environment.GBA: wants to help educational institutions and professional organizations evolve green building education programs (also is broken up into local factions)ASF: bring forward practices and stories that will inspire sustainability (some of their focus is on energy resources and responsible lifestyles)State and local alliances: Alliance for Sustainable Colorado, Bay Area Alliance for Sustainable Communities, Wisconsin Green Building Alliance, Vermont Green Home Alliance

33Social, Cultural, Political, and Economic TrendsMore citizens are becoming concerned about global warmingPolitical leaders are pushing change Voters support leaders who address climate issues57 % of people worldwide acknowledge the seriousness of global warmingHomeowners are going green and saving moneySource: climatechangearticles.blogspot.com/2008/03/is-global-warming-serious-problem-what.html

Last bill passed 219 to 212 in the house - www.nytimes.com/2009/06/27/us/politics/27climate.html3415 states and 46 cities require standards for new buildings

California is funding $3 billion worth of upgrades to older buildings Connecticut consumers saved almost $39 million through energy efficiency in 2006. A company Efficiency Vermont helped save $31 Million in buildings energy costs

http://intelligenttravel.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/12/06/green_buildings_map_final.jpg Companies like DOW Chemical, Johnson Controls and even Wal-Mart have inserted efficiency programsMany corporations have implemented efficiency changes, both for economic and environmental reasons

Closing

Sources: boulderspace.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/greencitylandmarks_800_600.jpgwww.geekabout.com/2007-12-31-438/greenest-buildings-in-the-world.html

Imagine a world with zero net carbon emissions, cities are so beautiful almost as if they were a part of nature, humans no longer adapt their environment to fit their needs but instead work with the resources they have to make life comfortable. 37

Questions?