Mechanical Insulation saving money for federal buildings and schools

Executive Director of the Mechanical Insulators Labor Management Cooperative Trust (LMCT), Pete Ielmini, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the progress of the Federal Mechanical Insulation Act. Ielmini also discussed a companion mechanical insulation installation savings bill and how schools in the Chicagoland area could use the savings from installing mechanical insulation to improve student safety.

Ielmini spent two days in October speaking to Congress about the Federal Mechanical Insulation Act. He’s had 20 visits to different legislators so far, with another 12 visits to come. Right now, they’re targeting members of the Energy and Commerce Committee, where the bill was assigned. The biggest question Ielmini has received from legislators, so far, is why this hasn’t already been a part of the requirements for federal buildings. 

At the end of October, Ielmini expects another bill will be introduced known as the Mechanical Insulation Installation Incentive Bill. This new bill would provide tax credits of up to 10 percent of the mechanical insulation installation costs to the client/building owner. These two bills could work in concert, as the taxpayers paying for the mechanical insulation installation would receive a tax credit for the costs. This is the first time there have been two bills supporting mechanical insulation in Congress at one time, Ielmini said.

Ielmini also discussed his recent experience sitting on a panel during a meeting of school district engineers in the Chicagoland area. During the conversation, the subject of security using artificial intelligence came up. It provided unique outlooks on these security services, however, the costs were the biggest issue. Ielmini took this opportunity to explain the benefits of mechanical insulation and the savings that could be found by installing mechanical insulation. Ielmini offered to perform an energy audit at one of the schools in the district and show the savings possible, and added that these savings could then be used to install the much-needed security services.

To hear more from Ielmini, please play the episode above.