Democrats Pledge to Green the House

Democrats Pledge to Green the House

   
April 2007 -   House Speaker Nancy 
Pelosi today said Democrats would start to operate the House 
buildings "in a carbon neutral manner" at the earliest 
possible date with a deadline of the end of this Congress in 
late 2008 or early 2009. 
Pelosi was joined this afternoon by Majority Leader Steny 
Hoyer and Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee 
Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz in accepting a report by 
the Chief Administrative Officer of the House Daniel Beard on 
efforts that would reduce the environmental impacts associated 
with the operations of the House building complex. Democratic
 leaders accept the report of Chief Administrative 
Officer of the House Daniel Beard on greening the Capitol. 
From left: Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Speaker 
Nancy Pelosi, CAO Daniel Beard, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer
 "The environmental challenges we face are as local as our 
neighborhoods and as global as our planet,"Pelosi said. "The 
House must lead by example and it is time for Congress to act 
on its own carbon footprint. 
The preliminary report on the "Green the Capitol Initiative" 
was presented by Beard in response to a March 1 letter by 
House Democratic leaders requesting the development of such an 
initiative. 
The preliminary plan calls for shifting the House and its 
three office buildings to 100 percent renewable energy and 
improving energy efficiency. 
By implementing this recommendation, the House will eliminate 
57,000 tons of the total greenhouse gas emissions annually, or 
the equivalent of removing 11,000 cars from the roads. 
The cost of electric power generated from renewable sources 
can be up to 20 percent more than power generated from 
traditional sources. This increase in cost will be offset over 
the long run by energy conservation actions, Beard said. 
To save money and energy, Beard recommends that 2,000 desk 
lamps in the House office buildings be immediately converted 
to compact fluorescent lamps, CFL, and convert the remaining 
10,000 desk lamps to CFLs within six months. 
Replacing 12,000 CFLs is the equivalent to removing 255 cars 
from the road, and it will yield a $245,000 savings in 
electric power costs to the House per year, Beard said. 
"Standard incandescent bulbs consume four times the energy of 
compact fluorescents and it is time for the House to eliminate 
their use," he said. 
President George W. Bush greets Speaker of the House Nancy 
Pelosi before delivering his State of the Union Address in the 
Chamber of the House of Representatives. January 23, 2007. The
 overhead House ceiling lights should be converted to high 
efficiency lighting and controls to reduce lighting energy 
from these sources by as much as 50 percent. This action will 
eliminate 7,130 tons of greenhouse gas emissions, which is 
equivalent to 1,340 cars. 
Under the new plan, the House will purchase only energy 
efficient Energy Star products where available, and purchase 
office equipment that is certified using the Electronic 
Product Environmental Assessment Tool system. EPEAT certified 
electronic devices are low in heavy metals and high in 
recycled plastic content. 
The House will give priority to the purchase of climate 
neutral products that offset the life cycle contribution of 
greenhouse gas emissions. Specifically, Beard said, the House 
should purchase only adhesive, sealants, paints, coating, and 
carpets that emit very low quantities of volatile organic 
compounds. Volatile organic compounds are major components 
affecting indoor air quality and they contribute to climate 
change. 
The House will buy only furnishings that contain recycled 
products or wood certified as sustainable by the Sustainable 
Forests Initiative, the Forest Stewardship Council or similar 
programs under the new plan. 
"Implementing this recommendation will make a small 
contribution toward insuring biodiverse forests for future 
generations," Beard said. 
The Democratic leadership will direct the Architect of the 
Capitol to finalize the installation of an ethanol-85 tank and 
pump for the use of official vehicles within the next six 
months. 
"I commend the CAO on this thoughtful preliminary report on 
how the House can take steps to operate in a sustainable 
manner that is more senvironment newsitive to the environment," said 
Majority Leader Hoyer, a Maryland Democrat. 
The Caucus Room on the third floor of the Cannon House Office 
Building is the scene of numerous ceremonies and functions.
 "Improving energy efficiency is the most effective first step 
that any organization can take to make a positive effect on 
the world we live in and that we leave to our children and 
grandchildren," he said. 
Beard also suggests that a "Green Expo" be held for House 
offices to demonstrate the latest in green products or 
services available to offices from commercial vendors. 
He recommends that a sustainability education program be 
established for House employees providing guidance on how 
employees can make a contribution to impacting climate change 
and sustainability at home and in the work place. 
The House should establish a "Green Revolving Fund," said 
Beard, where revenues received from various sources will be 
placed in a revolving fund to be used to undertake energy and 
water conservation initiatives that offset greenhouse gas 
emissions. 
"Implementing these important first steps signal we are not 
only doing the right thing, but we are taking steps that will 
eventually save money," said Chairwoman Wasserman Schultz, a 
Florida Democrat. "Through these recommendations we will show 
not only that these actions are environmentally beneficial, 
but are fiscally sound." 

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