Senate Approves Bipartisan Energy Efficiency Amendment

Press Release

The Senate voted 94 to 5 today to approve a bipartisan energy efficiency amendment, which includes a provision authored by U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte that is aimed at boosting energy efficiency in commercial buildings. The amendment, introduced by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Rob Portman (R-OH) and cosponsored by Senator Ayotte, is similar to stand-alone legislation they introduced last Congress and was filed as an amendment to underlying legislation on the proposed Keystone XL pipeline.

Senator Ayotte's provision incorporates language from her Better Buildings Act, which seeks to increase energy efficiency in commercial buildings by encouraging tenants to voluntarily implement cost-effective measures to reduce energy consumption and utility costs. The legislation would create a new voluntary "Tenant Star" certification to recognize tenants who operate energy efficient leased spaces. It's estimated that tenants use 50 percent or more of the energy in all office buildings.

"As a cosponsor of the Shaheen-Portman legislation, I've worked across the aisle to help advance this proposal and I'm glad it has finally passed the Senate. This common sense bill will boost energy efficiency across the private sector and the federal government - creating jobs, saving energy, and reducing pollution," said Senator Ayotte. "I'm especially pleased that this amendment includes my bipartisan, no-cost Better Buildings Act, which aims to promote greater energy efficiency in commercial buildings by providing a voluntary incentive for tenants to pursue cost-effective ways to conserve energy."

Senator Ayotte originally introduced the Better Buildings Act in June 2013 with Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO). In addition to the "Tenant Star" designation, Senator Ayotte's measure asks the Department of Energy to study and learn from private sector best practices of how commercially-leased spaces are designed to achieve high performance and help reduce utility costs for businesses.

Ayotte's proposal has been endorsed by dozens of organizations from the real estate sector, construction industry and environmental advocacy arena, including the American Institute of Architects, the National Association of Home Builders, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Sierra Club, the Real Estate Roundtable, and the U.S. Green Building Council.

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