The building energy-use reporting tool released this month by the American Institute of Architects may help firms get a handle on how their designs compare to others regarding predicted energy consumption, but it won’t help designers comply with myriad statewide energy codes. Not only are there different codes in different states for both commercial and residential construction but statewide energy codes are constantly evolving, making it tough for designers to keep up with changes, say code experts. Image Image State codes are generally based on model energy codes, which are “getting more rigorous,” said Dave Conover, senior technical adviser with

As the Gulf oil-spill disaster worsens, there appears to be growing support in the Senate for a slimmed-down energy bill that would hold BP accountable and may also include many elements of a measure the Energy and Natural and Resources Committee cleared last summer, industry sources say. House Democrats also are working on oil-spill legislation but appear to be leaning toward taking up a series of targeted bills, not a big package. KERRY In the Senate, a key question is whether energy legislation will include climate-change provisions. Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) proposed a measure in May

Design and construction organizations are lobbying to get a proposed tax increase for certain professional-services firms—including architecture and engineering firms—stripped from a bill now pending in the Senate. But the groups face hurdles. The American Council of Engineering Cos., American Institute of Architects, American Subcontractors Association, Associated Builders and Contractors, Associated General Contractors and other business groups are backing an amendment proposed by Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) to drop the tax hike from the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act, which the Senate is debating. The Snowe proposal is one of a string of pending amendments to the bill.

Licensed U.S. architects working globally, a group that is growing, need support from the American Institute of Architects in several ways, including promoting and endorsing a strategic plan that enables U.S. architects to gain professional practice licenses in foreign jurisdictions. AIA also should endorse the International Union of Architects’ (UIA) professional advisory standards, international education standards and international accreditation/validation standards. Image There is a growing need for U.S. architectural services in developing nations, the urban areas of which have few architects per capita. “The AIA should be advocating practices that enable its members to diversify their geographic, civic and cultural

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has set more stringent new air-quality standards for sulfur dioxide (SO2). In a final regulation announced on June 3, EPA is jettisoning the current standard, which is 140 parts per billion over 24 hours, in favor of a one-hour, 75-ppb level. The estimated cost to fully implement the new standard by 2020 is $1.5 billion, EPA says. The agency says the new one-hour standard will protect public health by reducing exposure to high short-term concentrations of SO2, which is commonly emitted from powerplants and industrial facilities. EPA also is revising ambient-air monitoring requirements for SO?.

In a new report to Congress, the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that $298.1 billion in capital investment is needed for the nation’s wastewater and stormwater treatment and collection systems over the next 20 years. EPA’s report, released on June 3, is based on 2008 data. The total needs figure is a 17% increase over the agency’s last estimate, which used 2004 data. EPA’s numbers are significant because construction and water industry groups frequently use them to make the case for more funding for clean-water state revolving funds. Of the total capital needs, EPA says $192.2 billion is for publicly owned

In the wake of the Gulf oil spill, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is pushing for a new, potentially wide-ranging energy bill. Before the accident, legislative handicappers were giving long odds on the Senate’s passing an energy measure this year. The desire in Congress to take action to prevent future offshore oil disasters now has improved those odds. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) Brad Penney, the Alliance to Save Energy’s government-relations director, says, “We’ve experienced a national tragedy with the catastrophe in the Gulf, and out of that tragedy there appears to be a positive ... the increased likelihood of the

Funding to help Haiti recover and rebuild from the Jan. 12 earthquake moved through the Senate but slowed down in the House. The Senate on May 27 passed a spending bill with $2.8 billion for Haiti, including $438 million for infrastructure. House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey (D-Wis.) included $2.8 billion for Haiti in a draft spending bill, but he postponed a committee vote until after the Memorial Day recess.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act’s $8 billion for high-speed rail (HSR) has begun to flow to states. The U.S. Dept. of Transportation said on May 27 it had disbursed the first $79.6 million of the ARRA aid. With $7.9 billion still to go, further installments will be released in coming weeks. DOT announced on Jan. 28 which states won shares of the $8 billion but had to reach grant agreements before disbursing the money. Florida receives $66.6 million for program management and preliminary engineering for a Tampa-Orlando line. California gets $6.2 million to relocate tracks between San Francisco and

A $112-billion tax package that the House approved on May 28 is a mixed bag for the design and construction industry. Construction groups like some of the provisions, including an extension for the popular Build America Bonds program. But some of the bill’s revenue-raising tax hikes drew strong criticism from architects, engineers, contractors and real estate interests. The Senate has the next move. If that chamber amends the measure, it would return to the House, says Karen Lapsevic, Associated General Contractors’ director for tax, fiscal affairs and infrastructure finance. “So there might be a couple of more votes on this