Pete Ielmini, Director of the Insulators LMCT, kicked off his monthly appearance on the America’s Work Force Union Podcast by updating the progress on the Federal Mechanical Insulation Act.
If approved by Congress, the Federal Mechanical Insulation Act would require all federal buildings to complete an energy audit that includes language related to mechanical insulation to ensure energy efficiency. This law will help save energy and tax money while reducing air pollution.
Ielmini was proud to announce the FMIA has received bipartisan support with 86 co-signers in the House. He also hopes a companion bill will be introduced in the Senate before the end of the year.
“This will be the first piece of legislation ever that’s going to promote our industry of mechanical insulation and it’s long overdue,” Ielmini said.
Mechanical Insulation Installation Incentive Act
After touching on the FMIA, Ielmini told AWF host Ed “Flash” Ferenc about a new bill on the horizon, the Mehcniacal Insulation Installation Incentive Act.
Ielmini shared that this bill will be more challenging than the FMIA because it is a tax incentive bill.
Ielmini said the bill is an incentive act that offers a 10 percent tax reduction on purchases related to installing mechanical insulation.
This bill was designed to encourage proper installation of mechanical installation.
“We’re able to advertise the fact that the installation cost will be reduced by 10 percent, but someone is going to see savings more than the 10 percent and it’s going to be a windfall for those people that get involved in this,” Ielmini said.
Housing and Urban Development Department and IMAP
Ielmini and Ferenc then discussed the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and ways the LMCT could help.
Ielmini shared that since a fire in 2021 killed 17 people in New York, he has been working with HUD to change building inspection rules.
Although HUD performs an annual inspection, their inspection does not include firestopping.
“We’re working with HUD to educate them on mechanical insulation, which will save money, and the inspection of firestop systems, which will save lives in their inspection process,” Ielmini said.
Ielmini told Ferenc that the LMCT is conducting a mechanical insulation energy audit on one of HUD’s largest buildings, to demonstrate the potential benefits.
To conclude the interview, Ielmini discussed the Insulators Member Assistance Program (IMAP), a resource he is passionate about.
IMAP is designed to provide members of the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers with resources to help them as they battle personal mental health issues.
“We’re breaking down a lot of barriers and helping our members,” Ielmini said. “The more we talk about this, the more we normalize it, and I believe the more assistance we’ll be getting to our people, which I feel is very important.”
Listen to the full interview: