Bill Overview
Title: CLEANER Buildings Act
Description: This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish a national model building performance standards initiative for specified purposes, including to assist state and local governments in the development and implementation of building performance standards. Not later than 2 years after the enactment of this bill, the EPA must develop national model building performance standards.
Sponsors: Rep. Levin, Andy [D-MI-9]
Target Audience
Population: People living in or owning residential or commercial properties
Estimated Size: 300000000
- Buildings contribute significantly to energy consumption and carbon emissions, and improving building performance can reduce these impacts.
- There are approximately 4 million commercial buildings and 125 million residential homes in the US alone.
- The EPA's initiative will involve state and local governments in setting building performance standards, affecting construction practices across the nation.
- Building owners, tenants, construction professionals, and local governments will likely be directly impacted.
- Globally, there are millions of commercial and residential buildings that could be influenced through international standards inspired by US policy.
- Energy savings and emission reductions from improved building performance will affect global efforts to combat climate change.
Reasoning
- The budget constraints imply that the policy will not be able to retrofit every building immediately, suggesting phased implementation prioritizing certain sectors or regions.
- People in densely populated or resource-intensive regions may benefit more rapidly due to early adoption in those areas.
- Owners of older or less efficient buildings might experience greater impact, either through incentives for upgrades or pressure from compliance requirements.
- Low-income individuals may face challenges if initial costs fall on them, but they may benefit eventually from reduced utility bills.
- Tenants might see indirect benefits in the long term from landlords upgrading properties to be more energy efficient.
Simulated Interviews
Commercial Property Manager (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think the policy is well-intended and necessary for reducing emissions.
- It may increase management costs, but energy savings could offset this.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Construction Worker (Houston, TX)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 16/20
Statement of Opinion:
- New standards will mean more work as buildings need to comply.
- There may be a learning curve with new practices and materials.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Retired Teacher (Rural Iowa)
Age: 66 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm worried about the cost of upgrading my home.
- Hopefully, there's assistance for retirees like me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Tenant (New York, NY)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope my landlord decides to upgrade so my energy bills drop.
- I'm concerned about how costs might be passed to me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Environmental Scientist (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 52 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy aligns with my values and benefits should manifest more widely.
- I am excited to see changes on a larger scale.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Small Business Owner (Detroit, MI)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Retrofitting my store will be a strain unless supported by subsidies.
- Long-term, I expect it can lower my energy bills.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
City Planner (Miami, FL)
Age: 47 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy provides necessary tools for cities to tackle emissions more effectively.
- Implementation will need careful planning and resources.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Real Estate Developer (Chicago, IL)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Building to new standards could initially increase costs.
- However, certified standards might make properties more attractive.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Teacher (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 42 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm curious how my landlord will respond to these changes.
- I hope for lower electricity bills but worry about increased rent.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Tech Company Employee (Seattle, WA)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy feels like a positive step towards sustainability.
- Condo fees might increase for upgrades, but energy savings will be worth it.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $250000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $300000000)
Year 2: $220000000 (Low: $180000000, High: $260000000)
Year 3: $220000000 (Low: $180000000, High: $260000000)
Year 5: $230000000 (Low: $190000000, High: $270000000)
Year 10: $250000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $300000000)
Year 100: $300000000 (Low: $250000000, High: $350000000)
Key Considerations
- The EPA's capacity to manage and implement large-scale policy initiatives.
- The variability in state and local government readiness to adopt and implement new standards.
- Potential legal or regulatory challenges from stakeholders impacted by the policy.
- Advancement of technology and its influence on expected standards and cost dynamics.