By Emily Pugliese
As we head into August, and summer recess for the state legislatures, we can reflect on how the advocacy of GBU members, staff, and partners influenced policy over the past 6 months. While we saw progress in many places, there is still much work to be done.
Policy Wins
Throughout the winter and spring, the GBU community came together to advocate for the full adoption, with no amendments, of the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) to Pennsylvania’s Uniform Construction Code (UCC) Review and Advisory Council (RAC). We were thrilled to see the RAC adopt the 2021 Commerical building energy code with only one minor amendment, meaning new construction and major renovations of commercial and multifamily properties in Pennsylvania will be built to a higher-performance baseline beginning in July of 2025.
Also in Pennsylvania, the 2024-2025 state budget signed by Governor Josh Shapiro on July 11, 2024 includes investments that will move the needle on energy efficiency and green building, including:
- $100 million in sustainable funding for environmental repair and facility upgrades in schools, including $25M for Solar for Schools, which was championed by Representative Elizabeth Fielder;
- $30 million increase in Career and Technical Education (CTE) programming (opportunity for workforce development);
- $10.5 million to speed up permitting processes at the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and clear permit backlogs, which will allow the DEP to hire much needed additional staff.
In Philadelphia, the Built to Last program received $5M for FY2025. This was a victory that many of our members and partners with the HERE 4 Climate Justice Coalition advocated strongly for. This bump in funding will increase the number of houses that can be renovated to improve energy efficiency and decrease utility bills.
In Delaware, the state recently passed the Energy and Stretch Code bill, which requires counties to adopt the base energy code no later than 12 months after the state formally adopts any code update. It also allows counties to adopt stretch codes. They also passed the Climate Forward Planning Act, which will increase community resiliency and address and mitigate the impacts of climate change. Both bills were sponsored by Senator Stephanie Hansen, who is an environmental champion for Delaware.
Policy Misses
While Pennsylvania’s RAC adopted 2021 IECC Commercial building energy code was adopted with only one small amendment, the 2021 IECC Residential building energy code was not adopted. This means that in Pennsylvania the 2018 IECC Residential building energy code is still in effect, and the state will lose out on the energy efficiency upgrades that were included in the 2021 code. GBU is currently working on an advocacy plan to change the way building energy codes are adopted in Pennsylvania.
Possibly the biggest disappointment for advocates in Pennsylvania, the Whole Home Repair program was not funded in the 2024-2025 budget. With more than 18,000 homeowners on the waitlist for this incredibly popular and successful program, Green Building United will continue to work with our partners to convince lawmakers to fund Whole Home Repair.
In Philadelphia, GBU members advocated for increased funding for the City’s Office of Sustainability and Philadelphia Energy Authority. These budget asks were not adopted by City Council, but GBU will continue to advocate for the importance of OOS and PEA funding as we meet with City Council offices this summer and fall.
Opportunities for Advocacy
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Delaware all passed measures that get us closer to a healthier and more sustainable environment, but there’s clearly much more work to do. Green Building United will continue to work with our members and partner organizations to advocate for policies that will transition us to a climate-friendly built environment. If you are interested in getting involved in these advocacy efforts, please join our Policy and Advocacy Committee by emailing epugliese@greenbuildingunited.org.