Multi-Association Letter to House and Senate Energy Committees Supporting Building Energy Code Provisions in S. 385 and H.R. 1443

Members of the House Energy and Commerce and Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committees:

As groups representing the manufacturing, building design and construction, and the millions of jobs within those sectors, we strongly support the important role that consensus-based model energy building codes play at the state level in assisting the adoption of efficiency technologies for homes and commercial buildings. These technologies and designs play a vital role in saving energy and money, while at the same time helping lower greenhouse gas emissions. Our businesses not only create the materials and technologies that deliver efficiency, including insulations, roofing, windows and piping, but also help design plans and install materials, as well as maintain and improve performance over the long life-cycle of homes and buildings.

We support the consensus-based, bipartisan energy code provision contained in S. 385, the “Portman-Shaheen” energy efficiency bill, and its House counterpart, H.R. 1443, the “McKinley-Welch” energy efficiency bill. These bill provisions strengthen national model codes that are already certified, adopted and in-use by 44 states and several localities around the U.S. These model codes help make the largest consuming sectors of energy, i.e., homes and buildings, more efficient while allowing key stakeholders like builders, code officials, manufacturers, and even the general public, to participate in the code-development process. This will ensure that the process remains consensus-based and transparent so that the model codes can be user-friendly for each specific state’s climatological needs. These provisions contain no federal budget score or mandates.

We have consistently supported the energy codes provision contained in the efficiency titles of these bicameral bills. The building codes title has regularly been approved by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and passed by the U.S. Senate on a broad bipartisan basis. The consistent, long-term bipartisan support that this title has enjoyed is in large part due to the diligent path it took in its development and that a diverse group of stakeholders helped collaboratively and transparently provide input on key provisions.

We appreciate that both Republican and Democratic-led Congresses have repeatedly enacted legislation that has continually highlighted the role that energy codes play as part of national energy policy and now as part of an “all of the above” comprehensive energy policy. As the housing economy and commercial building and construction sectors continue to rebound, we know many homebuyers desire more efficient homes and greatly value permanent energy efficient features built into the home at the outset, as supported by codes.

Congress has an important role to play in assisting states to consider the adoption and utilization of building codes that boost energy security, help generate significant cost-savings to consumers over the life of a building, and help stabilize energy demand. We respectfully request that as Congress considers energy legislation this year, a continued balanced and moderate position on federal energy codes should
be struck that considers the impact on all homeowners, building operators and stakeholders that support energy efficiency.

Thank you again for your leadership, and for your consideration of our views.

Sincerely,
American Chemistry Council
American Architectural Manufacturers Association
Center for the Polyurethanes Industry
Extruded Polystyrene Foam Association
Insulation Contractors Association of America
Michigan Chemistry Council
National Association of Manufacturers
National Insulation Association
North American Insulation Manufacturers Association
Ohio Chemistry Technology Council
Pennsylvania Chemical Industry Council
Plastic Pipe and Fittings Association
Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association
Plastics Industry Association
Spray Foam Coalition
The American Institute of Architects
Texas Chemical Council
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
U.S. Green Building Council
Vinyl Institute
West Virginia Manufacturers Association