8TH DISTRICT

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Andrew Horning

Libertarian

U.S. House, Indiana 8

1.         WHAT ARE THE BEST WAYS THAT CONGRESS CAN HELP TO REDUCE THE ENERGY AND WATER CONSUMPTION OF BUILDINGS TO HELP MAKE THEM MORE SUSTAINABLE?

The federal government has very little constitutional authority in this.  But certainly the best "green" energy option is newer-design nuclear power.  Federal subsidies have, up to now, been disastrous to global environment and at very high opportunity cost.  Water consumption, per se, is an inherently local issue, since in some areas (like southern Indiana where I'd represent) have more than abundant water.  And where fresh water isn't abundant, it's either a local problem of desalinization, or water rights issue that's been made a problem by federal policies dating back well-over a hundred years.  Clean water is more of a concern, and the EPA's corruption has been very disappointing in this regard.

All that said, I'm open to considering new minimum standards for environmentally sound building codes.

Remember, though, that we're waaaay past broke.

2. WHICH SUSTAINABLE BUILDING POLICIES DO YOU SUPPORT AND WOULD WORK TO ENACT IF ELECTED?

a. Set benchmarking requirements for commercial buildings and encourage cities and states to adopt performance-based standards for buildings

c. Provide incentives to states and localities to adopt the most up-to-date energy building codes

e. Require federal buildings to meet aggressive energy efficiency and carbon reduction targets

f. Provide support to states and localities to make buildings more resilient from natural hazards and disasters

OTHER: "$upport" doesn't necessarily mean more spending and debt.  We cannot survive more debt.  Nor can we afford to make our already corrupt federal government any more unconstitutionally powerful.

3.         IF ELECTED, WHAT STEPS WILL YOU TAKE TO ENSURE THAT ALL AMERICANS, REGARDLESS OF SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS, ARE ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM HEALTHY AND SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS?

Let our poor taxpayers keep more of their money, stop devaluing the currency and issue sound money to boost the economy generally, and dramatically cut the burden on individuals and states by our unregulated federal government. 

4.         IF ELECTED, WHAT STEPS WILL YOU TAKE TO TRAIN AND PREPARE PEOPLE FOR CLEAN ENERGY JOBS THAT ADVANCE SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS AND BUILDING COMPONENTS?

I'm running for federal office.  this would be inappropriate and counterproductive.

5.         ARE YOU WILLING TO WORK WITH THE BUILDING SECTOR TO MAKE SURE THAT TRANSFORMING BUILDINGS IS PART OF THE POLICY DEBATE IN CONGRESS, INCLUDING JOINING CAUCUSES THAT ADVOCATE FOR SUSTAINABLE BUILDING POLICIES? IF YES, HOW WILL YOU DO THAT?

Yes.  The only proper role for a federal lawmaker is setting standards based on state of the art technology and science. 

6.         DO YOU HAVE ANY PREVIOUS EXPERIENCES RELATED TO SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS (E.G., SUPPORTING LEGISLATION IN ELECTED OFFICE, MADE ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS TO A HOME, OFFICE, COMMUNITY-WIDE, ETC.)?

I have personally built green with solar, better/more insulation, and globally sustainable building materials, both on my current farm, and in previous home rebuilds.