January 29, 2007
State Sen. Rob Hogg: 515-242-5049
State Rep. Nathan Reichert, 563-571-5242
DES MOINES – On Tuesday, January 28, lawmakers told a recent community college graduate that the “green building” skills that earned him his first job can create a multi-billion dollar shot in the arm to Iowa’s economy in the coming years.
The comments came as a bipartisan group of legislators in the Iowa House and Senate called on their colleagues to aim high when it comes to saving energy and reducing our dependence on foreign oil. Their goal is for Iowa to cut energy use by 1.5 percent each year.
The lawmakers believe more government oversight can increase the effectiveness of the millions of dollars already being spent in the state to encourage energy efficiency.
“We know how to do it and we are already investing millions in energy efficiency programs administered by public utilities and others,” said State Senator Rob Hogg (D-Cedar Rapids). “What’s missing is the sort of focused effort that puts the pieces together and achieves best results possible.”
“There are many opportunities for dramatic savings in Iowa through energy efficiency,” said Representative Nathan Reichert (D-Muscatine). “We can better reduce high energy bills and avoid costly foreign entanglements with cooperative efforts to become efficient. Saving energy means both a stronger Iowa economy and energy independence.”
Bill McAnally, Chair of Industrial Technology at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge, has spent 18 years teaching green building techniques to Iowa students. McAnally was at the Statehouse to encourage lawmakers to be bold when setting goals with regard to energy efficiency.
“We know what works. Every one of our graduates are out there, building homes and other buildings that use less energy, are healthier places to live, and last longer,” said McAnally. “A lack of know-how is not the problem. The problems are inertia, short-sightedness, and a lack of focus. I think legislators can help us close the gap between today’s buildings and the energy efficient, sustainable buildings Iowans could be building.”
Students in at Iowa Central have built 8 of 12 residence halls on campus and are currently at work on working on two new multi-million dollar buildings that will feature geothermal heating and cooling, advanced ventilation systems, nontoxic VOC paint and different types of insulation for high-energy performance.
Simon Lindner, a 2007 graduate, said what he learned at Iowa Central helped him get his first job. “You can call what I learned at Iowa Central ‘green’ building, but you could just as easily call it ‘right’ building,” said Lindner, who will testify before the Senate Natural Resources and Environment Committee on Tuesday afternoon.
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