HR0768 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0768 LRB096 15154 MJR 30213 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Mechanical insulation is defined to encompass all thermal, acoustical, and personnel safety requirements in mechanical piping and equipment, hot and cold applications, and Heating, Venting, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) applications that can be used in a variety of buildings, such as manufacturing facilities, power plants, refineries, hospitals, universities, government buildings, and other facilities; and

WHEREAS, Buildings are responsible for 40% of United States energy demand and 40% of all greenhouse gas emissions; and

WHEREAS, Methodically and properly installed mechanical insulation provides long-term energy efficiency, emission reduction, cost savings, and safety benefits, and can be used to reduce the number of tons of greenhouse gas emissions that could be prevented from release into the atmosphere, prevent loss of energy, control condensation, depending on the thickness of the insulation, protect occupant safety and public health wellness, and regulate surface temperature; and

WHEREAS, Combined, buildings used in commercial and industrial sectors consume 2.5 times more energy than residential buildings, according to Annual Energy Outlook provided by the Energy Information Administration in December 2008; and

WHEREAS, Loss of energy can increase the temperature within a facility or area, putting additional stress on other equipment and building infrastructure and reducing that equipment's performance and life expectancy; and

WHEREAS, According to the National Insulation Association, maintenance of mechanical insulation at industrial facilities alone can generate more than $3,600,000,000 in energy savings per year, reduce 37,000,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emission, and create more than 27,000 jobs annually; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that the House of Representatives encourages energy efficient and environment-friendly building and facility certification programs to incorporate the use of mechanical insulation as part of their standards and ratings system; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be delivered to the Executive Director of the Capital Development Board.