SENATE

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Devin Lance Graham

Republican

U.S. Senate

 

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?

 

Taxes are the ways we can govern improvements to current structures. We can provide breaks for investors when the improvements are done to existing structures such as changing to modern fixtures, faucets, toilets, and providing automatic shut offs to electrical, fuel, and water. 

For new structures, we have a building that is addressing the concerns of these factors and the code is updated when the cost fits the need.

I am a electrical contractor in Louisiana. We see changes and enforcement of building codes often among all the trades.

 

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

 

b. Provide rebates to homeowners who invest in energy efficiency improvements

d. Renew and expand tax incentives for energy efficient buildings

OTHER: Know that not all of America is the same and having a one code or policy is not the answer across the nation as a whole.

 

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?

 

Know that not all of America is the same and having a one code or policy is not the answer across the nation as a whole. We need to ensure that all new buildings are built to hold against the environment in which the building is placed. Louisiana and Arizona are different locations, climates, and health factors. We need to build based on the needs of the location. 

 

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

 

Investing in the jobs of the future needs to start in the high school levels of education. We need to teach trades to all students and allow a variety of goals for the individuals. If a person is attracted to a specific job in clean energy and said person can attend the training and education then trade schools and community colleges need to have these programs available if the energy sector is available in the area.

 

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, but I would do it through tax breaks and grants to public buildings. 

 

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 am an electrician. We changed out fixtures and installed timed controlled devices to save energy.

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​MV Vinny Mendoza

Democratic

U.S. Senate

 

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?

 

Regulate for the use of green materials like hemp that more sustainable.

 

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

 

b. Provide rebates to homeowners who invest in energy efficiency improvements

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

d. Renew and expand tax incentives for energy efficient buildings

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

h. Conduct research into the most promising technologies, products and materials that improve occupant health and reduce transmission of contagious disease while saving energy

 

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?

 

Request to be assigned to the Agriculture Committee and sponsor the "Agriculture Reform Act," to create 5 million new smart farms that will have 25 million new and permanent jobs that will produce sustainable products within the United States and help reduce the inflation and US Debt while increasing the GDP of 1.7% by 0.5% each year. 

 

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

 

It all begins at 1st grade in elementary school.  Children need to receive 1/2 day in academic instruction and 1/2 day in vocational training so that they can learn a trade that can provide them a minimum wage of $15-$25 per hour when they get out of high school and go on into a vocational/technical school or any other type of higher education.

 

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?

 

During a 20-year tenure with the US Air Force, As the Chief of Services in charge of over $2 Billion in Real Property in Greenland and owning a construction company for over 20 years and having lived in Japan for 9 years, I am familiar with the most advanced materials used in Japan as well as the materials used at Thule Air Base, Greenland (North Pole) where there have wind storms of up to 200 mph and the cold can be 60 below zero.  As Chief Quality Assurance Inspector in Greenland, I know about the necessary safety requirements to sustain the 200 mph wind storms. 

 

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.)?

 

Yes, over 40-years experience in the Engineering & Services, military housing and civilian new construction and renovations.

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Salvador Rodriguez

Democratic

U.S. Senate, Louisiana

 

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?

 

Encouraging properly insulating, energy efficient windows and structural upgrades in new buildings, retro fitting older buildings with proper insulation and energy efficient windows and making structures sturdier.

 

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

b. Provide rebates to homeowners who invest in energy efficiency improvements

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

g. Invest in the retrofitting of schools, community centers, libraries and other civic buildings to improve occupant safety and reduce energy consumption, especially in underserved communities

h. Conduct research into the most promising technologies, products and materials that improve occupant health and reduce transmission of contagious disease while saving energy

 

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?

 

Provide tax incentives to upgrade there buildings to be retrofitted to be energy efficient and set better building codes for commercial & residential buildings. 

 

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

 

 Retrain the construction workers to think about building more energy efficient buildings.

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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.

 

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.)?

 

No.