POLICY POSITION
Energy Policy Should Prioritize Energy Savings
Reducing energy demand is just as important as increasing energy supply. America’s Plastic Makers support an all-of-the-above energy strategy, including policies that reduce energy demand from buildings by improving energy efficiency. Plastic building materials improve the long-term performance of homes and buildings—helping lower energy costs, strengthen the electric grid and support American manufacturing.
Producing More Energy Is Only Part of the Solution
America’s energy needs are growing. As electricity demand increases – due to data center expansion, electrification and economic growth – our nation needs policies that both expand energy production and make better use of the energy we generate.
Reducing energy use in buildings is one of the most cost-effective ways to meet that challenge. High-performance buildings reduce energy demand, lower utility costs, and strengthen grid reliability by using less energy for heating and cooling.
Buildings are long-lived investments. Decisions made during construction can affect these outcomes along with comfort and durability, for decades. Energy policy should consider the total cost of owning and operating a building in addition to its initial construction cost. Plastic materials are among the key technologies that make high-performance, energy-efficient buildings possible. By improving insulation, reducing air leakage, and enhancing the performance of the building envelope, these materials help reduce energy demand while supporting a more affordable, reliable, and resilient energy system.
The Building Envelope Is Energy Infrastructure
When people think about energy infrastructure, they often think about power plants and transmission lines, but one of the most effective ways to strengthen our energy system is to reduce the amount of energy that houses and buildings need.
A high-performing building envelope —the insulation, roof, walls, windows, doors and air barriers that separate indoor and outdoor environments— reduces heating and cooling loads. This lowers energy demand before electricity reaches a home or business.
Advanced plastic materials help make high-performing building envelopes possible. Plastic building products such as foam insulation, house wraps, roof membranes, water-resistive barriers, high-performance glazing and air sealing systems improve building performance, lower utility costs and strengthen the reliability of the electric grid over the lifetime of a house or building.
Energy Policy Priorities
Smart energy policy should recognize that reducing energy demand is just as important as increasing energy supply. America’s Plastic Makers support policies that:
- Reduce the energy needed to power homes and commercial buildings.
- Encourage market-based incentives that drive private-sector investment.
- Support innovation in advanced building materials and technologies.
- Strengthen American manufacturing and domestic supply chains.
- Improve affordability while enhancing electric grid reliability.
- Advance modern building technologies and consensus-based energy codes.
- Protect minimum envelope performance
Bottom line: Policies restricting material choice can contribute to higher costs and limit how many service lines can be replaced with available funding.
Featured Policy:
H.R. 8477: The American Energy Dominance Act
America’s Plastic Makers support H.R. 8477, the American Energy Dominance Act, because it promotes long-term investment in American manufacturing, energy infrastructure and building energy efficiency. American manufacturers depend on affordable, reliable energy and predictable policies to make significant capital investments, expand domestic production, and strengthen U.S. competitiveness. H.R. 8477 supports policies that encourage innovation, improve building performance and help reduce energy demand through energy-saving technologies.
