In recent weeks, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its energy efficiency objectives has been all over the news. At the beginning of June, the Obama administration announced new goals to reduce the country's total carbon emissions by 30 percent by the year 2030. On Monday, June 23, the Supreme Court issued a new ruling that mostly upheld the legal regulatory authority of the EPA under the Clean Air Act.

Not content to be left out of all the environmental action, the third branch of the federal government took steps that would help improve energy efficiency throughout the country. Earlier this week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed two separate bills that each target the issue of energy consumption in distinctly different ways. One bill – HR 4092 – is looking to improve schools while the other – HR 4801 – is going to fund a study that would investigate the impact of thermal insulation.

HR 4092, if passed by the Senate and signed by President Obama, would create a specific office within the Department of Energy that would help create and coordinate federal, state and local programs to help school buildings all across the country consume less energy. According to those in Congress, schools spend a combined total of $6 billion each year on power, which is their second largest expense, trailing only personnel costs.

"Well-designed energy efficiency and renewable energy can reduce or stabilize these costs," said Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill), who co​-authored the thermal insulation research bill. The purpose of that legislation is to see what its impact will be on energy and water use within government buildings.

If you are a Maryland resident interested in having a home that consumes less power, schedule an energy audit today with Alban Inspections!