WASHINGTON -- June 30, 2009 -- The Building Performance Institute, Inc. (BPI) applauds building code provisions included in the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (ACESA), which are expected to have significant impact on the energy efficiency performance requirements of new and existing homes and buildings.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Act by a vote of 219-212 on Friday, June 26, 2009. Also referred to as the 'Waxman-Markey Bill,' this landmark energy and environment Act is intended to provide incentives for reducing energy consumption, establish limits on U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and create a trading system for GHG emission permits.

"We know that residential buildings are responsible for over 20 percent of America's carbon footprint, thanks to their consumption of fossil fuel energy," says Larry Zarker, CEO of BPI. "If we can improve the efficiency of the 128 million existing American homes, we can reduce our GHG emissions, create jobs and save homeowners a lot of money while also improving the durability and occupant comfort, health and safety of those homes."