summary
Introduced
04/15/2015
04/15/2015
In Committee
04/17/2015
04/17/2015
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/03/2017
01/03/2017
Introduced Session
114th Congress
Bill Summary
Energy Efficiency Improvement Act of 2015 Better Buildings Act of 2015 This bill requires the General Services Administration (GSA) to: (1) develop and publish model leasing provisions to encourage building owners and tenants to use greater cost-effective energy efficiency and water efficiency measures in commercial buildings, and (2) develop policies and practices to implement the measures for the realty services provided by the GSA to agencies. This bill amends the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to require the Department of Energy (DOE) to study the feasibility of improving energy efficiency in commercial buildings through the design and construction of spaces with high-performance energy efficiency measures. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must develop a voluntary Tenant Star program within the Energy Star program to recognize tenants in commercial buildings that voluntarily achieve high levels of energy efficiency. The EPA may develop a voluntary program to recognize commercial building owners and tenants that use high-performance energy efficiency measures in the design and construction of leased spaces. This bill amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to provide additional energy conservation standards for grid-enabled water heaters for use as part of an electric thermal storage or demand response program, which is a program that enables customers to reduce or shift their power use during peak demand periods. A federal agency leasing space in a building without an Energy Star label must include in its lease provisions requirements that the space's energy efficiency be measured against a nationally-recognized benchmark. The agency must also meet certain energy consumption disclosure requirements. DOE must maintain a database for storing and making available public energy-related information on commercial and multifamily buildings.
AI Summary
This bill, the Energy Efficiency Improvement Act of 2015, aims to promote energy efficiency in various building sectors. It requires the General Services Administration (GSA) to develop model leasing provisions and policies to encourage cost-effective energy and water efficiency measures in commercial buildings, and to implement these measures in its own realty services. The Department of Energy (DOE) is tasked with studying the feasibility of improving energy efficiency in commercial buildings through high-performance energy efficiency measures in the design and construction of leased spaces, which are defined as areas within a commercial building occupied by a tenant. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will create a voluntary "Tenant Star" program within the existing Energy Star program to recognize tenants who achieve high levels of energy efficiency, and may also develop a program to recognize building owners and tenants who use high-performance energy efficiency measures in leased spaces. Additionally, the bill updates energy conservation standards for grid-enabled water heaters, which are electric resistance water heaters designed for use in electric thermal storage or demand response programs—systems that allow customers to reduce or shift their electricity use during peak demand periods. Federal agencies leasing space in buildings without an Energy Star label will be required to ensure the space's energy efficiency is measured against a national benchmark and meet certain energy consumption disclosure requirements. Finally, the DOE will maintain a public database for energy-related information on commercial and multifamily buildings.
Committee Categories
Business and Industry, Transportation and Infrastructure
Sponsors (2)
Last Action
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Power. (on 04/17/2015)
Official Document
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