Insulation industry news from Global Insulation

US: Johns Manville (JM) joined US Senators Michael Bennet and Johnny Isakson in Washington, DC on 19 October 2011 to applaud the introduction of the SAVE (Sensible Accounting to Value Energy) Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at encouraging greater investment in insulation and other forms of energy-efficiency in homes.

Todd Raba, CEO of Johns Manville, spoke at the Capitol Hill event to endorse the bill. The SAVE Act will aim to direct federal mortgage agencies and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to create a new mortgage underwriting and realty appraisal process that reflects actual homeowner energy costs, thereby stimulating greater demand for energy-efficient homes. The market-driven proposal is designed to promote cost-effective investments in home energy-efficiency while strengthening federally insured mortgages and creating as many as 83,000 jobs nationally in the construction, manufacturing and home renovation sectors.

"On behalf of the thousands of Coloradans whose jobs depend on vibrant insulation and energy efficiency industries, JM would like to salute Senators Bennet and Isakson for their leadership on this bill," said Raba. "Incorporating energy efficiency calculations into federal mortgage underwriting is a smart and budget-neutral way of creating real jobs and stimulating widespread economic activity."

The SAVE Act is supported by a broad-based coalition including the US Chamber of Commerce, the Council of the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (CNAIMA), the Alliance to Save Energy, the US Appraisal Institute, homebuilders, environmental groups, green building advocates and other champions of energy efficiency.

"Energy efficiency truly is a 'win-win-win.' Homebuyers are able to lower their monthly utility bills, the economy benefits from job creation and the country as a whole saves energy," said Raba. "Considering that 45 million US homes are under-insulated there is a significant opportunity to make American homes more energy efficient and America more energy secure."