IIBEC Opposes Missouri Bill Expanding Cooperative Purchasing to Include Design Services April 18, 2023 On April 6, 2023, IIBEC submitted testimony to the Missouri State Senate Committee on Governmental Accountability outlining opposition to S. 544, which would expand cooperative purchasing authorizations to include architectural, engineering, and design services. Government Relations
IIBEC Provides Maine Legislative Panel With Comments on Solar-Ready Mandate April 12, 2023 IIBEC submitted testimony to a Maine legislative panel as part of the panel’s April 4 discussion of solar-ready mandates for future commercial buildings, ensuring that building enclosure consultants’ interests were made known to the panel. Government Relations
Canadian Government Confirms Support for Transition to Net Zero March 23, 2023 Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault outlined Canada’s support for a net-zero emissions economy through the fostering of economic environmentalism and a range of policies, including the launch of the independent Net-Zero Advisory Body, which will provide advice on the most likely pathways for Canada to reach net zero. Guilbeault made his remarks during a March 20, 2023, speech at the Americana 2023 environmental conference. Government Relations
North Dakota Senate Panel Protects Building Enclosure Consultants February 23, 2023 IIBEC recently celebrated another legislative victory, as the North Dakota Senate Committee on State and Local Government on February 17 brought up SB 2370, amended it, and then passed it on a 6–0 vote. The amendment addresses concerns IIBEC raised in its previously submitted testimony and prohibits cooperative purchasing programs from being used to procure construction design services. Government Relations
Canada Opens Applications for Two Initiatives to Accelerate Building Retrofits February 16, 2023 On February 9, 2023, Natural Resources Canada issued a statement announcing Calls for Applications for two new initiatives to accelerate building retrofits: the Deep Retrofit Accelerator Initiative (DRAI) and the Greener Neighbourhoods Pilot Program (GNPP). Government Relations
IIBEC Asks North Dakota Senate Panel to Protect QBS in Cooperative Procurement Bill February 16, 2023 On February 8, 2023, IIBEC submitted to the North Dakota Senate State and Local Committee testimony in support of qualifications-based selection (QBS) for the procurement of construction design services. Specifically, IIBEC asked the committee to amend SB 2370 “to protect taxpayers and ensure compliance with state requirements regarding the procurement of architecture, engineering, and land surveying services, as outlined by N.D.C.C. Chapter 54-44.7, by inserting a provision prohibiting the purchase of such services via a cooperative purchasing program.” Government Relations
Canadian Advisory Body Submits Report to Achieve Net-Zero Emissions by 2050 February 3, 2023 On January 27, 2023, Steven Guilbeault, minister of environment and climate change of Canada, announced that the Net-Zero Advisory Board had submitted its first annual report, “Compete and Succeed in a Net-Zero Future.” The report contains 25 recommendations to speed Canada’s transition to net-zero emissions by 2050. Composed of nine experts from across Canada, the board was authorized by the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act. Government Relations
Incentivizing Building Upgrades to Achieve Carbon-Reduction Goals December 21, 2022 The International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants (IIBEC) supports appropriate tax policies and programs (i.e., low-interest loans, tax credits, and accelerated depreciation) to promote energy efficiency projects designed to expedite carbon reduction goals in the built environment. Credentialed building enclosure consultants should be required for the design and administration of these upgrades to ensure the enclosure meets the carbon reduction goals. Government Relations
