WASHINGTON, 2014-7-10 — /EPR Retail News/ — Today, Representatives Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Kurt Schrader (D-OR) introduced the Energy Savings and Building Efficiency Act (H.R. 5027). This legislation would accelerate cost savings associated with the adoption of voluntary energy efficient construction practices in commercial and residential buildings.
The bill would ensure that those choosing to adopt baseline energy codes will realize a payback period of no longer than ten years, which would provide a greater return on investment for developers seeking to adopt energy efficient building practices. Additionally, the legislation would clarify the role of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in the formation of energy codes by requiring DOE to function as a re-defined technical advisor. This re-defined role would constrain the department’s ability to recommend products that may not be well-suited for all climates or aesthetic purposes.
“Ensuring that future baseline energy codes are cost-effective and product-neutral will give landlords, owners and developers of shopping centers the necessary certainty for moving forward with new energy efficient building projects and retrofits,” said Betsy Laird, senior vice president of global public policy for the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC). “We wholeheartedly support this bipartisan bill and applaud Reps. Blackburn and Schrader for their leadership.”
“This bill will provide needed support to builders who have sought to enhance their cost-savings through energy efficiency at a reasonable pace,” said Larry Kilduff, chair of ICSC’s government relations environmental subcommittee and midwest retail market Lead for JLL. “It is refreshing to see that Washington understands the needs of those who want to reduce environmental impacts in a cost-effective way.”
Founded in 1957, ICSC is the premier global trade association of the shopping center industry. Its more than 67,000 members in over 100 countries include shopping center owners, developers, managers, marketing specialists, investors, retailers and brokers, as well as academics and public officials. For more information, visit www.icsc.org.
Contact: Jesse Tron
+1 646-728-3814
jtron@icsc.org
@JesseTronPR
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