Government Affairs Talking Points: Energy Efficiency in Home and Buildings
Congressional Action Needed:
Enact energy efficiency legislation for homes and commercial buildings that provides tax credits, financial incentives, and educating consumers on the benefits of energy efficiency.
Congressional Actions to Date:
Reps. Waxman (D-CA) and Markey (D-MA) introduced legislation which develops Energy Star labels for homes and buildings and provides funds to states that implement a labeling program.
The legislation also provides funds to states that incentivize home and building energy retrofits, and preempts the EPA from regulating carbon emissions from smaller buildings.
What to Tell Your Representatives:
- Oppose mandatory point-of-sale (at the closing table) energy labels for buildings and homes.
- Support narrower legislation that provides financial incentives for energy retrofits, including:
- H.R. 1778 (Matching Grants) – Rep. Welch (D-VT)
- H.R. 1573 (Zero-Interest Loans) – Rep. Van Hollen (D-MD)
What to Tell Your Senators:
- Support legislation that provides financial incentives for home and building energy improvements.
Issue Background:
- Energy labels will only stigmatize older properties, causing a loss in home value further weakening the national economy and reducing family wealth.
- Energy Star Labels Don’t Save Energy, Home Improvements Do.
- Labeling every home in America will not, in and of itself, save energy.
- Providing incentives to property owners who make energy improvements will save energy.
A Better Approach Is to Provide Retrofit Incentives.
- The bill provides matching grants for building and home energy improvements which owners will want to make and sellers will want to promote in sales transactions.
- Mandating building energy retrofits or labels by EPA regulation is too onerous and expensive.
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