Greetings Green Gurus!
You've probably been hearing about the infrastructure package on the news... apparently things are heating up on this topic in Washington DC as they try to get the package sorted out before the August congressional recess. Because of this, both the USGBC and the AIA are mounting advocacy campaigns in this regard, right now, text from each of their appeals is below for your reference and use.
At this point, Chris and I don't think there's a specific action for Green Gurus (a.k.a. the AEC Sustainable Design Leaders) to take as a group, but there are definitely opportunities for individuals and firms to get involved, especially with their respective congrsssional representatives.
Here are the pitch texts from each - please use and desiminate with abandon!
Thanks - Clark & Chris
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USGBC (They noted in their email that they'd be willing to do a webinar or a call with a goup of us if we're interested and want to learn more...)
Advocacy Call to Action
We urge you to reach out to your members of Congress and urge them to pass a strong infrastructure/recovery package that includes robust investments in sustainable buildings and communities.
Links are here to find your members of Congress in both the House and Senate(we encourage you to focus advocacy on Congress, not the White House): https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials
Sample message via email or telephone call:
As a constituent of (INSERT REPRESENTATIVE/SENATOR NAME HERE) who works in the buildings sector, I urge you to support strong investments in sustainable buildings in any infrastructure or recovery package that passes Congress this year. Homes and buildings are a critical part of our physical infrastructure and importantly account for nearly 40% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. This infrastructure package is an enormous opportunity to modernize our building and housing stock, whether through new construction or retrofits. Not only would that sharply reduce greenhouse gas emissions, it would create hundreds of thousands of jobs in construction, building trades, engineering and other fields while permanently reducing long-term energy costs through improved energy efficiency. We urge you to support legislation for building improvements across sectors, from schools to public buildings to affordable housing and private homes and buildings. We support direct funding such as that proposed in the Reopen and Rebuild America’s Schools Act for schools facilities, as well as tax incentives such as those proposed in the Clean Energy for America Act. We also urge you to ensure that any federal funding for housing, schools or other public facilities incorporates strong sustainability requirements, including at minimum that projects meet the most recent model building energy code or standard, and with preference or incentives given for projects demonstrating greater sustainability through clearly defined and reputable ratings systems such as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). I encourage you to reference the U.S. Green Building Council’s policy platform or recent letter to Congress for more information.
Topline Talking Points
- I’m a constituent, and I work in the buildings sector
- Our homes, schools, workplaces, and public buildings are part of our physical infrastructure
- We need to update buildings to address climate, since they use nearly 40% of energy
- The infrastructure package is the chance to get this right while creating hundreds of thousands of jobs
- I’m [writing/calling] to ask you to push for:
Tax incentives for homes and commercial buildings
Funding for school construction through “RASA”
Funding for low carbon Federal buildings
Standards for energy efficient, healthy, green homes with any federal housing funding
This will make a real difference for [state or community].
Additional Resources:
USGBC’s 2021 infrastructure advocacy platform: https://www.usgbc.org/sites/default/files/2021-07/Advocacy_USGBC-priorities-2021.pdf
Op-Ed from USGBC President and CEO Mahesh Ramanujam on the importance of sustainable, resilient buildings as a climate solution: https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/bidens-infrastructure-plan-should-focus-more-on-resilient-low-emissions-buildings/
Recent letter to Senate Budget Committee outlining priorities for the pending infrastructure package: https://www.usgbc.org/sites/default/files/2021-07/Budget%20Committee_Reconciliation%20Letter_USGBC_7_14_21-FINAL.pdf
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AIA
Members of Congress are still deciding what to include in the infrastructure package and are about to adjourn for the August recess. Please act NOW!
"If we act now, we can upgrade America's buildings to make them more resilient to structural threats and to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions," said AIA 2021 President Peter Exley, FAIA, in an article published in The Hill "That's why it's critical the infrastructure debate move beyond the proverbial roads and bridges to prioritize buildings: homes, schools, hospitals, offices, and civic centers."
This package could be a once-in-a-generation opportunity to bring to scale the contemporary planning, building materials, design, construction, and operational techniques that make our communities more resilient and our buildings more energy efficient.
Please email or tweet a message to your members of Congress now, and ask them to include federal investments for the building sector in the final infrastructure package
Thank you,
Mike Davis, FAIA, Chair, AIA Government Advocacy Committee
Lanny McIntosh, FAIA, Chair, ArchiPAC Steering Committee
