Congressman Welch Retrofits Office

February 26, 2010 – Today, the Alliance helped celebrate a milestone in federal energy management when Congressman Welch (D-Vt.) became the first U.S. Representative to take part in a project being run by the the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) to improve the U.S. House Buildings' energy efficiency and water efficiency. Alliance President Kateri Callahan was present at Rep. Welch's press conference, where she discussed how action on energy efficiency in the federal government can influence the national discussion.

The congressman's retrofit is the first of many in the AOC’s comprehensive project to renovate the House Office Buildings. When the 30-month project is complete, the improvements are expected to reduce the facilities’ energy use by 23 percent, saving taxpayers about $3.3 million per year.

However, the renovations will not be funded by taxpayers: Alliance Associate NORESCO is paying for the project, and will recoup its investment with guaranteed minimum energy savings. The Alliance applauds NORESCO for helping the federal government to lead by example.

Callahan praised Congressman Welch for being the first member of Congress to make his office activities carbon neutral in 2007, and now for taking another bold step. "Congressman Welch is showing his colleagues in the House, and citizens across the country, that energy efficiency is for everyone… Today’s upgrade demonstrates that energy efficiency is the cheapest and quickest way to attain carbon neutrality – by using a home grown resource, we can all return money to the economy and help to create jobs."

Read the press release issed by Rep. Welch's office.