Energy conservation in the built environment, product labeling: Congress bites a modest bullet
Factoring energy conservation into building design can have a large-scale impact on the nation's energy position and on the entire building community. Congress is now, three years after the oil embargo, beginning to take action to deal with the political, economic, and technological complexities associated with energy conservation in buildings. Activities involving solar heating and cooling have increased, and President Ford reluctantly approved the Energy Policy and Conservation Act in late 1975. The new law offers states the opportunity of dipping into a $150 million Federal fund established to encourage energy conservation planning on the state level. Each proposal sent to Washington for Federal assistance in this planning effort must include, among other things, consideration of mandatory thermal efficiency standards and insulation requirements for new and renovated buildings. Mandatory lighting efficiency standards for any building which is open to the public during normal business hours are also to be considered. In addition, the President is given the responsibility of creating and implementing a ten-year plan for conserving energy in any buildings owned or leased by Federal agencies. Mandatory lighting efficiency standards, mandatory thermal efficiency standards and insulation requirements, restrictions on hours of operation, thermostat controls, and other alternatives are to be included in the Federal planning. Labeling of certain consumer appliances to reflect energy cost and efficiency becomes mandatory with passage of the act. Relying on the National Bureau of Standards for technical expertise, the Commerce Department has had a voluntary program under way for several years now. (MCW)
- OSTI ID:
- 7353643
- Journal Information:
- Prof. Eng. (Wash., D.C.); (United States), Vol. 46:2
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
POLICY AND ECONOMY
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
APPLIANCES
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
BUILDINGS
ENERGY CONSERVATION
ENERGY POLICY
STANDARDS
ENERGY POLICY AND CONSERVATION ACT
DESIGN
EFFICIENCY
LAWS
LEGISLATION
LIGHTING SYSTEMS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
291000* - Energy Planning & Policy- Conservation
320100 - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Buildings