Sixteen years out from a 2007 law that aimed to end the use of fossil fuels in federal buildings, gas heat is still being installed within the federal sphere.
The intent of the law was to phase out fossil fuel-generated energy consumption by 2030. The slow implementation of this carbon-free policy demonstrates how difficult it can be to achieve environmental targets set forth in well-intended, ambitious legislation.
Pushback from the fossil fuel industry has contributed to a slower conversion to fossil fuel-free buildings than was envisioned when the law was signed, says an NPR report. It is a warning to the Biden administration that sweeping laws such as the Inflation Reduction Act and subsequent dispersion of money do not guarantee that climate goals will be achieved, the report asserts.
The Energy Department was charged with developing a rule to implement the fossil-free policy within a year of the law’s enactment. But that never happened, at least partially the result of gas industry pushback, and federal properties continue to opt for natural gas as a heat source. The lesson is that crafting and passing complex climate legislation is one thing, but achieving results in the field is quite another.
Related Stories
| Dec 26, 2013
WDMA launches project to create ISO-compliant architectural doors
WDMA's National Architectural Door Council has initiated a project to create ISO-compliant Product Category Rules for architectural wood flush and stile and rail doors
| Dec 19, 2013
Defense Department okays Green Globes standard for DoD facilities
The Green Globes certification program from the Green Building Initiative can be used for the renovation and construction of Department of Defense facilities following agency endorsement.
| Dec 19, 2013
New York City proposal may boost standards for crane maintenance
New York City may boost maintenance standards for cranes operating in the city, including the addition of load cycle counters to record data regarding every lift that a crane performs.
| Dec 19, 2013
Lawmakers say EPA’s Energy Star standards lack transparency
A bipartisan group of lawmakers is raising concerns that the Environmental Protection Agency has not been transparent in drafting energy-efficiency standards under the Energy Star program.
| Dec 18, 2013
ASHRAE publishes 2013 thermal comfort standard
Major revisions for design and measurement of comfortable spaces are included in a newly published ASHRAE 2013 thermal comfort standard.
| Dec 11, 2013
Texas to require architects to be fingerprinted to get licensed
Starting January 1, 2014, architects who apply for an occupational license in Texas will have to share their fingerprints with the state.
| Dec 11, 2013
Province of Ontario is reviewing bill to require timely payments to contractors
Legislation is under review in the Province of Ontario that would mandate timely payments to contractors.
| Dec 11, 2013
Federal design-build proposal could make it easier for small businesses to land government contracts
The Design-Build Efficiency and Jobs Act, a bill pending in the U.S. House of Representatives, would streamline the bid and proposal process by requiring government agencies to use a two-step process when seeking design-build contracts for projects worth more than $750,000.
| Dec 11, 2013
NIST recommends tougher standards for tornado resilience
Buildings in tornado-prone areas should be constructed to withstand strong winds just as hurricanes are factored into building codes in coastal areas, says a federal report examining the 2011 killer tornado in Joplin, Mo.
| Dec 10, 2013
Whistleblowers can now file complaints online with OSHA
Whistleblowers covered by one of 22 statutes administered by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) now will be able to file complaints online.
