Green Government Bill

A

Bill

TO

reduce the carbon footprint and increase the energy efficiency of government buildings.

BE IT ENACTED by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

Section 1: Definitions

(1) A government building is any structure occupied by humans on more than 90 calendar days a year for the purposes of government work.

(1) A government building is any structure occupied by humans on more than 90 calendar days a year for the purposes of government work but does not include a building under the control of devolved authority.

(2) Energy efficiency ratings will, for the purposes of this bill, refer to the A-G rating system formerly used by the Domestic Energy Performance Certificate Register.

(3) A devolved authority is any authority under the competence of the Scottish Parliament, Northern Irish Assembly, or Welsh Parliament.

Section 2: Energy Consumption

(1) The Government is to begin measures to increase the energy efficiency of government buildings, to be completed no later than 2035.

(2) Specific energy efficiency goals for the Government to reach by 2035 are:

(a) Decreasing office lighting to .75 Watts per square foot, and

(b) Gaining a “B” or higher energy efficiency rating.

(3) Cabinet-level officials shall be responsible for planning these measures with the advice and consent of the Secretary of State.

Section 3: Carbon Footprint

(1) The Government is to begin measures to minimize the carbon footprints of government buildings, to be completed no later than 2035.

(2) Specific carbon minimization goals for the Government to reach by 2035 are:

(a) The usage of on-site renewable energy sources to produce the necessary power for lighting, cooling, and heating existing government buildings, and
>(b) Evaluating the carbon footprint of erecting new government buildings as to select building designs with the smallest carbon footprint, and
(c) Noting the emissions created by the travel of employees, guests, and others to and from a government building, and actively considering these embedded emissions when selecting locations for new government buildings.

Section 4: Exemptions

(1) Any government buildings with listed status are exempt from these requirements indefinitely.

(2) Any building that would be classified as a government building were it not for the control of a devolved authority may adhere to the standards under the terms of an agreement made by the Scottish Ministers, Northern Irish Ministers, or Welsh Ministers respectively.

Section 5: Duty to Report

(1) Every six months, each cabinet-level official must report a summary of their department, ministry, or office’s total energy efficiency, fossil fuel usage, and any expenditures made to improve the energy efficiency and minimize the carbon foorpint of the buildings occupied by departments under their authority.

(2) Thirty days after taking effect, the Secretary of State shall:

(a) appear before Parliament to report the state of progress made with regards to energy efficiency and carbon footprints, OR
b) submit to the Speaker of the House of Commons a letter summarizing the progress referenced in Section 4(2)(a).

Section 6: Commencement, short title and extent.

(1) This act comes into force six months after receiving royal assent.

(2) This act may be cited as the Green Government Act 2019.

(3) This act extends to the whole United Kingdom.

This bill was submitted by the Rt. Hon. /u/CheckMyBrain11 MBE PC MP MLA MSP on behalf of the Conservative and Unionist Party.

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This reading will end on the 26th of Janurary at 10PM GMT