The Preservation Alliance urged Representative Paul Hodes and Representative Carol Shea-Porter to vote in support of to pass the American Clean Energy and Security Act. This important legislation will address global climate change, limit its adverse effects on our built and natural environments, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  Included in this bill are grants to the owners of historic homes and businesses for making needed energy efficiency upgrades without compromising the historic character of their properties.  This type of policy is so important for a state like New Hampshire with cold winters, great existing building stock and people ready to do the labor-intensive work that provides good jobs and keeps money circulating in the local economy.  The vote on the American Clean Energy and Secruity Act of 2009 is scheduled for Friday, June 26.

The Retrofit for Energy and Environmental Performance (REEP) program in the bill would fund state and municipal investments of up to half the cost of retrofitting the nation's existing homes and buildings that account for 10 percent of global carbon emissions. Homeowners could qualify for $1,000-$3,000 in financial incentives for achieving a 10-20 percent increase in efficiency, with another $150 for every additional percentage point of energy savings achieved.  Historic buildings on the National Register of Historic Places would be eligible for a twenty percent boost in these same awards because of the special needs associated with retrofitting historic buildings.

If just historic and older homes were made more energy efficient under this program, it would reduce carbon emissions by about 945,000 tons in the first year alone and save the equivalent of more than 1.2 million barrels of oil. 

And our older and historic commercial buildings need help too.  The REEP incentive in the energy bill would give businesses up to $2.50 per square foot for making major energy reductions and historic buildings would get the same 20 percent boost available to historic homes.  More at www.preservationnation.org or www.preservationaction.org.

 Editor's note: Both Congressman voted for the Act.