AHPBC Comments on Language in 2014 Omnibus Appropriations Bill

Washington (Jan. 22, 2014) – The American High-Performance Buildings Coalition (AHPBC), an organization of leading associations representing a wide range of interests in the building and construction industry, praised the inclusion of sustainable building language in the FY2014 Omnibus Appropriations Bill as passed out of the House and sent over to the Senate.

The bill includes language that encourages the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) to use green building systems that are voluntary consensus standards.

The AHPBC issued the following statement:

“We are pleased the FY2014 Omnibus Appropriations bill as passed by the House and sent to the Senate contains language that encourages the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) to use green building systems that are voluntary consensus standards. We’re also pleased Congress reinforced the benefits of the government using more than one system and hope GSA leads this effort by starting to use more than one system itself.”

“This recommendation by Congress, as it continues to address improving GSA’s use of green building policy for the second year now, is a positive step in the right direction, but it doesn’t go far enough. Not until green building codes, standards, rating systems and credits used by the federal government are required to be developed in conformance with full American National Standards Institute (ANSI) or ISO-type consensus processes will American taxpayers ultimately benefit. We look forward to working with Congress to mandate that federal green building rating systems are based on true, voluntary consensus processes that are data-driven, supported by science, and performance-based. That is the best way to make certain that federal buildings achieve increased energy efficiency, better building performance and sustainable outcomes with real results.”