- Federal Buildings Personnel Training Act (H.R.5112) May Pass in House of Representatives
- DOE Launches New Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Advisory Committee
- Building Envelope Program Launches Blog to Better Communicate with Stakeholders
Federal Buildings Personnel Training Act (H.R.5112) May Pass in House of Representatives
Expect the unexpected is a good rule to follow with Congress. In the waning days of the 111th Congress, one of ASHRAE’s priority bills – the Federal Buildings Personnel Training Act (H.R.5112) has a real chance of passing the House, but only if two Representatives from Florida pull their opposition.
The Representatives in focus are John L. Mica (R-FL), the senior Republican on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), the senior Republican on the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, the committee with jurisdiction over H.R.5112.
The Federal Buildings Personnel Training Act would help the federal government meet its ambitious safety, security, energy and water savings, and greenhouse gas reductions goals by identifying core competencies and providing relevant courses, certifications, degrees, licenses, and registrations for federal personnel performing building operations and maintenance, energy management, safety, and design functions.
If Representatives Mica and Diaz-Balart allow this bill to be considered, there is a good chance it will pass in the House, and possibly the Senate in the next couple of weeks, before the 111th Congress concludes.
For more information on the bill, please contact Mark Ames, ASHRAE Manager of Government Affairs at mames@ashrae.org, or by phone at 202-833-1830. To view the text of the bill, visit http://thomas.loc.gov/, click the “Bill Number” button, and search for H.R.5112.
DOE Launches New Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Advisory Committee
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced the establishment of the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Advisory Committee (ERAC). ERAC is a federal advisory committee whose members will report directly to the Secretary of Energy with advice on the portfolio of the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). The 19 members selected have experience in a variety of sectors and will bring a range of technical expertise and perspectives to the committee.
“We are fortunate to have such knowledgeable people volunteering their time and efforts to the Department's clean energy endeavors,” said DOE Secretary Dr. Steven Chu. “They will be contributing their expertise and experience to help address the energy challenges faced by our nation.”
ERAC will periodically review EERE's portfolio and provide advice to the Secretary of Energy on a variety of areas, including: completion of long-range plans, priorities and strategies; program funding; and any issues of specific concern expressed by the Secretary of Energy or the Assistant Secretary for EERE. ERAC is expected to meet twice a year; the meetings will be open to the public. The Committee is being established in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). DOE also expects to organize various subcommittees under ERAC.
ERAC will hold its inaugural meeting on Tuesday, November 20, 2010 at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20585. This meeting is open to the public, and ASHRAE will be in attendance. For more information, including the agenda, please visit http://bit.ly/aa1XLC.
For more information on ERAC members visit the EERE Advisory Committee Web Site at http://bit.ly/bFWlZh. To view the press release, visit http://bit.ly/8YeTbP.
Building Envelope Program Launches Blog to Better Communicate with Stakeholders
The Building Technologies Program under the U.S. Department of Energy recently announced the launch of the Building Envelope and Windows R&D Program Blog (http://www.eereblogs.energy.gov/buildingenvelope/), which will serve as a new resource for up-to-date information on the Building Envelope and Windows R&D program, and will include updates on activities ranging from Cool Roofs to the Windows Volume Purchase Program (http://bit.ly/br5LxB). This new blog will engage program stakeholders for feedback on program activities and reports, as well as provide information on upcoming meetings and workshops.
This blog will also be a resource for archived information, including past presentations and posts with comments included (found under the "Archive" tab). Some time next year, EERE's Building Envelope R&D Program's Web site (http://bit.ly/cHRSlg) will undergo a re-vamping; more details will be posted on the blog. Please e-mail Walt Zalis (wzalis@energetics.com) if you have any questions or concerns.
For more information, please visit http://bit.ly/95tED0.
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