17. IF ANY SUSTAINABLE BUILDING STRATEGIES HAVE BEEN INCORPORATED INTO YOUR PRIVATELY-FUNDED PROJECTS, DID ANY GOVERNMENT POLICIES OR PROGRAMS CONTRIBUTE TO THE DECISION TO DO SO? IF SO, WHICH POLICIES AND PROGRAMS?
Fourteen of the twenty-five respondents (56%) listed at least one government policy or program that has contributed to the decision to incorporate sustainable building strategies into their projects. They cited all types of government programs and policies (economic incentives, educational programs, regulatory requirements, and voluntary guidelines). Department of Energy programs were cited the most. Environmental Protection Agency, state-level, and utility-based programs were also cited by several respondents.
COMMENTS/EXAMPLES:
Note: Many of these programs have multiple mechanisms and purposes and therefore belong in more than one of the following four categories; however, for simplicity’s sake, I have roughly assigned each to its one most applicable program type below.
Economic incentives:
• Gas and electric utility incentives, rebates (4 mentions)
• Utility demand management programs have been enormously effective in reducing
demand.
(economic and educational components)
• US DOE rebate on fuel cells
• DOE Building America program
• DOE Energy Efficiency Mortgages
• New York State’s Energy Research Development Authority (ERDA) grantsfor
sustainable projects (2 mentions)
Educational programs:
• US DOE and EPA programs to disseminate information
• DOE Rebuild America partnership program
• DOE National Solar Data Program (2)
• EPA Center for Indoor Environments programs
• The White House's endorsement of some of the concepts of sustainability has helped
spread the idea.
Regulatory requirements:
• EPA regulations are absolutely
necessary for private sector institutional client compliance.
• The EPA is the primary driver of most
clean air and water and energy efficient construction.
• Solid waste regulations are making
recycling more competitive.
• Executive Orders like EO 12902 have been
drivers for an increased number of research proposals
to federal agencies for
us to assist them in educating their workers to facilitate green procurement,
operations, and
maintenance for federal facilities.
Voluntary guidelines:
• We have used the DOE’s Energy
Study model on several projects
(DOE-2 modeling).
(2 mentions)
• Pennsylvania DEP’s pursuit of a
Green Spec in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Governor’s
Green Government
Council (2 mentions)
• Pennsylvania’s High Performance
Schools Partnership
• DOE Home Energy Rating System
• EPA/DOE Energy Star Buildings, Energy
Star Homes (new), Energy Star appliances, and Green Lights.