"Better Building Initiative" President Obama's speech at Penn State University
A new initiative on building efficiency called “Better Buildings Initiative” was launched by President Obama in a speech at Penn State University. Penn State has been a longstanding customer of Automated Logic.
The “Better Buildings Initiative” is centered on new tax incentives and financing to spur efficiency upgrades in commercial buildings, as well as a competitive grant program to encourage state and municipal governments to adopt whole building efficiency standards.
Some highlights ----
- In 2010, commercial buildings were responsible for approximately 20% of all energy consumed in the U.S.
- The President’s plan aims to make commercial buildings 20% more energy efficient by 2020.
- If adopted, tax credits for building energy efficiency “could result in a ten-fold increase in commercial retrofit take up”.
- President Obama has signed an Executive Order directing federal agencies to achieve net zero energy by 2030 and employ high performance and sustainable design principles for all new construction and alterations. At least 15% of existing buildings need to meet theses guiding principles by FY2015.
