H. Res. 492 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

June 8, 2009. 

Whereas the High-Performance Buildings Congressional Caucus Coalition has declared the week of June 15 through 

June 19, 2009, as ‘‘High-Performance Building Week’’; 

Whereas the House of Representatives has recognized the importance of high-performance buildings through the inclusion of a definition of high-performance buildings in the 

Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007; 

Whereas our homes, offices, schools, and other buildings consume 40 percent of the primary energy and 70 percent 

of the electricity in the United States annually; 

Whereas buildings consume about 12 percent of the potable 

water in this country; 

Whereas the construction of buildings and their related infrastructure consume approximately 60 percent of all raw 

materials used in the United States economy; 

Whereas buildings account for 39 percent of United States 

carbon dioxide emissions a year approximately equaling 

the combined carbon emissions of Japan, France, and the 

United Kingdom; 

Whereas Americans spend about 90 percent of their time indoors; 
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Whereas poor indoor environmental quality is detrimental to 

the health of all Americans, especially our children and 

elderly; 

Whereas high-performance buildings promote higher student 

achievement by providing better lighting, a more comfortable indoor environment, and improved ventilation 

and indoor air quality; 

Whereas high-performance residential and commercial building design and construction should effectively guard 

against natural and human caused events and disasters, 

including fire, water, wind, noise, crime, and terrorism; 

Whereas high-performance buildings, which address human, 

environmental, economic, and total societal impact, result 

from the application of the highest level of design, construction, operation, and maintenance principles—a paradigm change for the built environment; and 

Whereas the United States should continue to improve the 

features of new buildings, and adapt and maintain existing buildings, to changing balances in our needs and responsibilities for health, safety, energy efficiency, and 

usability by all segments of society: Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

(1) supports the goals and ideals of High-Performance Building Week; 

(2) recognizes and reaffirms our Nation’s commitment to High-Performance Buildings by promoting 

awareness about their benefits and by promoting new 

education programs, supporting research, and expanding 

access to information; 
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(3) recognizes the unique role that the Department 

of Energy plays through the Office of Energy Efficiency 

and Renewable Energy’s Building Technologies Program, which works closely with the building industry and 

manufacturers to conduct research and development on 

technologies and practices for building energy efficiency; 

(4) recognizes the important role that the National 

Institute of Standards and Technology plays in developing the measurement science needed to develop, test, 

integrate, and demonstrate the new building technologies; and 

(5) encourages further research and development of 

high-performance building standards, research, and development. 

Attest: 

Clerk.