The bipartisan infrastructure deal that passed the Senate on August 10 includes several key provisions that will help modernize the built environment. The Senate is expected to advance a second infrastructure bill through the Budget Reconciliation process this fall.

Key provisions that would improve the built environment, include:

• Providing $3.5 billion in funding for the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Weatherization Assistance Program, which increases energy efficiency and reduces costs for low-income households.
• Authorizing $500 million in competitive grants to support energy-efficiency and renewable energy in schools.
• Allocating $1 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program.
• Allocating $500 million for grants established from the Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation Act (STORM Act), which mitigates hazards to reduce risks from disasters.
• Providing $250 million in funding to establish the Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Fund Capitalization Grant Program, which states could use to improve the energy efficiency of residential and commercial buildings.
• Establishing a $225 million competitive grant program within the DOE’s Building Technologies Office to support cost-effective building code implementation.
• Establishing a $40 million grant program to train individuals to conduct energy audits and surveys of commercial and residential buildings.
• Developing building, training, and assessment centers through institutions of higher education and Tribal colleges to train architects, engineers, and other professionals about energy-efficient design and technologies, along with fostering additional research.
• Allowing the Metropolitan Transportation Planning authorities to use federal funding to promote more walkable and multi-modal communities.

The Senate’s bill will now require a vote in the full House of Representatives, which is currently on recess through September 20. The legislation will also require President Biden’s signature in order to be enacted.

“To meet the challenges of the 21st century, our nation’s infrastructure funding needs to move beyond roads and bridges to include schools, hospitals, homes and more, especially as buildings contribute nearly 40 percent of worldwide carbon emissions,” said American Institute of Architects (AIA) 2021 President Peter Exley, FAIA. “This bipartisan legislation represents an important step toward improving our nation’s buildings. However, we urge lawmakers to ensure greater funding for building improvements is included in the Budget Reconciliation package. By doing so, we can make meaningful progress on reducing the built environment’s impact on climate change.”

Craig DiLouie

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