Green Buildings Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-489
Sponsor: Sen. Warner, John [R-VA]
Introduced: 2007-02-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Academic performance
Administrative procedure
Air conditioning
Auditing
Bicycles
Building construction
Child health
Child safety
Commuting
Congress
Congressional investigations
Congressional reporting requirements
Cost accounting
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Elementary and secondary education
Emergency Management
Energy
Energy conservation
Energy efficiency
Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental assessment
Executive reorganization
Families
Federal advisory bodies
Federal budgets
Federal employees
Federal installations
Federal office buildings
Finance and Financial Sector
General Services Administration
Government Operations and Politics
Government procurement
Government publicity
Green products
Health
Heating
Higher education
Indoor air pollution
Internet
Labor productivity
Landscape architecture
Law
Lighting
Mass rapid transit
Occupational health and safety
Office of Management and Budget
Pest control
Planning-programming-budgeting
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Recycling of waste products
Research and development
School buildings
Science, Technology, Communications
Standards
Student transportation
Students
Transportation and Public Works
Walking
Waste reduction
Water Resources Development
Water conservation
Web sites

Summary:
action_date: 2007-02-05
text: 
Green Buildings Act of 2007 - Directs the Administrator of General Services to establish a position of, and appoint, a Director who shall: (1) establish an Office of Green Buildings (2) establish a Green Building Advisory Committee; (2) carry out public outreach; (3) develop and recommend a green building research plan; (4) analyze current budget and contracting practices that affect achievement of green buildings; and (5) develop and implement a comprehensive indoor air quality program for federal facilities. 

Defines a &quot;green building&quot; as one that, during its life-cycle: (1) reduces energy, water, and material resource use and the generation of waste; (2) improves indoor environmental quality; (3) improves impacts of the building on human health and the environment; (4) increases the use of environmentally preferable products; (5) increases reuse and recycling opportunities; and (6) integrates systems in the building.

Authorizes the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide grants to state educational agencies for use in: (1) providing technical assistance for EPA's programs (including the Tools for Schools Program and the Healthy School Environmental Assessment Tool) to schools for use in addressing environmental issues; and (2) developing state school environmental quality plans. Authorizes the EPA to provide grants to nonprofit organizations to assist in community and public education on healthy school environments.

Requires the EPA to develop voluntary school site acquisition guidelines that account for: (1) efficient use of energy; (2) the special vulnerability of children to hazardous substances or pollution exposure where the potential for site contamination exists; (3) available modes of transportation; and (4) potential use of the school as an emergency shelter.

Requires the Director to: (1) identify incentives to encourage the use of green buildings and related technology in federal government operations; and (2) consult with the Committee to assist in the implementation of the Environmental Stewardship Scorecard.

Requires the Office to carry out specified demonstration projects at federal buildings and universities to contribute to its research goals.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-02-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2007-02-05
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1577-1578)
action_date: 2007-02-05
text: Introduced in Senate