There is a growing momentum of bipartisan support from members of the House of Representatives who believe the Federal Mechanical Insulation Act (FMIA) should become law.
Initially introduced by Rep. Randy Weber (R-Texas) and co-sponsor Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.) on July 14, 2023, support for House Resolution 4663 is steadily growing as the bill has 60 co-sponsors.
Currently, 45 Democrats and 15 Republicans have agreed to co-sponsor the legislation, with more members of the House expected to sign on in the coming weeks.
For the members of Congress who have become co-sponsors, they understand the important benefits the FMIA offers.
As the largest landlord in the U.S., the federal government owns approximately 350,000 federal buildings. According to the Government Accounting Office (GAO), the large number of buildings makes the federal government the single largest energy consumer in the country, consuming more than 344 trillion BTU of energy and 119 gallons of water in Fiscal Year 2021.
Despite owning all these buildings, there is no rule that requires the mechanical systems within the federal buildings to be energy efficient.
This is where the Federal Mechanical Insulation Act comes into play.
H.R. 4663 will advance federal energy efficiencies, save tax dollars and reduce energy loss and emissions for federal buildings. It will also add an important audit metric for regulators to include when assessing federal buildings’ measure of Mechanical Insulation efficiencies.
Currently, the National Energy Conservation Policy Act, part of the National Energy Act 1978, sets out an array of measures intended to promote energy conservation in all three sectors of U.S. energy use – buildings, industry and transport.
Section 432 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) makes changes to Section 543 of the National Energy Conservation Policy Act (NECPA) and creates a statutory requirement for federal agencies to conduct energy and water use evaluations, which include energy audits, of federal buildings. However, those energy audits do not include Mechanical Insulation.
While Section 432 of EISA does not define “comprehensive energy and water evaluations,” the Department of Energy provides some guidelines for audits as part of these evaluations. Therefore, this legislation would clarify that Mechanical Insulation energy audits qualify under comprehensive energy and water evaluations.
In recognition of the important role that Mechanical Insulation plays in lowering operating expenses, reducing energy loss and decreasing emissions, the legislation makes the following specific changes to portions of the EISA:
- Defines “Mechanical Insulation property” as materials, facings and accessory products that are part of a mechanical system and that reduce energy loss from that mechanical system, thereby allowing for the inclusion of these items as qualifying energy and water efficiency measures.
- Expands the definition of “energy and water evaluations” to include identification of energy- and water-saving measures (including installation of Mechanical Insulation property, if applicable).
The LMCT thanks the following 60 members of Congress for their support as co-sponsors of the FMIA:
Sponsor
Rep. Weber, Randy K., Sr. [R-TX-14]
Co-sponsors
Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38]*
Rep. Barragan, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44]
Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9]
Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33]
Rep. Fletcher, Lizzie [D-TX-7]
Rep. Murphy, Gregory F. [R-NC-3]
Rep. Harshbarger, Diana [R-TN-1]
Rep. Armstrong, Kelly [R-ND-At Large]
Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12]
Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7]
Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25]
Rep. Miller-Meeks, Mariannette [R-IA-1]
Rep. Gimenez, Carlos A. [R-FL-28]
Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1]
Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2]
Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13]
Rep. Norcross, Donald [D-NJ-1]
Rep. Crockett, Jasmine [D-TX-30]
Rep. Miller, Mary E. [R-IL-15]
Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11]
Rep. Molinaro, Marcus J. [R-NY-19]
Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
Rep. Turner, Michael R. [R-OH-10]
Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4]
Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]
Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1]
Rep. García, Jesús G. “Chuy” [D-IL-4]
Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24]
Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8]
Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26]
Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9]
Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10]
Rep. Scholten, Hillary J. [D-MI-3]
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18]
* = Original co-sponsor
Please visit our Federal Mechanical Insulation Act page for updates on this important piece of legislation, including new co-sponsors and progress on a potential Senate companion bill.