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AIA Urges Congress to Consider Green Stimulus Proposals
Provisions would help stimulate large sector of overall economy and promote more energy-efficient homes and buildings
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For Immediate Release |
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Washington, D.C., January 30,
2008 — As Congress and the Administration discuss additional proposals
to stimulate the nation’s economy, the American Institute of
Architects (AIA) is advocating green incentives for homeowners,
building owners, small businesses, retail establishments and
education facilities. Details of the provisions where sent to
Congress in a letter dated January 24, 2008.
Letter to Congress regarding sustainable
provisions
In 2005 the AIA adopted position statements to promote sustainable
design and resource conservation to achieve a minimum reduction of
fifty percent of the current consumption level of fossil fuels used
to construct and operate buildings by the year 2010.
AIA senior director, federal affairs, Andrew Goldberg, Assoc. AIA,
said, “Because the design and construction industry accounts
for nearly one in ten dollars of United States GDP and creates
millions of jobs while supporting millions of small businesses, the
AIA believes that Congress and the president should help this vital
sector put people back to work and provide solutions lower energy
costs.”
In particular, the AIA supports provisions to:
Extend and deepen tax incentives for green commercial and
residential buildings The AIA supports extending existing tax
incentives that are set to expire or have expired; deepening these
incentives will spur more homeowners and developers to invest in
green technologies and designs, which will create more green-collar
jobs. In particular, the AIA supports extending the
energy-efficient commercial buildings deduction for five years
(through December 31, 2013) and deepen it from $1.80sf to $2.25sf;
and extending the credit for energy-efficiency improvements to
existing homes to 2009, while increasing the cap to $1000 from the
current $500
Provide for accelerated depreciation of energy-efficient
business equipment
The AIA supports providing accelerated depreciation of equipment,
which will create an immediate incentive for purchasing new
technologies. In addition, the AIA supports provisions that provide
additional incentives for small businesses who invest in new
equipment, such as expanding the Section 179 deduction; and for all
businesses that invest in energy efficient products, such as
energy- efficient windows and HVAC systems.
Give homeowners a “Green Tax
Credit”
The AIA supports providing a tax credit of $2500 for the purchase
of a new or significantly refurbished energy-efficient home. This
will help increase demand in the housing market and create an
incentive for builders and homeowners to invest in green
technologies.
Extend the 15-year recovery for retail improvement,
restaurant, and leasehold property
The AIA backs extending the 15-year depreciation period for changes
to existing restaurant and leasehold properties and including new
construction, which would provide an immediate incentive for
retailers and restaurateurs to invest in sustainable design and
construction, creating jobs in the construction industry.
Fund the construction and modernization of green
schools
Providing grants to local educational agencies (LEAs) to build or
renovate schools that are more energy-efficient will achieve three
goals simultaneously: it will create jobs in the design and
construction industry; it will help create better schools for
students in which to learn; and it will help save energy and lower
energy bills for school districts.
About The American Institute of
Architects
For over 150 years, members of The American Institute of Architects
have worked with each other and their communities to create more
valuable, healthy, secure, and sustainable buildings and
cityscapes. A new AIA awareness campaign, “Walk the
Walk,” advances our commitment to sustainability by
demonstrating how AIA architects can provide solutions in helping
everyone leave a greener footprint. www.aia.org/walkthewalk
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