Legislature passes bill for energy efficient buildings

April 21, 2009

OLYMPIA — Recognizing the potential to save money by making buildings more energy efficient, the Legislature has passed Senate Bill 5854. The bill was sponsored by Sen. Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor, who worked in collaboration with Rep. Christine Rolfes, D-Bainbridge Island.

“Energy efficiency is the fastest, cheapest and cleanest way to meet Washington’s growing demand for electricity,” said Rolfes, who sponsored companion legislation and worked to move SB 5854 through the House of Representatives. “This bill is a down payment on energy independence for Washington and will help preserve our quality of life.”

“There’s a real opportunity here to do two critical things — save money and grow our economy,” said Kilmer, acknowledging that his frugality is accompanied by an enthusiasm about things that will spur innovation and create jobs. “Energy efficiency is one of the few bright spots in these tough economic times. This bill will help lower utility bills for consumers across the state while putting people to work using skills they already have.”

The policies in the bill emerged as top priorities from the Energy Efficiency & Green Building Implementation Working Group of the Governor’s Climate Action Team. The policies were vetted by a broad range of stakeholders during that process.

SB 5854 includes provisions to gradually strengthen state building codes and offer incentives and planning to achieve more efficient, lower-energy-use buildings by 2030; get information about buildings’ energy-use performance and make have those results available to potential buyers, lessees or lenders; and make public buildings models of energy efficiency.