The American Clean Energy and Security Act
Important Update: Bill Clears U.S. House of Representatives
On Friday, June 26, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (HR 2454) in a 219-212 vote.
The American Clean Energy and Security Act includes – for the first time ever – incentives for building owners to make their homes and properties more energy efficient while respecting their historic character.
This comprehensive energy bill will create millions of new clean energy jobs and help increase the energy efficiency of older and historic homes and businesses. Homeowners and businesses would be provided financial incentives for weatherization under a new Retrofit for Energy and Environmental Performance (REEP) program included in the bill by Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT). Increased energy efficiency is viewed as essential to reducing the carbon emissions of homes and buildings, the operation of which accounts for 43% of carbon emissions in the U.S.
REEP would fund state and municipal investments of up to half the cost of retrofitting the nation's existing homes and buildings. Homeowners could qualify for $1,000-$3,000 in financial incentives for achieving a 10% to 20% percent increase in efficiency, with another $150 for every additional percentage point of energy savings achieved. Historic buildings on the National Register of Historic Places would be eligible for a 120% boost in these same awards because of the special needs and higher costs associated with retrofitting historic buildings. In addition, REEP would give businesses up to $2.50 per square foot for making major energy reductions, and historic buildings would get the same 120% boost available to historic homes.
Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) has included REEP provisions in the Senate version of the energy bill, which will be considered later this summer.
Homes represent the single largest group of historic structures in our towns and cities. Our support of this critical legislation is a key element in our ongoing work with Congress to address the needs of owners of older and historic homes. Please stay tuned to PreservationNation.org for more information on this important victory.
Comments
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Submitted by Bungalow girl at: July 21, 2009
My advise to Sweet Home AL is to get a new agent. One who respects historic homes. Your agent is wrong. Thosands of people are interested in older homes than the vinyl mcmansions that will be a falling down in 15 years. Do your research on the green value of an older home. Even with poor rv values they are 1000x greener than new homes. My biggest concern is the loss of historic windows in historic homes. The windows were the reason I bought our home. Oh and the wood floors, and the crown, and the door casings, and the baseboards. .....
Submitted by Sweet Home Alabama at: July 15, 2009
I am already feeling the impact of the horrible legislation. I am attempting to sell a home that is on the National register. My realtor tells me that no one wants a historic home because of the (let me quote the Obama) "skyrocketing" cost of energy. My recommendation - sell NOW!! while you can. You might not be able to give it away very soon.
Submitted by Takes more than good intentions at: July 9, 2009
I agree with Way Off Base, Lone Voice and Concerned. The bill is a disaster. It is a shame that they have attached this worthwhile deduction to it. I am all for the deduction for historic homeowners, of which I one. I am also a historic district commissioner and sickened by the vinyl trade's techniques to encourage replacement of historic windows and wood siding. But this Cap and Trade will cost the historic home owner forevermore in energy use taxes. Do you know how much it cost to heat a historic home? Pass the deduction for energy effiency, but don't attach it to Cap and Trade.
Submitted by Way Off Base at: July 6, 2009
If you think the Cap & Trade has anything to do with good architecture you are Way Off Base. This Cap & Trade is from none other than the good old UN and the global elite. Architecture is going to dry up more with these intrusions. Liberty and a free culture is what allows the creativity to prosper. This is the United States of America NOT the United States of The Rest of the World. Please read up on your history, we are heading downward and loosing our liberty with this crap.
Submitted by CONCERNED! at: July 6, 2009
Like LoneVoice, I am concerned that this bill will force homeowners to replace rather than repair / restore because of the inspector factor -- who is doing the inspecting -- will homeowners really not be able to sell a house without government approval? We are already feeling the effects of window salespersons and "energy efficiency" replacements and the green movement causing more and more people to replace historic windows and doors that are in perfectly good condition. Where is the red flag here?
Submitted by pane in the glass window repair at: July 4, 2009
This is way overdue, now if the Senate just leaves it alone and does the right thing. No pork, make this a bipartisan issue and get it done!! We all need to contact our Rep still!! THANK YOU, NTHP and The House of Reps for your diligent support on this major issue It's election year Folks!!!!
Submitted by Anonymous at: July 1, 2009
Pass the bill!!! Those of us in preservation have always been doing 'green'. Proper repair and maintenance will make the windows and the house last for hundreds of years.
Submitted by lonevoice at: July 1, 2009
Wake up folks. You all sound like you are committed to restoration , like I am. But if its not done to the liking of the government and their paid enforcers, you will not be able to sell your house if you want without government approval. An original house will not pass. This is clearly an intrusion into our freedom.
Submitted by BungalowMo at: June 30, 2009
I live in a nearly 100 year old home. I am currently restoring (not replacing) all my wonderful old windows. Instead of a cost of nearly 20k out of my shallow pockets to replace, restoration is costing me under $10 per double hung and I can still watch the world through my wonderful wavy glass. And being done correctly, this is also saving me a lot of money over time on my oil bill! Pass this bill...whether or not you pass the savings on to me.
Submitted by Kristi at: June 30, 2009
We need to keep our older buildings from looking - as my grandmother used to say like 'mutton dressed as lamb.' Putting sunglasses on them, doesn't make them more efficient when they were already built efficiently.
Submitted by Kimmylou at: June 28, 2009
Pass the bill it may prevent damage from coming to some historic places.
Submitted by VN at: June 28, 2009
Pass this bill! It will grant US some goodwill, that it owes to the world for the maximum usage of energy in the entire world!
Submitted by MikeZ at: June 27, 2009
Pass this bill. Making our existing buildings more efficient is much green than all of the costs of building new "green" buildings. Please pass and support this bill
Submitted by Tina at: June 26, 2009
Pass the bill
Submitted by landsend at: June 26, 2009
Pass Bill
Submitted by jharkin at: June 26, 2009
This is a wonderful idea. Not only are we saving history - but we are waking up to the truth that preserving what is already there is often better for our environment than tearing down and building new. Please support this bill!!
Submitted by Bill at: June 25, 2009
Pledase support The American Clean Energy and Security Act
Submitted by AAh at: June 25, 2009
Protect the historic structures of our heritage by assiting in the expensive venture of letting them become 'GREEN' !!!
Submitted by Sharon Ferraro at: June 25, 2009
Here in Kalamazoo, MI in early July, we are training a dozen contractors in wooden window repairs so we will have more people who can restore rather than replace windows. This incentive would help these newly trained people find work in Michigan's terrible economy AND help homeowners improve energy efficiency.
Submitted by Anonymous at: June 25, 2009
Please pass the American Clean Energy and Security Act. The sustainable improvements to existing windows is well worth the effort.