In August, the president signed into law the Energy Policy Act of 2005, a $12.3-billion energy bill. He explained that the multi-faceted legislation that he described as an economic bill "sets higher efficiency standards for federal buildings and for household products." He continued, adding that "it authorizes new funding for research into cutting-edge technologies that will help us do more with less energy."

And in September Bush instructed agencies to use more products rated by Energy Star, a government-backed program helping businesses and individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency. Among issues visited in the letter, RER called on the Administration to include more building types covered under the Energy Star program, which presently excludes shopping centers and multifamily properties.

RER also pointed out that residential and commercial buildings consume one-third of the country's energy, which represents a stark improvement over the last 30 years. Residential energy consumption, RER noted, has dropped 37% since the mid-1970s, and commercial consumption has waned by 25%. "These improvements were achieved despite a sharp--50%--increase in average new home size during that period and a dramatic increase in energy-dependent technology in buildings, including greatly increased plug loads from increasing numbers of home appliances and office equipment," RER chairman Robert J. Lowe writes to Bush. "Our successes were realized without any federal regulation of the construction or operation of buildings."

Lowe went on to commend and encourage the administration on the energy bill's energy production initiatives and energy efficiency tax incentives. Lowe also reiterated the RER's desire to continue to work with the White House on energy efficiency practices and efforts toward increased sustainable and independent energy. "In our view, any such strategy should build on the real estate industry's historic successes in addressing energy supply and demand challenges," Lowe notes.

RER's "Top Ten" list of Real Estate industry accomplishments includes the increase in development of green, or energy efficient, buildings; the Building Owners and Managers Association International's launching of the BOMA Energy Efficiency Program and the National Association of Home Builders establishment of an internal green building rating system. It also includes the fact that, through the urging of the American Hotel and Lodging Association, hotel owners of more than 600 million sf of hotel space have vowed to improve the energy efficiency of their lodging properties under the guidelines of the Energy Star program.

Instant Insights /

Real Estate Roundtable Writes to Bush on Energy Conservation

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