Virginia Sustainable Building Network’s 10th Anniversary Celebration and Annual Meeting, held June 15, 2005 at the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, VA was the occasion for presenting Virginia businesses and organizations the first state awards for environmentally sound products and programs related to green building and sustainable development. The criteria for the awards were: 1. environmentally responsible products, projects, and programs; 2. emphasis on energy efficiency and renewable energy use; and 3. completed and/or ongoing programs and projects; 4. promotion of green building and sustainable development principles in the local community.
AECP was the recipient of the first Virginia Green Innovation Award under the category of Green Businesses and Organizations. Accepting on behalf of AECP were Bill Beachy, AECP President and Billy Weitzenfeld, AECP Executive Director.
SENATE PASSES ENERGY BILL
The U.S. Senate passed its own version of a comprehensive energy bill yesterday by a vote of 85-12. This bill will now go into conference with the House, which passed its own Energy Bill. Although this bipartisan effort is a much- improved version over the Bush Energy Plan and the House Energy bill – it still does not fully address some very important issues. Two very important omissions in the bill are the lack of an increase in mandated fuel efficiency standards for automobiles and although there is an acknowledgement of global warming as a threat there is no concrete action taken to immediately address the issue. Here are some highlights:
- An ethanol mandate requiring fuel manufacturers to use 8 billion gallons of ethanol in gasoline by 2012.
- Sets first-time efficiency standards for 14 large appliances and raises efficiency standards for others.
- Includes provisions to modernize the electricity grid.
- Establishes a hydrogen research program.
- A federal renewable portfolio standards provision that requires electric suppliers to acquire 10% of their supplies from renewable resources such as wind, solar, geothermal, biomass or ocean by 2020.
- A fuel savings provision requiring the federal government devise a plan to save one million barrels of oil a day by 2015.
- Increased funding for energy conservation and efficiency programs.
- An increase in tax subsidies for renewable energy.
- A decrease in tax subsidies for the fossil fuel industry.
- Increased tax credits for the purchase of business and residential solar equipment.
- Expanded tax credits for those who buy alternative fuel vehicles.
- A new tax credit for homeowners who buy energy efficient appliances.
- Tax credits for contractors of energy efficient homes that achieve an energy savings of 30% over the 2003 International Energy Conservation Code.
- The bill does not include drilling in the Artic Refuge nor does it allow a loophole for fuel manufacturers to escape lawsuits related to a gasoline additive, MTBE, which has been responsible for poisoning drinking water supplies in communities nationwide.
KNOW HOW YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS VOTE ON ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
It is important to know how your representatives on the federal and state level vote on key energy and environmental bills that will impact your pocketbook and the environment in which you live. For federal legislation check out www.senate.gov and www.house.gov These websites will allow you to follow current legislation in process and bills that have passed and show you how each Senator and/or Congressman has voted. Go to either http://legis.state.va.us or http://dls.state.va.us to follow bills and voting in the Virginia General Assembly.
AECP PUSHES FOR WEATHERIZATION SPECIALTY CONTRACTORS LICENSE
AECP has requested that the Virginia Dept. of Professional Occupation and Regulation (DPOR) consider the creation of a Weatherization Services Specialty Contractors classification. It is time for the Commonwealth to recognize the sophisticated building science measures that the Weatherization program utilizes every day and on every home that is weatherized. It is this same technology – blower door directed air sealing, duct diagnostics, pressure balancing, heating system safety testing, indoor air quality, etc. – pioneered by the program that is driving the green building and energy efficient home building movement in America. There is an opportunity for public comment in support of this effort. Please contact Billy Weitzenfeld at aecp@swva.net for information on how you can help support this effort. The deadline for public comment is July 29, 2005.