Pete Ielmini, Director of the Insulators LMCT, kicked off his monthly appearance on the America’s Work Force Union Podcast by providing an update on the Federal Mechanical Insulation Act.
Ielmini said the LMCT is still working to get the FMIA passed and has a meeting soon that will hopefully help get the bill in front of Congress for a vote.
If passed, the FMIA will require all federal building energy audits to include mechanical insulation, ensuring energy efficiency.
Ielmini is hopeful despite a new administration taking over next month, the government will still see the value in passing the FMIA.
Department of Housing and Urban Development update
Ielmini then told AWF host Ed “Flash” Ferenc the LMCT is in the process of forming a partnership with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
“I’m trying to educate HUD so they can put some sort of inspection process for energy efficiency and firestop protection in their inspection process,” Ielmini said.
Ielmini’s goal is to educate HUD officials on firestop systems to better protect those living in subsidized housing.
“I’m trying to be proactive and get these systems looked at, analyzed and evaluated in their already existing inspection process,” Ielmini said. “It’s my job to educate the people who have the influence to make these decisions.”
Ielmini hopes to show people through an energy audit how much money and energy can be saved if mechanical installation is properly installed.
“If we can motivate the upper officials of HUD where they see the value of this, they will put that into their inspection process,” Ielmini said.
Ielmini said what he is trying to accomplish with HUD is similar to the FMIA, which requires every federal building to have an energy audit, which includes mechanical insulation, once every four years.