The Federal Mechanical Insulation Act, H.R. 4663, was introduced into the House of Representatives on July 14, 2023, by Rep. Randy Weber (R-Texas).
Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.) was the bill's first co-sponsor.
H.R. 4663 was then referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and placed into the Subcommittee on Energy, Climate and Grid Security.
Legislation summary
Commonly referred to as the FMIA, H.R. 4663 was written to advance federal energy efficiencies, save tax dollars and reduce energy loss and emissions for the approximately 350,000 federal buildings in the U.S.
It will also add an important audit metric for regulators to include when assessing federal buildings’ measure of Mechanical Insulation efficiencies.
What is Mechanical Insulation?
Mechanical Insulation is one of the best investments a company or building owner can make during construction, renovation or regular maintenance.
Compared to other construction materials, Mechanical Insulation is relatively unknown and often confused with the more commonly known "pink stuff" that is used in the walls of homes and other buildings.
Mechanical Insulation is different as it is used on pipes, piping systems, mechanical systems, ducts, storage tanks and other commercial and industrial applications and processes.
It provides large-scale and long-term energy efficiency, emissions reductions, cost savings and safety benefits at manufacturing facilities, power plants, refineries, hospitals, universities, and government buildings while creating thousands of American jobs, with the manufacturing of nearly all Mechanical Insulation taking place in the U.S.
Beneficial to every sector, Mechanical Insulation is a time-tested technology, which has been proven to offer a Return On Investment.
When Mechanical Insulation is properly installed, it immediately protects buildings or facilities from problems down the line. Since Mechanical Insulation acts as a temperature and moisture control, those working inside a facility are protected from exposure to mold and other potential bacterial diseases.
Applying Mechanical Insulation to machines or other industrial components ensures their longevity. By reducing moisture buildup and regulating temperature, Mechanical Insulation helps protect industrial equipment from rust, while helping it run more efficiently.
The investment in Mechanical Insulation in an industrial building or facility offers a great monetary return. From minimizing energy losses to reducing safety risks due to mold, Mechanical Insulation provides savings from day one.
Reasons to support the FMIA
Save taxpayer dollars
According to the Government Accounting Office (GAO), the federal government is the single largest energy consumer in the country, consuming more than 344 trillion Btu of energy and 119 gallons of water in Fiscal Year 2021.
If passed and signed into law, the FMIA will save taxpayer dollars by requiring all federal buildings to regularly under an energy audit that looks at the Mechanical Insulation. If the audits reveal missing, damaged or incorrectly speced Mechanical Insulation, then these items will be corrected. In the end, it will lead to the federal government using less energy and saving taxpayer money on energy bills.
Additional savings will occur as Mechanical Insulation can help extend the life of mechanical systems by limiting lost energy. This means the system will not work as hard and will likely last longer than a mechanical system that is being pushed hard every day for years.
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
In addition to saving tax dollars, Mechanical Insulation will also help save the environment.
By reducing energy usage through the installation or repair of Mechanical Insulation, the FMIA will help the federal government cut back on the amount of greenhouse gas emitted into the atmosphere.
Multiple studies and Mechanical Insulation Energy Audits have proven that Mechanical Insulation can significantly reduce the energy required to run a system, which in turn, means a smaller carbon footprint.
What does the bill do?
Currently, the National Energy Conservation Policy Act, part of the National Energy Act 1978, sets out an array of measures intended to promote energy conservation in all three sectors of U.S. energy use – buildings, industry and transport.
Section 432 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) changes Section 543 of the National Energy Conservation Policy Act (NECPA) and creates a statutory requirement for federal agencies to conduct energy and water use evaluations, which include energy audits of federal buildings.
While Section 432 of EISA does not define “comprehensive energy and water evaluations,” Department of Energy guidance provides some guidelines for audits as part of these evaluations. Therefore, this legislation would clarify that Mechanical Insulation Energy Audits qualify under comprehensive energy and water evaluations.
In recognition of the important role that Mechanical Insulation plays in lowering operating expenses, reducing energy loss and decreasing emissions, H.R. 4663 makes the following specific changes to portions of the EISA:
- Defines “Mechanical Insulation property” as materials, facings and accessory products that are part of a mechanical system and that reduce energy loss from that mechanical system, thereby allowing for the inclusion of these items as qualifying energy and water efficiency measures.
- Expands the definition of “energy and water evaluations” to include identification of energy- and water-saving measures (including installation of Mechanical Insulation property, if applicable).
Bipartisan support
The FMIA enjoys bipartisan support, as this common-sense bill is good for the taxpayers, government and the environment.
“For 35 years, I owned and operated an air conditioning company, and I understand the importance of strategic federal energy conservation and efficiency measures,” said Rep. Weber after introducing the legislation. “This bill is not only common sense but a win for the nation’s energy preservation and will lower the burden on taxpayers forking over their hard-earned dollars to power federal buildings.
“I am proud to introduce this legislation, and I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee to ensure that a properly trained and qualified workforce is used to make the necessary improvements to federal Mechanical Insulation,” he added.
“As we continue efforts to bring down energy costs, reduce emissions, and protect our environment, energy efficiency has become a leading issue across the country,” said Rep. Sanchez, the bill's original co-sponsor. “Still, Mechanical Insulation – a practical and helpful solution – is often overlooked.
“Mechanical insulation improves working environments, lowers energy costs and increases the asset value of a building,” she said. “It accomplishes all of this while creating tens of thousands of American jobs. This bill provides meaningful directives to the Department of Energy to ensure Mechanical Insulation is a focus of the statutory audits of federal buildings where appropriate. I am proud to support this legislation and build on the important work we started last Congress to promote sensible federal energy conservation and workforce measures.”
Endorsed by NAESCO
The National Association of Energy Service Companies has endorsed the Federal Mechanical Insulation Act.
NAESCO is the leading advocacy and accreditation organization for Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) dedicated to modernizing America’s building infrastructure through performance contracting.
ESCOs develop, design, build and arrange financing for projects that save energy, reduce energy costs and decrease operations and maintenance costs at their customers' facilities. ESCOs perform Energy Audits per Department of Energy standards, and these audits would include Mechanical Insulation Energy Audits (MIEAs) with the passage of the FMIA.
Among their members are:
- AECOM
- Brewer-Garrett
- Honeywell International Inc.
- Johnson Controls Inc.
- Schneider Electric
- Siemens Industry, Inc.
Additional Support
NAESCO joins a growing list of supporting entities, including the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers, the AFL-CIO, the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) and the National Insulation Association (NIA).
Next steps
The Mechanical Insulators LMCT is working to gain further support for the FMIA.
Additionally, we are working with members of the Senate to introduce a companion bill to H.R. 4663.
We look forward to speaking with more elected officials and their staff to explain the benefits of this legislation and to ask for their support.
