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House Energy and Commerce Committee Okays Tenant Star Bill

Jan. 29, 2014

The House Energy and Commerce Committee approved a Tenant Star bill on Jan. 28 that would create an energy efficiency label for renters in commercial buildings. The label mimics Energy Star for buildings.Called the Better Buildings Act, the bill won unanimous committee approval on a voice vote.

Elisa Wood

The House Energy and Commerce Committee made its first move on energy efficiency in the 113^th Congress with approval Jan 28 of a bill that would create a ‘Tenant Star’ program.

The Better Buildings Act (H.R. 2126) would set energy efficiency standards for those that rent space in commercial buildings. Tenants that meet the voluntary standards receive a Tenant Star certification similar to the Energy Star label now available for buildings.

The bill also would initiate study into how to improve efficiency in spaces occupied by tenants.

“We are hopeful that the committee leaders will continue to work across the aisle to bring to the House floor bipartisan energy efficiency policies, such as this legislation, that will better the U.S. economy and move the country towards reaching the goal of doubling our nation’s energy productivity,” said Elizabeth Tate, the director of government relations for the Alliance to Save Energy.

The bill is sponsored by Rep. Peter Welch, a Vermont Democrat, and Rep. David McKinley, a West Virginia Republican. It won unanimous committee approval on a voice vote.

A bill summary is here.

About the Author

Elisa Wood | Editor-in-Chief

Elisa Wood is an award-winning writer and editor who specializes in the energy industry. She is chief editor and co-founder of Microgrid Knowledge and serves as co-host of the publication’s popular conference series. She also co-founded RealEnergyWriters.com, where she continues to lead a team of energy writers who produce content for energy companies and advocacy organizations.

She has been writing about energy for more than two decades and is published widely. Her work can be found in prominent energy business journals as well as mainstream publications. She has been quoted by NPR, the Wall Street Journal and other notable media outlets.

“For an especially readable voice in the industry, the most consistent interpreter across these years has been the energy journalist Elisa Wood, whose Microgrid Knowledge (and conference) has aggregated more stories better than any other feed of its time,” wrote Malcolm McCullough, in the book, Downtime on the Microgrid, published by MIT Press in 2020.

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