Convia and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
Economic Opportunities for Green Building Practices
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) affects fundamental change in building construction by funding public infrastructure projects that promote green building standards like LEED and Energy Star. Qualifying projects include new construction, remodeling and renovations in government buildings, schools, low-income housing, and other public structures.
ARRA supplies $787 billion in federal funding to stimulate the United States economy across many categories, including the construction, remodeling and renovation of Education and Federal buildings. Depending on the funding vehicle and public building type, the stimulus funding for public facilities strongly encourages or requires green building and energy conservation design and product installation.
Energy Efficiency and Conservation
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding is distributed through energy grants and bonds intended to improve energy efficiency in buildings, transportation, and other appropriate sectors.
Under the terms of the President's Economic Recovery Plan, Federal money will be available for certain new and existing public buildings, including K-12 schools, higher education facilities, and Federal Buildings across the country who employ "green" building improvements and energy efficiency strategies.
This money will be made available through the following programs:
- Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants
- State Energy Programs
- Qualified Energy Conservation Bonds
Installing the Convia system saves energy and increases your facility's energy efficiency, and therefore may be funded through the ARRA energy conservation and efficiency funding programs.
Impact on K-12 and Higher Education Facilities
ARRA distributions include funding for facilities projects in public elementary, secondary and higher education endeavors. These ventures are encouraged to employ "green" building practices that follow accepted green building rating systems, such as the LEED program administered by the US Green Building Council.
Funding vehicles for educational programs include:
- Educational Grant Money: funds such as the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund, distributed by the federal government to state departments of education, and ultimately to local school districts
- School Construction Bonds: which are issued by school districts, and which the Federal Government makes financially attractive by giving districts a reduction in interest rates; and giving buyers attractive investments incentives
- Energy Efficiency and Conservation Grants: monies awarded to school districts that employ energy conservation strategies
Since Convia Controls help facilities to reduce and
maintain better command of their energy consumption, they are an ideal fit for
any school district seeking to employ better strategies for sustainability in their facilities through new construction, remodeling or renovation projects, and
in the process take advantage of the important funding available to them.
More information about ARRA for education can be found at the National Council of Educational Facilities site, here »
The US Department of Education's site also features timely and relevant ARRA information, here »Impact on Federal Facilities
The General Services Administration (GSA) has received $5.857 billion dollars of ARRA funding to achieve green investments in Federal Buildings, the procurement of energy efficient vehicles, and oversee other GSA programs resulting from the ARRA.
Federal building projects will be funded through the Federal Buildings Fund, which includes more than $1 billion earmarked for the construction of Federal courthouses and overland points of entry into the United States.
Another $4.5 billion in the Federal Buildings Fund is reserved for the modernization of federal buildings to convert them into high-performing "green" buildings. This money will cover full and partial modernizations of existing buildings, as well as limited scope and small projects.
The GSA's focus seeks to decrease the energy consumption of Federal Buildings, while at the same time increase their property value.
Though the GSA submitted its project list to Congress on March 31, 2009, the project list can be updated on an ongoing basis, and projects that qualify can be at various phases of development.Timeline for Funds to be Awarded:
- Not less than $1 billion to be awarded by August 1, 2009
- Not less than $5.05 billion to be awarded by the end of Fiscal Year 2010
- Not less than $5.546 billion to be awarded by the end of Fiscal Year 2011
The energy conservation benefits of Convia Controls make Convia an important part of federal building new construction, remodeling and renovation projects using ARRA funds.
Contact Convia
For information about how Convia can help your project qualify for American Reinvestment and Recovery Act funds, contact us today »
