Administering Green Programs in Congress:
Issues and Options
Jacob R. Straus
Analyst on the Congress
March 11, 2011
Congressional Research Service
7-5700
www.crs.gov
RL34694
CRS Report for Congress
P
repared for Members and Committees of Congress

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Administering Green Programs in Congress: Issues and Options

Summary
Programs to create an environmentally conscious workplace have long existed on Capitol Hill.
Congress has been working to reduce consumption and conserve energy since the 1970s.
Traditionally, these programs have been administered by the Architect of the Capitol. In recent
Congresses, the House of Representatives and the Senate have created separate energy reduction
programs. In addition, the Architect of the Capitol has developed additional programs for the
Capitol complex.
In the House of Representatives, the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) manages green
programs for individual Member offices, committee offices, and support offices. The
administration of campus-wide energy conservation programs, however, continues to be managed
by the Architect of the Capitol. For the House, the CAO and Architect’s program oversight is
conducted by the Committee on House Administration. Beginning in the 110th Congress (2007-
2008), the House of Representatives labeled all conservation and greening programs as part of the
“Green the Capitol” initiative.
In the Senate, green programs in individual Senate offices, committee offices, and staff support
offices are administered by the Architect of the Capitol, in coordination with the Secretary of the
Senate and the Sergeant at Arms of the Senate, and with oversight provided by the Committee on
Rules and Administration. In the 112th Congress (2011-2012), the Architect of the Capitol’s role
in administering facilities-related programs on behalf of the Senate remains unchanged.
The Architect of the Capitol also administers greening programs for the Capitol complex. These
programs include energy usage reduction programs for the House and Senate office buildings, the
Capitol building, and other Capitol complex facilities; conservation measures for the Senate
office buildings, the Capitol building, and other Capitol complex facilities; and green programs
for the Capitol grounds.
A number of policy options are potentially available to create an inter-chamber greening program
on Capitol Hill. The options include creating a formal House greening program, creating a “Green
the Senate” initiative, establishing an independent greening commission, creating a Capitol
complex-wide greening program, and continuing to use ad-hoc programming for greening issues.
For further analysis of general greening programs in Congress, see CRS Report RL34617,
Recycling Programs in Congress: Legislative Development and Architect of the Capitol
Administration, by Jacob R. Straus.

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Contents
House of Representatives ............................................................................................................ 1
“Green the Capitol” Initiative................................................................................................ 1
Creation and Operation ................................................................................................... 1
112th Congress Changes .................................................................................................. 3
Suspension of Composting Program.......................................................................... 3
House Cafeteria Plates and Flatware.......................................................................... 3
Proposed Amendments to FY2011 Continuing Appropriations Act ............................ 3
“Green the Capitol” Programs ............................................................................................... 4
Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs ................................................................................... 4
Low VOC (volatile organic compounds) Carpets............................................................. 4
“My Green Office”.......................................................................................................... 4
Natural Gas in the Capitol Power Plant............................................................................ 5
Automotive Leases.......................................................................................................... 7
Purchase of Renewable Electricity .................................................................................. 7
Green Cleaning Products................................................................................................. 7
Food Service................................................................................................................... 8
Education Program.......................................................................................................... 8
Other Green Initiatives .......................................................................................................... 9
Architect of the Capitol ................................................................................................... 9
Recycling.................................................................................................................. 9
E-85 Fueling Station ............................................................................................... 10
Legislative Proposals .................................................................................................... 10
Demonstration Projects ........................................................................................... 10
National Capitol Energy Commission...................................................................... 11
Donating Computer Equipment ............................................................................... 12
Senate ....................................................................................................................................... 12
Administration .................................................................................................................... 12
Greening Programs ............................................................................................................. 12
Recycling...................................................................................................................... 12
Lighting Programs ........................................................................................................ 13
Light Bulbs ............................................................................................................. 13
Dimmable Ballasts .................................................................................................. 13
Solar Lighting in Parking Lots ................................................................................ 14
Water Savings Programs ............................................................................................... 14
Dual Flush Valves ................................................................................................... 14
Water Coolers ......................................................................................................... 14
Steam Traps .................................................................................................................. 14
Restaurants ................................................................................................................... 15
Bicycle Parking............................................................................................................. 15
Server Virtualization ..................................................................................................... 16
Education...................................................................................................................... 16
Capitol Complex ....................................................................................................................... 16
Administration .................................................................................................................... 17
Greening Programs ............................................................................................................. 17
Energy Reduction.......................................................................................................... 17
Energy Policy Act of 2005 ...................................................................................... 17
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Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007....................................................... 18
Energy Audits ......................................................................................................... 18
Environmental Services Performance Contracts ...................................................... 19
Solar Cells .................................................................................................................... 19
Capitol Power Plant ...................................................................................................... 20
Criticism of Greening Programs ................................................................................................ 21
Carbon Offsets .................................................................................................................... 21
Capitol Dome...................................................................................................................... 24
Options for Program Administration.......................................................................................... 25
Formal House Greening Program ........................................................................................ 26
“Green the Senate” Initiative ............................................................................................... 26
Independent Greening Commission..................................................................................... 26
Capitol Complex-Wide Greening Program .......................................................................... 27
Continued Case-by-Case Programming ............................................................................... 27
Conclusion................................................................................................................................ 28

Contacts
Author Contact Information ...................................................................................................... 28

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rograms designed to create an environmentally friendly work environment and conserve
energy have gained a higher profile since the 110th Congress (2007-2008). In March 2007,
P the House of Representatives created the “Green the Capitol” initiative with the goal of
making the House “carbon neutral”1 by the end of the 110th Congress.2 The “Green the Capitol”
initiative expanded energy reduction and greening programs for the House and encouraged
cooperation with Senate and Capitol complex efforts.
In general, the House and the Senate have developed separate greening programs. In the House,
these programs are administered by the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) in cooperation with
the Architect of the Capitol, and under the oversight of the Committee on House Administration.
In the Senate, greening programs are administered by the Architect of the Capitol, in coordination
with the Secretary of the Senate and the Sergeant at Arms of the Senate, under the oversight of
the Committee on Rules and Administration. In addition, the Architect of the Capitol administers
greening initiatives for the Capitol complex, including energy usage programs for the House and
Senate office buildings and the Capitol building.
House of Representatives
Implementation of greening programs in the House is divided between the Architect of the
Capitol and the CAO. In general, the Architect is responsible for building and facilities
maintenance, while the CAO is responsible for the interior of Member, committee, and support
staff offices. In some ways, the relationship between the Architect and CAO is similar to the
relationship between condominium owners and their building. The owner (the CAO) is
responsible for maintenance of inside spaces including paint, carpet, furniture, and appliances,
while the building (Architect) is responsible for maintenance of external walls and general
facilities operation such as heating, cooling, and building repairs. The following sections discuss
the role of the CAO in implementing the “Green the Capitol” initiative and the role of the
Architect in other greening projects.
“Green the Capitol” Initiative
Creation and Operation
In March 2007, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, and the then chair of the
Committee on House Administration, the late Juanita Millender-McDonald, asked CAO Daniel
Beard and his Senate counterparts to “undertake a ‘Green the Capitol’ initiative to ensure that the
House institutes the most up-to-date industry and government standards for green building and

1 Webster’s Dictionary defines “carbon neutral” as “emitting no carbon dioxide into the atmosphere; also, employing a
technique to absorb carbon dioxide so it is not emitted.” See, Webster’s New Millennium Dictionary of English,
Preview Edition, http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/carbonneutral. Alternatively, the Oxford English Dictionary
defines the term “carbon neutral” as “making no net release of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, especially through
offsetting emissions by planting trees.” See, Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, vol. 1 (New York: Oxford University
Press, 2007), p. 346.
2 U.S. Congress, Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives, Executive Summary of Green the
Capitol Initiative Preliminary Report, 110th Cong., 1st sess., p. 4. [Hereafter, Green the Capitol Preliminary Report
Executive Summary].
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green operating procedures.”3 The letter further asked the CAO to provide a preliminary report by
April 30, 2007, and a final report, with recommendations, by June 30, 2007.
Subsequently, the CAO conducted a study to understand “House operating procedures with
respect to energy conservation, sustainability and related matters.”4 The results of the study were
presented to the House in two reports and became the “Green the Capitol” initative.5 In
announcing the release of the final report, Speaker of the House Pelosi summarized the initiative
and its importance: “This plan is an essential first step, because it not only will make the House a
better place to work and live near, but it will also make our institution a model—one that cares
about what kind of planet our children will inherit.”6
In the first six months of the initiative, the CAO reported that “significant inroads toward our goal
of carbon neutrality and vastly improved energy efficiency” have been achieved.7 Some of the
programs included initiating a study to relight the Capitol Building Dome, purchasing carbon
credits on the Chicago Climate Exchange, holding a “Green the Capitol Expo” to highlight
alternative forms of transportation, initiating a car sharing program, purchasing renewable
electricity and additional natural gas for the Capitol Power Plant, serving “fair trade” coffee in
House food service venues, composting food and material waste from the cafeteria, and installing
compact florescent light bulbs throughout the House.8
By the end of 2008, about 18 months after the “Green the Capitol” initiative began, the CAO
believed that many of the initial goals had been satisfied. In a report issued at the end of 2008, the
CAO stated “[w]e set ambitious carbon reduction goals for the 110th Congress. I am happy to
report, in less than two years, we reached our goals, and reduced our carbon footprint by 74
percent.”9 New programs initiated included a reduction in energy usage from switching to
compact fluorescent light bulbs, phasing out the use of coal in the Capitol Power Plant,
purchasing wind power, using green cleaning supplies, recycling office supplies during the
transition to the 111th Congress, and switching to electronic receipts in the House office supply
store.10

3 U.S. Congress, Speaker of the House of Representatives, “House Democrats Urge Greening of Capitol Complex,”
press release, March 2, 2007.
4 Green the Capitol Preliminary Report Executive Summary, p. 3.
5 U.S. Congress, Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives, Preliminary Report Green the Capitol
Initiative, 110th Cong., 1st sess.; U.S. Congress, Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives, Green
the Capitol Initiative Final Report Executive Summary, 110th Cong., 1st sess.; and U.S. Congress, Chief Administrative
Officer of the House of Representatives, Green the Capitol Initiative Final Report, 110th Cong., 1st sess.
6 U.S. Congress, Speaker of the House of Representatives, “Pelosi: As Part of ‘Green the Capitol’ Initiative, House to
Reduce Energy Consumption by 50 Percent in Just 10 Years,” press release, June 21, 2007.
7 U.S. Congress, House Chief Administrative Officer, Green the Capitol: Six Months of Progress, 110th Cong., 1st sess.,
December 2007, p. 1. [Hereafter, Green the Capitol Six-Month Progress Report].
8 Ibid, pp. 2-7.
9 U.S. Congress, House Chief Administrative Officer, Green the Capitol: Year End Report, 110th Cong., 2nd sess.,
December 2008, http://cao.house.gov/GreenTheCapitol/static/media-lib/pdf/GTC-2008YE-Report-WEB.pdf.
[Hereafter, Green the Capitol 2008 Year-End Report.]
10 Ibid.
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112th Congress Changes
In the 112th Congress (2011-2012), several changes have been proposed and made to the
operation of the “Green the Capitol” initiative. Since January 2011, the House composting
program has been suspended; compostable cups, forks, knives, and spoons were replaced in the
cafeteria with plastic and ceramic; and amendments were introduced during the debate on H.R. 1,
the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act for FY2011 to defund the “Green the Capitol”
programs office.
Suspension of Composting Program
In the 112th Congress (2011-2012), the House has begun to change some of the “Green the
Capitol” initiative’s operations. While the program continues to operate within the CAO’s office,
some programs have been cancelled or suspended. For example, on January 25, 2011,
Representative Dan Lungren, chairman of the Committee on House Administration, announced
that the House composting program had been suspended. In the press release announcing the
suspension, he explained that the program was both costly and increased overall energy
consumption in the House.11
House Cafeteria Plates and Flatware
In response to media reports indicating that the House would stop using compostable food
containers and flatware in the House cafeterias,12 several Members, including Representatives
Earl Blumenauer, James Moran, George Miller, Mike Honda, Lloyd Doggett, Chellie Pingree,
and Susan Davis have circulated a “Dear Colleague” letter asking for signatures on a letter to
Speaker John Boehner, Majority Leader Eric Cantor, and House Administration Committee
Chairman Dan Lungren.13 The letter outlined the potential harms in returning to polystyrene
products in the cafeteria and that profits derived from the contract between the House and food
service vendor—Restaurant Associates—be used to offset the cost of the more environmentally
friendly and healthier compostable options.
Proposed Amendments to FY2011 Continuing Appropriations Act
In February 2011, during debate on H.R. 1, the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act for
FY2011, two amendments were printed in the Congressional Record to reduce FY2011 funding
for the “Green the Capitol” initiative. The first, suggested by Representative Tim Walberg, would
prohibit funds made available by the continuing resolution from being used “for salaries and
expenses of the ‘Green the Capitol Office’ of the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer of the

11 U.S. Congress, Committee on House Administration, “Committee on House Administration Suspends Composting
Program After Conducting a Review of the Programs’ Financial and Environmental Impact,” press release, January 25,
2011, http://cha.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=353&Itemid=4.
12 Felicia Sonmez, “House to test reusable dishware,” washingtonpost.com, 2chambers blog, March 2, 2011,
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/2chambers/2011/03/house_to_test_out_reusable_dis.html.
13 Dear Colleague Letter from Representatives Earl Blumenauer, James Moran, George Miller, Mike Honda, Lloyd
Doggett, Chellie Pingree and Susan Davis, “Cancer Causing Cups in the Cafeteria?” March 8, 2011.
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House of Representatives.”14 Representative Walberg’s amendment has not been considered by
the House.
The second amendment, offered by Representative Ed Whitfield, reduces the account used to
fund the “Green the Capitol” initiative by $1.5 million.15 In FY2010, the “Green the Capitol”
office received $2.5 million in appropriations. The amendment, which was agreed to by voice
vote, would leave the office with $1.5 million for greening programs and operations.
“Green the Capitol” Programs
Since its creation, “Green the Capitol” programs have sought to reduce energy consumption in
the House. The following section highlights some of the major projects undertaken by the “Green
the Capitol” initiative.
Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs
The House has changed thousands of light bulbs from standard incandescent bulbs to more
energy efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL). CFLs use approximately one-fifth to one-
quarter the energy of incandescent light bulbs and can last up to 10 times longer than
incandescent light bulbs.16
Low VOC (volatile organic compounds) Carpets
In preparation for the transition to the 111th Congress (2009-2010), the CAO issued an RFP for
the installation of new carpet for Member offices.17 As part of the installation, the CAO sought a
vendor who could offer carpets that contained low levels of volatile organic compounds,18 which
are often associated with “sick building syndrome.”19
“My Green Office”
In conjunction with Earth Day 2009, the House launched a program to assist individual Member
offices with greening activities. Initially focused on Member offices in Washington, DC, the
program created a website for Members and staff to track their progress against 15 “‘core
greening activities,’ and a longer list of ‘stretch actions’ for offices that choose to go above and

14 “Amendments,” Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 157 (February 14, 2011), p. H787.
15 “Amendments,” Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 157 (February 14, 2011), p. H782.
16 For more information on compact fluorescent light bulbs see CRS Report RS22807, Compact Fluorescent Light
Bulbs (CFLs): Issues with Use and Disposal, by Linda Luther.
17 U.S. Congress, Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives, “Carpet Installation for the 111th
Transition,” Solicitation Number: OPR08000028. A synopsis of the proposal can be found at https://www.fbo.gov/spg/
House/HOCAO/HOCAOOP/OPR08000028/listing.html.
18 Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a class of chemicals that are commonly encountered by people as they go
about their daily routines. Exposure to VOCs can occur from contact with chlorinated water, methane, smoking, paint,
dry-cleaning, and gasoline. For more information about VOCs see David L. Ashley, Michael A. Bonin, Frederick L.
Cardinali, Joan M. McGraw, and Joe V. Wooten, “Measurement of Volatile Organic Compounds in Human Blood,”
Environmental Health Perspectives, Vol. 104, Supp. 5 (October 1996), pp. 871-877.
19 Green the Capitol Six-Month Progress Report, p. 5.
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beyond. The ‘stretch actions’ are broken into 6 categories: waste reduction, transportation, energy
savings, green procurement, water conservation and outreach.”20 These actions and programs
included reusing boxes, renting crates for office moves, installing CFL light bulbs, shredding and
recycling paper, recycling office supplies, recycling electronics, acquiring new recycling bins (if
necessary), purchasing EPEAT and Energy Star certified products,21 using the House electronic
resume system when filing job openings, and using smart power strips.22
On July 22, 2009, the CAO announced a program to assist Members in greening their district
offices. In the press release announcing the program, the CAO stated, “The fact that many
Members of Congress want to also make the offices in their home states more sustainable shows a
tremendous amount of leadership and says to the constituents in their districts, ‘Saving energy is
not just your priority, it’s ours, too.’”23
Natural Gas in the Capitol Power Plant
The House has decided to stop using coal to generate steam in the power plant. Instead, the House
is working to use only natural gas to generate the steam necessary to operate the heating and
cooling system in the House Office Buildings and in the House portion of the Capitol building.24
Because the House office buildings do not receive steam separately from other buildings, the
House has directed the Architect to purchase additional natural gas so that the proportion of steam
supplied to the House will no longer be generated with coal and fuel oil.25
In testimony before the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, the CAO stated:
I think it is important to add to this debate, though, that if we switch to 100 percent natural
gas, we would certainly have a significantly reduced environmental footprint and carbon
footprint. Right now, the Congress is the proud owner and operator of a facility that is the
second largest point source pollution in the District of Columbia. And so, I think there is a
significant environmental benefit associated with moving to 100 percent gas.26
In a statement on the House floor, Representative Jay Inslee reiterated the CAO’s statement on
the importance of switching to natural gas at the Capitol Power Plant (CPP) and suggested that
the House could further reduce its emissions.

20 U.S. Congress, House of Representatives, Chief Administrative Officer, Green the Capitol Initiative, Green Team
“Newsletter,” vol. 4, 111th Cong., 1st sess., April 17, 2009. For more information on the Green Office Initiative, see
http://www.mygreenoffice.cao.house.gov.
21 For more information on EPEAT, see http://www.epeat.net, and for information on Energy Star, see
http://www.energystar.gov.
22 U.S. Congress, House of Representatives, Chief Administrative Officer, “Green My Move: Checklist.” A copy is
available from the author.
23 U.S. Congress, House, Chief Administrative Officer, “Lawmakers Gear Up for National Greening Push,” press
release, July 22, 2009, http://cao.house.gov/press/cao-20090722.shtml.
24 Six Months of Progress Checklist, p. 2.
25 U.S. Government Accountability Office, Economic and Other Implications of Switching from Coal to Natural Gas at
the Capitol Power Plant and at Electricity-Generating Units Nationwide, GAO-08-601R, May 1, 2008.
26 U.S. Congress, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Administration Proposals on Climate
Change and Energy Independence, hearing, 110th Cong., 1st sess., May 11 and 16, 2007, H.Hrg. 110-44 (Washington:
GPO, 2007), p. 45.
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Switching from coal, first, to natural gas in our power plant, which reduces carbon dioxide
something like 20 to 30 percent. We’re then taking a look at the possibility of going to a
totally renewable fuel of wood pellets [from trees] grown in New Hampshire and some other
places which would go to essentially zero CO2 on a net basis.27
In May 2008, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) completed a report on the
implications of switching from coal to natural gas at the Capitol Power Plant. The Capitol Power
Plant uses a combination of coal, natural gas, and fuel oil to generate the steam necessary to heat
and cool the Capitol complex. From 2001 to 2007, “[t]he percentage of energy input from each
fuel has varied from year to year, with an average fuel mix of 43 percent natural gas, 47 percent
coal, and 10 percent fuel oil.”28 Additionally, GAO reported that to complete the “Green the
Capitol” goal of using only natural gas to supply steam to the House would require a 38%
increase in the use of natural gas.
Based on available data and key assumptions about the plant’s operation and future fuel
costs, we estimated that fulfilling the Green the Capitol initiative’s fuel-switching directive
would require the plant to increase its natural gas use by 38 percent relative to its baseline
level of fuel consumption between 2001 and 2007. As a portion of the plant’s total fuel mix,
natural gas would increase from about 43 percent of overall energy input to about 60 percent
of input. Using information from the AOC on its fuel expenditures and fuel price projections
from EIA [Energy Information Administration], we estimate that implementing the fuel-
switching directive could range in cost from $1.0 to $1.8 million in fiscal year 2008.29
On February 26, 2009, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid sent
a letter to the Architect of the Capitol calling for the facility to be converted to run exclusively on
natural gas for all of its steam production.30 On April 24, 2009, the Architect responded by
ordering “the seasonal conversion to natural gas two months earlier than normal” and upgrading
equipment to “enable the CPP to meet the steam requirements for the Capitol complex using only
natural gas.”31 On May 1, 2009, Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid announced that
“[m]oving forward, the Architect of [the] Capitol will use only natural gas for generating steam,
and resort to coal only as a backup fuel source.”32

27 Rep. Jay Inslee, “Green the Capitol Initiative,” Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 153, no. 177 (November 15,
2007), p. H14074.
28 U.S. Government Accountability Office, Economic and Other Implications of Switching from Coal to Natural Gas at
the Capitol Power Plant and at Electricity-Generating Units Nationwide, GAO-08-601R, May 1, 2008, p. 2.
29 Ibid., p. 6.
30 Letter from Representative Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, and Senator Harry Reid, Senate majority leader, to
Stephen T. Ayers, Acting Architect of the Capitol, February 26, 2009. Sen. Tom Udall also introduced an amendment
(S.Amdt. 639) to the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009 to “ensure that any electricity generated by or otherwise
used by the Capitol Power Plant is not derived from coal.” For the text of the amendment, see Sen. Tom Udall, “Text of
Amendments,” Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 155 (March 3, 2009), p. S2721.
31 Letter from Stephen T. Ayres, Acting Architect of the Capitol, to Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House of
Representatives, April 24, 2009.
32 Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, “Reid, Pelosi: Capitol Power Plant to
End Burning of Coal; Only to be Used as Emergency Backup,” press release, May 1, 2009. For more information on
the Capitol Power Plant, see CRS Report R40433, The Capitol Power Plant: Background and Greening Options, by
Jacob R. Straus and Paul W. Parfomak and CRS Report R40563, Capitol Power Plant Utility Tunnels: Background and
Oversight Options, by Jacob R. Straus.
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Automotive Leases
Pursuant to the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007, vehicles acquired or
leased by the federal government must be low greenhouse gas emitting vehicles.33 Pursuant to
EISA’s requirements, the CAO issued a “Dear Colleague” letter outlining the implementation of
low greenhouse gas emitting vehicle requirements for the House leasing process. The leasing
process includes identifying an eligible vehicle, submitting the lease agreement for review (prior
to signing) to the Office of Administrative Counsel, approval by the Office of Administrative
Counsel of the lease terms, and payment of an approved lease from the Member’s MRA by the
finance office.34
Purchase of Renewable Electricity
During FY2007, the House purchased renewable energy from Pepco, their energy supplier. On
May 11, 2007, Stephen T. Ayers, acting Architect of the Capitol, testified before the House
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on climate change and energy independence.
As part of his testimony, Mr. Ayers stated that the Architect has “contracted with GSA and
Pepco for three percent renewable energy in FY2007 and is currently in discussions with Pepco
as we assess the budget implications to increase this percentage to the maximum percentage that
is reasonable.”35
The House has also contracted with Pepco to stop using fossil fuels for electricity in House office
buildings. According to the 2008 year-end report, all electricity used in the House is certified by
Pepco to be “in theory, derived from wind sources.”36
Green Cleaning Products
The CAO has instituted the use of green cleaning products to replace traditional cleaning agents
used by the janitorial staff. These products are estimated to prevent approximately 6,000 pounds
of air pollutants from being emitted and carry seals of green certification programs.37

33 P.L. 110-140, 121 Stat. 1517-1518, November 19, 2007. Section 141 amends the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (42
U.S.C. § 13212) and requires the Environmental Protection Agency to create a list of low greenhouse vehicles for use
by federal government agencies.
34 “Dear Colleague” letter from Dan Beard, chief administrative officer of the House of Representatives, “Low
Greenhouse Gas Emitting Vehicle Lease Requirements,” November 20, 2008.
35 Testimony of Acting Architect of the Capitol Stephen T. Ayers, in U.S. Congress, House Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure, Regarding the Administrative Responses to Climate Change and Energy
Independence, hearings, 110th Cong., 1st sess., May 11, 2007, p. 4.
36 Green the Capitol 2008 Year-End Report, p. 3. For more information on renewable energy certificates (RECs), see
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Green Power Partnership, “Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs),”
http://www.epa.gov/grnpower/gpmarket/rec.htm.
37 Green the Capitol 2008 Year-End Report, p. 3. Green certification programs include Envirodesic
(http://www.envirodesic.com) and Green Seal (http://www.greenseal.org).
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Food Service
In 2005, the Architect began a search for a food service vendor for the Capitol Visitor Center.38 As
part of the search process, the House and the Senate were provided the option of contracting with
the Architect’s vendor for food services operations. In August 2007, the Architect chose
Restaurant Associates of New York City as the official food vendor for the Capitol Visitor Center.
Following the Architect’s decision, the House independently contracted with Restaurant
Associates to provide food service in the Longworth, Rayburn, and Cannon House Office
Buildings, the House wing of the Capitol, and the Members’ Dining Room.39 The contract went
into effect on December 17, 2007.
As part of the contract, Restaurant Associates (RA) has agreed to operate the House cafeteria and
restaurants in an environmentally friendly manner. “At the US House of Representatives, RA is
determined to impact both the health and wellness of our guests, and the quality of our
community and the environment.”40 RA initiated the following programs:
• purchasing organic food, when possible;
• purchasing local food grown within 150 miles of the Capitol, when possible;
• purchasing sustainable seafood;
• serving food with zero trans-fat;
• serving fair trade coffee;
• serving cage free eggs; and
• installing white boards to reduce printing of signs.
Education Program
For Earth Day 2009, the CAO put together a series of educational programs to teach Members
and staff about greening opportunities. These events included a Green IT Summit Speaker Series,
with talks by Green the Capitol Initiative staff and vendors who supply services to the House such
as Research in Motion and Avaya; a green technology showcase including a model “green” office
and a hands on lab; a paper shredding and recycling event; and a House equipment fair.41

38 For additional information on the Capitol Visitor Center, see CRS Report RL31121, The Capitol Visitor Center: An
Overview, by Stephen W. Stathis.
39 U.S. Congress, House of Representatives, Chief Administrative Officer, “House Cafeteria to Undergo Major Menu,
Operational Changes in December,” press release, November 13, 2007, http://cao.house.gov/press/cao-20071113.shtml.
Food service in the Ford Cafeteria was transitioned from the Skenteris family to Restaurant Associates in September
2008. U.S. Congress, House of Representatives, Chief Administrative Officer, “CAO Allows Current Ford Cafeteria
Vendor to Remain Until September 2008,” press release, November 16, 2007, http://cao.house.gov/press/cao-
20071116.shtml.
40 Restaurant Associates, “Sustainability,” House of Representatives Dining Services Website http://go.compass-
usa.com/house/content/sustainability.asp.
41 “Dear Colleague” letter from Dan Bear, chief administrative officer of the House of Representatives, “Join Us In
Going Green: Eco-Friendly Events Scheduled for Week of Earth Day,” April 17, 2009.
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Other Green Initiatives
The House also has greening programs that operate outside of the “Green the Capitol” initiative.
These programs are administered by the Architect of the Capitol and oversight is provided by the
Committee on House Administration, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s
Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management, and
during the 110th and 111th Congresses the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global
Warming.42
Architect of the Capitol
The Architect of the Capitol is responsible for the facilities and buildings in the Capitol complex.
As part of this role, the Architect is responsible for the administration of the House recycling
program and is generally responsible for the reduction of energy usage throughout the Capitol
complex.
Recycling
The House recycling program was established by the adoption of H.Res. 104 in the 101st
Congress (1989-1990).43 Created as a voluntary program, focused on recycling paper, the
recycling program has grown to include bottles, cans, e-waste (i.e., computers, printers, and toner
cartridges), and construction materials (i.e., carpet, concrete, ceiling tiles and scrap metal). In
calendar year 2010, the House recycled approximately 1,565 tons of paper and 64 tons of bottles
and cans.44
The recycling program operates separately from the “Green the Capitol” initiative. The “Green
the Capitol” initiative, however, has begun recycling materials not previously recycled by the
Architect. These items include the composting of food waste, corn-based biodegradable forks,
spoons, and knives, and sugar cane-based biodegradable carry out containers from the House
restaurants. The personal cell phones of House staff have also been collected and recycled.45

42 Section 4(c) of H.Res. 202 (110th Congress), “Providing for the expenses of certain committees of the House of
Representatives in the One Hundred Tenth Congress,” agreed to March 8, 2007, established the Select Committee on
Energy Independence and Global Warming’s jurisdiction. “The select committee shall not have legislative jurisdiction
and shall have no authority to take legislative action on any bill or resolution. Its sole authority shall be to investigate,
study, make findings, and develop recommendations on policies, strategies, technologies and other innovations,
intended to reduce the dependence of the United States on foreign sources of energy and achieve substantial and
permanent reductions in emissions and other activities that contribute to climate change and global warming.” The
select committee was renewed in Section 4 of H.Res. 5 (111th Congress), “Adopting Rules for the One Hundred
Eleventh Congress,” agreed to January 6, 2009. The select committee will expire at the end of the 111th Congress
unless the House chooses to renew with another resolution.
43 H.Res. 104 (101st Congress), agreed to by voice vote, August 1, 1989.
44 For more information on the House recycling program see CRS Report RL34617, Recycling Programs in Congress:
Legislative Development and Architect of the Capitol Administration, by Jacob R. Straus.
45 Dear-Colleague Letter from Daniel Beard, Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives, December
12, 2007. See also, Elizabeth Brotherton, “Beard Details New Recycling Efforts,” Roll Call, February 27, 2008,
http://www.rollcall.com/issues/53_99/news/22279-1.html.
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E-85 Fueling Station
For FY2008, the CAO requested $500,000 for an E-85 gasoline pump.46 On July 19, 2007, the
Architect issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) soliciting bids to build a “10,000 gallon double-
walled fiberglass underground storage tank” for E-85 fuel at their existing fueling station.47 A
contract to build the E-85 pump was awarded on March 20, 2008, to Octagon Services for
$596,201.40.48 On October 6, 2008, the Architect announced the opening of the E-85 fueling
station to legislative branch agency flex-fuel vehicles. Acting Architect Stephen Ayers noted that
“[a]s part of our Agency-wide effort to help reduce the Capitol complex’s carbon footprint, we
have installed this alternative fuel source which is 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline.”49
Legislative Proposals
While the Architect administers the majority of greening programs not officially part of
“Greening the Capitol,” other legislative proposals have also been introduced to create green
programs. In the 110th Congress, two bills were introduced that would have created green
programs. H.R. 6474, introduced by Representative Zoe Lofgren, would have allowed the CAO
to create projects to promote energy efficiency and reduce energy consumption in the House.
H.R. 6171, introduced by Representative Dan Lungren, would have created a congressional
commission50 on energy in the National Capitol Region. In the 111th Congress, Representative
Lofgren has reintroduced her bill to promote energy demonstration projects as H.R. 1196, and
Representative Jose Serrano introduced H.R. 181 to allow Members to donate used computer
equipment to schools.
Demonstration Projects
On July 10, 2008, Representative Lofgren and Representative Zack Wamp introduced H.R. 6474
“[t]o authorize the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives to carry out a
series of demonstration projects to promote the use of innovative technologies in reducing energy
consumption and promoting energy efficiency and cost savings in the House of
Representatives.”51 The bill would authorize $5 million for both FY2009 and FY2010 for the

46 U.S. Congress, House Committee on Appropriations, Legislative Branch Appropriations, 2008, report to accompany
H.R. 2771, 110th Cong., 1st sess., H.Rept. 110-198 (Washington: GPO, 2007), p. 59. For additional information on this
fuel, see CRS Report RL33290, Fuel Ethanol: Background and Public Policy Issues, by Brent D. Yacobucci.
47 U.S. Congress, Architect of the Capitol, “E85 Fuel Pumping Station,” Solicitation Number: RFP070117. A synopsis
of the proposal can be found at https://www.fbo.gov/spg/AOC/AOCPD/WashingtonDC/RFP070117/listing.html.
48 U.S. Congress, Architect of the Capitol, “E85 Fuel Pumping Station,” Contract Number: AOC08C0037. A synopsis
of the contract can be found at https://www.fbo.gov/spg/AOC/AOCPD/WashingtonDC/RFP070117/listing.html
49 U.S. Congress, Architect of the Capitol, Stephen T. Ayers, AIA, Acting Architect of the Capitol, “Architect of the
Capitol Opens E-85 Fueling Station to Legislative Branch Agencies,” press release, October 3, 2008,
http://www.aoc.gov/aoc/press-room/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&pageid=39874.
50 For more information on congressional commissions see CRS Report R40076, Congressional Commissions:
Overview, Structure, and Legislative Considerations, by Matthew Eric Glassman and Jacob R. Straus, and CRS Report
RL33313, Congressional Membership and Appointment Authority to Advisory Commissions, Boards, and Groups, by
Matthew Eric Glassman.
51 H.R. 6474 (110th Congress), ordered reported from the Committee on House Administration, July 30, 2008. See also,
U.S. Congress, House Committee on House Administration, To Authorize the Chief Administrative Officer of the House
of Representatives to Carry out a Series of Demonstration Projects to Promote the use of Innovative Technologies in
Reducing Energy Consumption and Promoting Energy Efficiency and Cost Savings in the House of Representatives,
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CAO to carry out short-term demonstration projects that promote innovative technology to reduce
energy consumption and promote energy efficiency and cost savings in the House.52
During the markup session on July 30, Representative Ehlers proposed three amendments to the
bill. The amendments would have (1) provided the authority to carry out the demonstration
projects to the Architect of the Capitol instead of the CAO, (2) required the CAO to consult with
the Architect on demonstration projects, and (3) clarified the responsibility of the CAO and the
Architect for building-related projects.53 All three amendments were defeated by voice vote. The
committee then ordered the bill reported by voice vote. No further action was taken on the bill
during the 110th Congress.
Representatives Logfren and Wamp reintroduced the bill on February 25, 2009. H.R. 1196 is
identical to the bill reported by the Committee on House Administration in the 110th Congress.
Following introduction, H.R. 1196 was referred to the Committee on House Administration. On
June 10, the committee ordered H.R. 1196 reported by voice vote.54 No further action was taken
by the House.
Funding for energy demonstration programs, however, was included in the FY2010 Legislative
Branch Appropriations bill, subject to authorization. The Legislative Branch Appropriations bill
would, if enacted, provide for $2,500,000 to the CAO, in consultation with the Architect, “to
carry out a series of demonstration projects at House facilities to promote the use of innovative
technologies in reducing energy consumption and promoting energy efficiency.”55 Because the
authorizing legislation was not enacted these funds have not be disbursed.
National Capitol Energy Commission
On June 3, 2008, Representative Dan Lungren introduced H.R. 6171, the “National Capital
Region Leadership in Environmental and Energy Stewardship Commission Act.” The bill would
create a congressional commission to analyze the environmental and energy footprint of the
federal government in the National Capitol Region, hold a nationwide competition to find
innovative solutions to reduce or eliminate federal government facility emissions, analyze
existing and new technologies, recommend solutions to eliminate emissions and reduce energy

(...continued)
report to accompany H.R. 6474, 110th Cong., 2nd sess., September 25, 2008, H.Rept. 110-890 (Washington: GPO,
2008).
52 U.S. Congress, Committee on House Administration, Committee Meeting, markup of H.R. 6339, H.R. 6474, H.R.
6475, H.R. 6589, H.R. 998, H.R. 6608, H.Res. 1207, and committee resolutions 110-7 and 110-8, 110th Cong., 2nd
sess., July 30, 2008.
53 Statements of Representative Ehlers, in U.S. Congress, House Committee on House Administration, Committee
Meeting, markup of H.R. 6339, H.R. 6474, H.R. 6475, H.R. 6589, H.R. 998, H.R. 6608, H.Res. 1207, and committee
resolutions 110-7 and 110-8, 110th Cong., 2nd sess., July 30, 2008.
54 U.S. Congress, House Committee on House Administration, Authorizing the Chief Administrative Officer of the
House of Representatives to Carry Out a Series of Demonstration Projects to Promote the Use of Innovative
Technologies in Reducing Energy Consumption and Promoting Energy Efficiency and Cost Savings in the House of
Representatives, report to accompany H.R. 1196, 111th Cong., 1st sess., July 16, 2009, H.Rept. 111-210 (Washington:
GPO, 2009).For more information and a webcast of the Committee on House Administration’s markup of H.R. 1196,
see http://cha.house.gov/view_hearing.aspx?r=51.
55 U.S. Congress, House Committee on Appropriations, Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill, 2010, report to
accompany H.R. 2918, 111th Cong., 1st sess., June 17, 2009, H.Rept. 111-160 (Washington: GPO, 2009), p. 13.
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consumption, and submit a report to Congress with recommendations and draft legislation.56 The
bill was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and no further action
was taken.
Donating Computer Equipment
On January 6, 2009, Representative Jose Serrano introduced H.R. 181, to allow Members of the
House to donate used computer equipment to public elementary and secondary schools. The bill
would amend 2 U.S.C. § 117e(3)57 to allow the Clerk of the House to donate used computer
equipment, at the request of a Member, to a school designated by the Member.58 The bill was
referred to the Committee on House Administration and no further action was taken.
Senate
Unlike the House of Representatives, the Senate does not have a formal name for its greening
activities. The Senate, however, is engaged in greening activities, such as the replacement of light
bulbs, the installation of energy efficient building systems, and the development of green
programs in the Senate cafeterias.
Administration
While the Senate does not have a formal greening program, the Architect of the Capitol, under the
guidance of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, has created a greening program
for the Senate office buildings and the Senate wing of the Capitol. In creating greening programs,
the Architect aims to improve client (i.e., individual Member, committee, and support staff
offices) satisfaction and to improve energy efficiency.59 The Sergeant at Arms also administers
greening and energy savings initiatives related to computer technology and security for the
Senate.
Greening Programs
Senate greening programs are focused on the reduction of energy consumption and lessening
overall Senate energy costs. The details of many of these projects were discussed during a Senate
Committee on Rules and Administration hearing and in conversations with the Architect’s office.
Recycling
The Senate recycling program was established by the adoption of S.Res. 99 in the 101st Congress
(1989-1990).60 Created as a voluntary program focused on recycling paper, the recycling program

56 H.R. 6171 (110th Congress), introduced June 3, 2008.
57 Also, see Section 101(j) of P.L. 99-500 and P.L. 99-591.
58 H.R. 181 (111th Congress), introduced January 6, 2009.
59 Based on CRS discussions with Scott Shapleigh, recycling program manager, Architect of the Capitol, and Michael
Shirven, general engineer, Architect of the Capitol, March 6, 2008.
60 S.Res. 99 (101st Congress), agreed to by unanimous consent, October 2, 1989.
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has grown to include bottles, cans, e-waste (i.e., computers, printers, and toner cartridges), and
construction materials (i.e., carpet, concrete, ceiling tiles and scrap metal). In calendar year 2010,
the Senate recycled approximately 477 tons of paper and 35 tons of bottles and cans.61
Lighting Programs
The Architect has developed a program to reduce energy consumption from lighting in the
Senate. The lighting energy savings program consists of three main projects: installing compact
fluorescent light bulbs, installing dimmable ballasts in Senate offices, and installing solar lighting
in Senate parking lots.
Light Bulbs
Since 2006, the Senate has installed approximately 4,000 compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs
to replace incandescent bulbs.62 While CFLs are more energy efficient than incandescent light
bulbs, the Senate is not switching all lights to CFLs. Committee hearing rooms have not been
switched to CFLs because CFL bulbs cannot produce the light levels required for television
broadcasting.63 Incandescent bulbs replaced as part of the CFL replacement project are being
recycled by the Senate.64
Dimmable Ballasts
The Architect has installed a dimmable ballast lighting system in 11 Senate and committee offices
in the Hart Senate Office Building. Dimmable ballasts allow light levels to be networked and
controlled from a central computer.65 This allows light levels to be reduced on a per fixture basis,
with a standard output of approximately 70% of available light. The Senate system includes
daylight sensors near windows, occupancy sensors in conference rooms, and additional light
switches for individual control in conference rooms.66 The Architect estimates that the pilot
program of 11 offices “typically saves 11,400 kilowatt hours per week or 40 percent of lighting
energy used in an office suite. Over the first year, the pilot saved 692,000 kilowatt hours of
electricity.”67 With the completion of the pilot program, the Architect has begun to outfit an
additional 10 offices in the Hart and Dirksen Senate Office Buildings with the dimmable ballast
system. In the future, the Senate plans to install dimmable ballasts in all offices.

61 For more information on the House recycling program see CRS Report RL34617, Recycling Programs in Congress:
Legislative Development and Architect of the Capitol Administration, by Jacob R. Straus.
62 Testimony of Acting Architect of the Capitol Stephen T. Ayers, in U.S. Congress, Senate Committee on Rules and
Administration, Improving Energy Efficiency, Increasing the Use of Renewable Sources of Energy, and Reducing the
Carbon Footprint of the Capitol Complex, hearing, 110th Cong., 2nd sess., June 18, 2008, http://rules.senate.gov/
hearings/2008/0618ayers.pdf. (Hereafter, Senate Rules Committee Energy Efficiency Hearing).
63 Conversation between the author and Scott Shapleigh, recycling program manager, Senate office buildings, Architect
of the Capitol, September 10, 2008.
64 Ibid., p. 17.
65 Washington State University Cooperative Extension Energy Program, “Energy Efficiency Fact Sheet: Dimmable
Compact Florescent Lamps” http://www.energy.wsu.edu/documents/building/light/compact_fluor.pdf.
66 Conversation between the author and Scott Shapleigh, recycling program manager, Senate office buildings, Architect
of the Capitol and Michael Shirven, general engineer, Senate office buildings, Architect of the Capitol, March 6, 2008.
67 Testimony of Acting Architect of the Capitol Stephen T. Ayers, Senate Rules Committee Energy Efficiency Hearing,
p. 6.
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Solar Lighting in Parking Lots
To reduce energy consumption in lighting the Senate parking lots, the Senate has selected a
vendor to provide renewable, solar energy for lighting in parking lot 18. In testimony before the
Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, acting Architect of the Capitol Stephen Ayers
testified that the project is “[s]cheduled to be completed this fall [2008],” and that the “new lights
will save 1,825 kilowatt hours per year.”68
Water Savings Programs
The Architect has developed a program to reduce water usage in the Senate. The water savings
program consists of two main projects: installing dual flush valves in private restrooms and
installing water cooling systems in offices that do not require plastic bottles.
Dual Flush Valves
The Architect is installing dual flush valve toilets in private bathrooms in Senate offices. These
toilets provide more than one option of how much water is used to flush the system. Installation
of the dual flush valves reduces the amount of water needed to flush a toilet. The Architect has
chosen not to install dual flush valves in public restrooms for sanitary reasons.69
Water Coolers
In 2008, the Senate Rules and Administration Committee approved the installation of bottle-less
water filtration systems in Senate offices.70 Each individual office is responsible for selecting a
vendor to supply the water cooler and filters. The Architect then facilitates the selection of
appropriate cooler locations in an office, installs the necessary infrastructure to support bottle-less
coolers through the plumbing office, regulates the types of systems that can be purchased or
rented by offices, and connects the office to the existing building water supply.71 Through
September 2008, requests have been made for 80 coolers to be installed by Senate offices. The
Architect’s office anticipates another 20 to 30 requests will be made.72
Steam Traps
The Architect has replaced 147 steam traps73 in the Hart Senate office building. The steam traps
were replaced because when a steam trap fails, “it bleeds steam in to the air and wastes energy.”

68 Ibid.
69 Conversation between the author and Scott Shapleigh, recycling program manager, Senate office buildings, Architect
of the Capitol and Michael Shirven, general engineer, Senate office buildings, Architect of the Capitol, March 6, 2008.
70 Senator Dianne Feinstein sent a “Dear Colleague” letter in July 2008 encouraging offices to adopt waterless bottle
cooler systems. For more information, see “Dear Colleague” letter from Senator Dianne Feinstein, chair, Senate
Committee on Rules and Administration, July 8, 2008. A copy is available from the author.
71 Email from Trent Wolfersberger, assistant superintendent, Senate Support Office, Architect of the Capitol,
September 11, 2008.
72 Based on CRS conversations with Trent Wolfersberger, assistant superintendent, Senate Support Office, Architect of
the Capitol, September 11, 2008.
73 “Steam traps are automatic valves that release condensed steam (condensate) from a steam space while preventing
(continued...)
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The new traps have been placed on a preventative maintenance program and will be replaced or
repaired as needed.74
Restaurants
As noted earlier under “House Food Service,” as part of the search process for a food service
vendor for the Capitol Visitors Center, the House and the Senate were provided the option of
contracting with the vendor chosen by the Architect for House and Senate food services
operations, respectively. The Senate has chosen to exercise this option and has contracted with
Restaurant Associates.
As part of Senate restaurant operations, Restaurant Associates (RA) “is determined to impact both
the health and wellness of our guests, and the quality of our community and the environment.
With that effort in mind, we do not use Styrofoam or plastic in all food service disposable items.
All of the new food service disposables are compostable.”75 In the Senate, RA initiated the
following programs:
• purchasing local food grown within 150 miles of the Capitol, when possible;
• serving food with zero trans-fat;
• serving hormone free milk;
• serving cage free eggs;
• composting food and biodegradable container waste; and
• listing sources of protein, calcium, fiber, and vitamin C in foods to assist
individuals making healthy choices.
Bicycle Parking
In March 2008, Senators Dianne Feinstein and Robert Bennett, then-chair and ranking Member of
the Committee on Rules and Administration respectively, issued a “Dear Colleague” letter
reminding Senate offices that bicycle parking is available in the Hart Senate Office Building
garage.76 The “Dear Colleague” letter included a reminder that bicycle regulations have been in

(...continued)
the loss of live steam. They also remove non-condensable gases from the steam space. Steam traps are designed to
maintain steam energy efficiency for performing specific tasks such as heating a building or maintaining heat for
process use. Once steam has transferred heat through a process and becomes hot water, it is removed by the trap from
the steam side as condensate and either returned to the boiler via condensate return lines or discharged to the
atmosphere, which is a wasteful practice.” See, U.S. Department of Energy, Federal Energy Management Program,
“FEMP Management and Maintenance: Steam Traps,” http://www1.eere.energy.gov/femp/operations_maintenance/
om_steamtraps.html.
74 Email from Scott Shapleigh, recycling program manager, Senate office buildings, Architect of the Capitol, August
22, 2008.
75 Restaurant Associates, “Sustainability,” United States Senates Dining Services Website http://go.compass-usa.com/
senate/content/sustainability.asp.
76 “Dear Colleague” letter from Senator Dianne Feinstein, chair, Senate Committee on Rules and Administration and
Robert Bennett, ranking Member, Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, “Bicycle Racks in the Hart Garage,”
March 31, 2008. A copy is available from the author.
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effect since 1992, and included a copy of those regulations. To use the bicycle racks in the Hart
garage, Senate staff must display proper identification, park where directed by a garage attendant,
and have a bicycle parking sticker affixed to the bicycle.77
Server Virtualization
The Senate Sergeant at Arms has implemented a virtualization program to reduce the number of
computer servers located on the Senate side of the Capitol complex. Virtualization uses software
to divide computer servers to allow multiple offices to share a single hardware device that is
partitioned into individual servers and reduces the number of physical servers in use. Using
virtual servers could reduce long-term equipment and IT services costs, reduce energy
consumption by hardware, require less physical space for equipment, and provide flexibility and
portability for continuity of operations planning. Virtual servers, however, cannot support all
software that would run on a traditional server. The Sergeant at Arms estimates that a virtual
server consumes approximately 15% of the energy required to power and cool a comparable
physical server.78
Education
In October 2008, the Architect hosted a Senate Energy Fair as part of Energy Awareness Month.
In a press release on the Architect’s new “Power to Save” program, Acting Architect of the
Capitol Stephen T. Ayers stated, “We believe we should be leaders in the national effort to
conserve energy, and as stewards of the Capitol complex, we will continue to do our part to make
this goal a reality in our facilities.”79 The energy fair included local utility companies;
representatives from the Architect, the Senate Sergeant at Arms, and the Secretary of the Senate;
plants from the U.S. Botanic Garden; and demonstrations on technology and reducing energy
consumption.80
Capitol Complex
In addition to programs specifically designed to green aspects of the House or the Senate, the
Architect of the Capitol also facilitates greening programs for the Capitol complex. These
programs affect all buildings in the Capitol complex.81

77 U.S. Congress, Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, “Regulations Governing Use of Bicycle Racks in the
Hart Senate Office Building Garage,” June 1, 1992. A copy is available from the author. Bicycle parking regulations
can also be found on the Senate Intranet (Webster) at http://webster.senate.gov/Rules/Parking-and-Bicycle-
Registration.cfm.
78 E-mail between the author and John Pino, Office of the Senate Sergeant at Arms, October 14, 2008.
79 U.S. Congress, Architect of the Capitol, “Architect of the Capitol Launches Power to Save Program; Hosts Senate
Energy Fair October 8,” press release, October 7, 2008, http://www.aoc.gov/aoc/press-room/loader.cfm?csModule=
security/getfile&pageid=39876.
80 Ibid.
81 The Capitol Complex includes the Capitol, the House Office Buildings (Cannon, Longworth, Rayburn, and Ford),
Senate Office Buildings (Russell, Dirksen, and Hart), the U.S. Botanic Garden, the Capitol Grounds, the Library of
Congress buildings (Jefferson, Adams, and Madison), the Supreme Court Building, the Thurgood Marshall Federal
Judiciary Building, the Capitol Power Plant, the Capitol Visitors Center, and various support facilities. See U.S.
Congress, Architect of the Capitol, “Capitol Complex Overview,” http://www.aoc.gov/cc/index.cfm.
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Administration
Pursuant to Chapter 28 and Chapter 30 of Title 2 United States Code, the Architect of the Capitol
is responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the United States Capitol and the House and
Senate Office Buildings. These responsibilities include “the mechanical and structural
maintenance of the building, the upkeep and improvement of the Capitol grounds, and the
arrangement of inaugural ceremonies and other ceremonies held in the building or on the
grounds.”82 The Architect also manages the energy usage of Capitol complex buildings and the
operation of the Capitol Power Plant.83
Greening Programs
Among the Architect of the Capitol’s responsibilities are energy reduction and greening programs
in the Capitol complex. Capitol complex greening programs can generally be classified into
energy reduction initiatives and Capitol Power Plant modifications. Both energy saving programs
impact operation for all Capitol complex buildings.
Energy Reduction
The Architect of the Capitol is required by law to improve energy efficiency in the Capitol
complex. The Architect’s energy reduction requirements are set forth in the Energy Policy Act of
2005 and the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.
Energy Policy Act of 2005
The Energy Policy Act of 2005 amended 42 U.S.C. § 8251, et seq., to require the Architect to
“develop, update, and implement a cost-effective energy conservation and management plan ...
for all facilities administered by Congress ... to meet the energy performance requirements for
Federal buildings.”84
In testimony before the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, the Acting Architect of
the Capitol, Stephen T. Ayers, testified that his office has exceeded the goals set out in the Energy
Policy Act.
The Energy Policy Act requires us to increasingly reduce energy consumption per gross
square foot per year in fiscal years 2006 through 2015. The AOC exceeded the goal of 2

82 U.S. Congress, Architect of the Capitol, “Responsibilities,” http://www.aoc.gov/aoc/responsibilities/index.cfm.
83 2 U.S.C. § 2162. For more information on the Architect of the Capitol, see CRS Report R41074, Architect of the
Capitol: Appointment Process and Current Legislation, by Ida A. Brudnick.
84 P.L. 109-58, 119 Stat. 605, August 8, 2005. The act further required that the Architect’s plan include (1) a
description of the life cycle cost analysis used to determine the cost-effectiveness of proposed energy efficiency
projects; (2) a schedule of energy surveys to ensure complete surveys of all congressional buildings every five years to
determine the cost and payback period of energy and water conservation measures; (3) a strategy for installation of life
cycle cost-effective energy and water conservation measures; (4) the results of a study of the costs and benefits of
installation of sub-metering in congressional buildings; and (5) information packages and ‘how-to’ guides for each
Member and employing authority of Congress that detail simple, cost-effective methods to save energy and taxpayer
dollars in the workplace.
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percent by reducing energy consumption by 6.5 percent in 2006. In addition, for 2007, we
achieved a total cumulative reduction of 6.7 percent over the 2003 baseline.85
Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007
The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 further requires the Architect to reduce
energy consumption in the Capitol complex. The act allows the Architect to perform a
feasibility study regarding construction of a photovoltaic roof for the Rayburn House office
building; to, when practical, include energy efficiency measures, climate change mitigation
measures, and other appropriate environmental measures in the Capitol complex master plan; to
operate the steam boilers and the chiller plant at the Capitol Power Plant in the most energy
efficient manner possible to minimize carbon emissions and operating costs; and to install
technologies for the capture and storage or use of carbon dioxide emitted from coal combustion in
the Capitol Power Plant.86
Additionally, the act requires the use of Energy Star lighting products in all federal buildings and
establishes an Office of High-Performance Green Buildings in the U.S. General Services
Administration to promote green building technology and implementation in federal buildings.87
Energy Audits
In an April 2007 report, the GAO recommended that the Architect of the Capitol conduct energy
audits on Capitol complex buildings to identify projects that could reduce energy usage and
greenhouse gas emissions. In the report, the GAO summarized the importance of energy audits.
A strategy for reducing emissions includes conducting energy audits to identify and evaluate
energy-efficiency and renewable-energy projects, as well as evaluating other emissions
reduction projects that may fall outside the scope of energy audits. The strategy would also
involve developing an implementation plan that considers cost-effectiveness, the extent to
which the projects reduce emissions, and funding options.88
Following the GAO recommendations, the Architect has begun to conduct energy audits of
Capitol complex buildings. The Architect has already conducted an energy audit of the U.S.
Capitol Police buildings and grounds and is planing to “use $400,000 of FY2008 funds to
perform comprehensive energy audits of the Capitol Building and the Ford House Office
Building.” The Architect will also “direct any remaining FY2008 funds to an audit of the Hart

85 Senate Rules Committee Energy Efficiency Hearing, p. 6.
86 P.L. 110-140, 121 Stat. 1655-1658. For more information on the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, see
CRS Report RL34294, Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007: A Summary of Major Provisions, by Fred
Sissine.
87 The White House, Executive Office of the President, “Fact Sheet: Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007,”
press release, December 19, 2007.
88 U.S. Government Accountability Office, Energy Audits Are Key to Strategy for Reducing Greenhouse Gas
Emissions, GAO-07-516, April 2007, p. 4.
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Senate Office Building.”89 The Architect is currently scheduling energy audits in other buildings,
with a goal of performing “energy audits on all buildings on a five-year rotating schedule.”90
Environmental Services Performance Contracts
The Architect of the Capitol has entered into environmental services performance contracts
(ESPC) to help Congress increase energy efficiency. ESPCs are a “contracting vehicle that allows
agencies to accomplish energy projects for their facilities without up-front capital costs and
without special Congressional appropriations to pay for the improvements.”91 The Architect has
entered into ESPCs with two energy companies for a total of 55 projects in the Capitol Building,
the Capitol Power Plant, the House Office Buildings, the Senate Office Buildings, the Library of
Congress buildings, and on the Capitol grounds. These projects will costs $154,781,000 to
implement, with $149,882,000 paid for by the ESPC vendor and $4,899,000 paid for by the
government. Overall, the ESPC contracts will reduce Capitol complex energy consumption by
5.25% and are projected to save $18 million annually.92
Solar Cells
Pursuant to the passage of P.L. 109-58, the Energy Policy Act of 2005,93 the Architect requested
that the Department of Energy Solar America Initiative study solar energy opportunities for
congressional office buildings.94 The Department of Energy completed the study in October 2007,
and concluded that “there is potential for over 2 Megawatts of photovoltaics made up of
numerous arrays on each building.”95 The Department of Energy also calculated the number of
possible photovoltaic (PV) arrays, the total square feet required for the arrays, the size of the
photovoltaic cells, the initial cost of the project, the estimated annual energy generated, and the
estimated annual utility cost savings.
The Department of Energy also considered the installation of solar water heating systems for the
House Page Dorm and the Senate daycare building. The study concluded that photovoltaic
systems have long payback periods with high initial costs and that without local government

89 U.S. Government Accountability Office, Architect of the Capitol: Progress in Improving Energy Efficiency and
Options for Decreasing Greenhouse Gas Emissions, GAO-08-917T, June 18, 2008, p. 5.
90 Testimony of Acting Architect of the Capitol Stephen T. Ayers, Senate Rules Committee Energy Efficiency Hearing,
p. 7.
91 U.S. Department of Energy, Federal Energy Management Program, Super Energy Savings Performance Contracts,
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/femp/financing/superespcs.html.
92 Based on CRS discussions with Charles Iliff, planning and project management project executive, Architect of the
Capitol, September 22, 2008. For more information see also, U.S. Congress, House Committee on Appropriations,
Subcommittee on Legislative Branch, Legislative Branch Appropriations for 2010: Part 1, Justification of the Budget
Estimates, 111th Cong., 1st sess. (Washington: GPO, 2009), p. 441.
93 P.L. 109-58, 119 Stat. 1136-1137, August 5, 2005.
94 The Department of Energy studied the feasibility of installing solar panels on the Rayburn House Office Building
(HOB), the Cannon HOB, the Ford HOB, the Longworth HOB, the House page dorm, and the House parking lot; the
Dirksen Senate Office Building (SOB), the Hart SOB, the Russell SOB, and the Senate child care building; and the
Adams and Madison Buildings of the Library of Congress. Previous studies have been conducted for Congress on the
use of solar energy in House Office Buildings. For example, see U.S. Congress, House, Study of the Use of Solar
Energy in House Office Buildings, 95th Cong., 2nd sess., May 3, 1978, H.Doc. 95-332 (Washington: GPO, 1978).
95 U.S. Department of Energy, Assessment of the United States Capitol Complex for Application of Solar Energy
Technologies, October 2007, p. 2.
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incentives, solar systems are not cost effective. “[W]hile the Washington, DC government does
offer incentives for photovoltaics, they are often awarded to low-income neighborhoods,
hospitals, and other non-Federal entities. Without such incentives, the cost of photovoltaic
systems is high and the payback is long.” However, the study also concluded that “[d]ue to week-
long use and the lower cost of the technology, solar water heating on the House Page Dorm would
be cost effective according to the criteria of 10 CFR 436.”96
Capitol Power Plant
The Capitol Power Plant consists of a main plant (built in 1910),97 the east refrigeration plant
(built in 1938), an operations building (built in 1978), the west refrigeration plant (built in 1978),
the coal yard (transferred from the General Services Administration [GSA] in 1987), and the west
refrigeration building expansion (built in 2007).98 Between 1909 and 1938, the Capitol Power
Plant provided electricity and steam to the Capitol complex buildings. In 1938, the east
refrigeration plant was completed and the power plant began supplying chilled water in addition
to electricity and steam. Since 1952, the power plant has only supplied steam and chilled water.99
In FY2010, the Architect was appropriated $76,262,000 for Capitol Power Plant utilities.100 For
FY2011, the Architect has requested $76,367,000 in appropriations for the purchase of natural
gas, coal, fuel oil, and electricity to operate the power plant.101 As part of the “Green the Capitol”
initiative, the House has estimated that 31% of the Capitol Power Plant output can be attributed to
the House office space in the Capitol complex.102
On February 26, 2009, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid sent
a letter to the Architect of the Capitol calling for the Capitol Power Plant to use 100% natural gas
for its operations.103 On April 24, 2009, the Architect responded by ordering “the seasonal
conversion to natural gas two months earlier than normal” and upgrading equipment to “enable

96 Ibid. 10 C.F.R. § 436 establishes the rules for Federal energy management and planning programs. These programs
are designed to “reduce Federal energy consumption and to promote life cycle cost effective investments in building
energy systems, building water systems and energy and water conservation measures for Federal buildings.”
97 P.L. 58-194, 33 Stat. 479, April 26, 1904.
98 U.S. Congress, Architect of the Capitol, Accountability Report 2003, http://www.aoc.gov/aoc/cfo/upload/AOC-
Financial-Report-2003.pdf, p. 25.
99 U.S. Government Accountability Office, Feasibility of Outsourcing the Management and Operation of the Capitol
Power Plant, GAO-08-382R, January 31, 2008, p. 4. Electricity for the Capitol Complex is purchased from Pepco.
100 U.S. Congress, House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Legislative Branch, Legislative Branch
Appropriations for 2010: Part 1, Justification of the Budget Estimates, 111th Cong., 1st sess. (Washington: GPO, 2009),
p. 562.
101 U.S. Congress, House, Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Legislative Branch, Legislative Branch
Appropriations for 2011: Part 1, Justification of the Budget Estimates, 111th Cong., 2nd sess. (Washington: GPO,
2010), p. 472.
102 U.S. Congress, Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives, Preliminary Report Green the Capitol
Initiative, 110th Cong., 1st sess. http://www.speaker.gov/pdf/GTCreport.pdf, p. 11.
103 Letter from Representative Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, and Senator Harry Reid, Senate majority leader, to
Stephen T. Ayers, Acting Architect of the Capitol, February 26, 2009, http://www.speaker.gov/blog/?p=1711. Sen.
Tom Udall also introduced an amendment, S.Amdt. 639, to the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009 to “ensure that
any electricity generated by or otherwise used by the Capitol Power Plant is not derived from coal.” For the text of the
amendment, see Sen. Tom Udall, “Text of Amendments,” Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 155 (March 3,
2009), p. S2721.
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the CPP to meet the steam requirements for the Capitol complex using only natural gas.”104 On
May 1, 2009, Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid announced that “[m]oving forward, the
Architect of [the] Capitol will use only natural gas for generating steam, and resort to coal only as
a backup fuel source.”105
Criticism of Greening Programs
Opposition to the “Green the Capitol” initiative has developed as the program has expanded.
While no Members of Congress have gone on record against the goal of creating a more
environmentally friendly and sustainable Capitol, there have been concerns expressed about how
money has been spent, the process used to choose some vendors, and the manner in which
greening goals have been pursued.
The ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and
Emergency Management of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
summarized the position of those opposed to aspects of green programs for financial reasons
during his opening statement at a hearing on greening Washington and the National Capitol
Region. In reference to green initiatives, he said:
They make a lot of sense when they result in improved efficiency and real energy reductions
and are done in the most cost efficient way. However, when done without regard to the
cost or real benefit to the environment, they can be completely illogical and a waste of the
taxpayer’s money.106
Those opposed to greening programs have primarily focused their attention on the purchase of
carbon offsets and the awarding of the contract to re-light the Capitol Dome.
Carbon Offsets
A carbon offset is defined as “tradeable carbon-emissions permits.”107 Carbon offsets can be
purchased on market-based exchanges, such as the Chicago Climate Exchange.108 Carbon offsets
are purchased as a way to counterbalance emissions that are not easily remedied through other
programs. For example, in November 2007, the House purchased $90,500 in carbon credits from
the Chicago Climate Exchange to offset the burning of natural gas in the Capitol Power Plant to

104 Letter from Stephen T. Ayres, Acting Architect of the Capitol, to Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House of
Representatives, April 24, 2009, http://speaker.gov/pdf/AOC42409.pdf.
105 Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, “Reid, Pelosi: Capitol Power Plant to
End Burning of Coal; Only to be Used as Emergency Backup,” press release, May 1, 2009, http://speaker.house.gov/
newsroom/pressreleases?id=1136.
106 Statement of Ranking Member Sam Graves, in U.S. Congress, House Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure, Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management Subcommittee, Greening
Washington and the National Capital Region, hearing, 110th Cong., 2nd sess. April 17, 2008,
http://republicans.transportation.house.gov/news/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=363, accessed October 2, 2008.
107 Eric C. Bettelheim and Gilonne d’Origny, “Carbon Sinks and Emissions Trading under the Kyoto Protocol: A Legal
Analysis,” Philosophical Transactions: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, Vol. 360, No. 1797 (August
15, 2002), p. 1843. For a discussion of carbon offsets see CRS Report RL34241, Voluntary Carbon Offsets: Overview
and Assessment, by Jonathan L. Ramseur.
108 For more information on the Chicago Climate Exchange and its operations see http://www.chicagoclimatex.com.
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heat and cool the House Office Buildings.109 In a press release, Representative Rahm Emanuel
summarized the goal of carbon offsets in the House:
Under the leadership of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (CA-8) and Majority Leader Steny
Hoyer (MD-5), the House will become carbon neutral by purchasing wind power for
electricity used by the House, by substituting the House’s portion of the use of the Capitol
Power Plant natural gas for coal, and to offset the carbon emitted from burning natural gas,
the House will purchase carbon offsets. After taking into account the other changes made
under the Green the Capitol Initiative, the House is offsetting 30,000 tons of carbon through
the purchase of carbon financial instrument contracts or carbon credits through CCX
[Chicago Climate Exchange], totaling approximately $90,000. Funding for the purchase of
these carbon offsets is available in the Chief Administrative Officer’s Fiscal Year 2008
budget.110
For FY2009, the CAO requested $125,000 for the purchase of carbon offsets. The CAO testified
that he hopes the House will not need to purchase carbon credits to remain carbon neutral in
FY2009. If, however, the purchase of credits is necessary “then the Chicago Climate Exchange,
like the New York Stock Exchange, is a marketplace where prices fluctuate depending on supply
and demand. Accordingly, in the event that we need to purchase the same amount of carbon
credits in FY2009, as we did in FY2008, we would expect a potential increase in the purchase
price.”111 Money was not included in the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act for the purchase
of carbon offsets.112
Members opposed to the carbon offset purchase have argued that using funds to purchase carbon
credits is a waste of taxpayer money as “it accomplishes nothing, but makes you feel good about
yourself.”113
To illustrate the point, the minority leader referred to an article in the Washington Post that
questioned the logic of purchasing carbon offsets and stated that the money the House spent may
not have provided the perceived benefit.114 The article traced where the House’s money went in
an effort to offset pollution:
Some of the money went to farmers in North Dakota, for tilling practices that keep carbon
buried in the soil. But some farmers were already doing this, for other reasons, before the
House paid a cent.

109 U.S. Congress, House of Representatives, Statement of Disbursements of the House: October 1, 2007 to December
31, 2007, 110th Cong., 2nd sess., October 16, 2007, H.Doc. 110-87 (Washington: GPO, 2007), p. 35. For more
information on the Chicago Climate Exchange see http://www.chicagoclimatex.com.
110 U.S. Congress, Representative Rahm Emanuel, “Emanuel Announced Greening of the Capitol: U.S. Congress to
Purchase Carbon Offsets from the Chicago Climate Exchange,” press release, November 5, 2007,
http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/il05_emanuel/capitolgreening.html.
111 U.S. Congress, House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Legislative Branch, Legislative Branch
Appropriations for 2009: Part 2 Fiscal Year 2009 Legislative Branch Appropriations Requests, hearing, 110th Cong.,
2nd sess. (Washington: GPO, 2008), p. 552.
112 P.L. 111-8, 123 Stat. 524, March 11, 2009.
113 U.S. Congress, Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, “Green Pork Update: Beard’s ‘Waste of Taxpayer
Dollars’ Now Under Examination by Government Auditors,” press release, February 6, 2008,
http://republicanleader.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=83264, accessed September 29, 2008.
114 Ibid.
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Other funds went to Iowa, where a power plant has been temporarily rejiggered to burn more
cleanly. But that test project had ended more than a year before the money arrived.115
The Washington Post also quotes the ranking Member of the House Administration Committee as
saying “[t]his is just extra money in their pocket for something they’re already doing.”116
On January 14, 2008, the ranking Member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce,
and the ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, sent a letter to
Comptroller General David M. Walker requesting that GAO examine the carbon credits
marketplace.117 On January 31, in a follow up letter, the two ranking Members further requested
that “GAO, in the course of work on these matters, specifically examine and report the manner
and means by which the House of Representatives made the purchases.”118 The GAO report was
released in summer 2008.119
On July 29, 2008, the House minority leader further criticized the purchase of carbon offsets. In a
letter addressed to the Speaker, the minority leader requested that the Speaker “immediately
relieve House Chief Administrative Officer Dan Beard of his duties” in part because “Mr. Beard
spent $90,000 to purchase carbon credits on the Chicago Climate Exchange, ignoring a
reasonable and sensible request by a member of the House Committee on House Administration
to wait for a Government Accountability Office study of carbon credits to determine if they were
worthwhile and effective.”120
Criticism of carbon offsets was also leveled by a Senator during a hearing before the Senate
Committee on Rules and Administration on renewable energy and the Capitol complex:
Yes, I am very skeptical about carbon offsets. I could put it pleasantly, but I might as well
just put it bluntly. The opportunities for scamming that thing are huge, and the question I
have been unable to get anybody to answer for me when we have gotten into that area is:
How do you know that the person who plants a tree in order to provide the carbon offset
would not have planted the tree anyway? And, indeed, I have heard from some farmers who
have said, “You know, I just got an insight into a major new income stream for me, because
as I was out planting trees, somebody came up and said, ‘Can we buy the planting of your
trees to sell as carbon offsets?’” And he said, “I would have planted the trees anyway, but
now I can get some money for doing something that would have happened anyway.” And
when I raised that with some people, they say, “Oh, well, we are going to investigate

115 David A. Fahrenthold, “Value of U.S. House’s Carbon Offsets Is Murky,” The Washington Post, January 28, 2008,
p. A1.
116 Ibid.
117 Letter from Reps. Joe Barton and John Shimkus, to David M. Walker, Comptroller General of the United States,
January 14, 2008. A copy of the letter is available from the author.
118 Letter from Reps. Joe Barton and John Shimkus, to David M. Walker, Comptroller General of the United States,
January 31, 2008. A copy of the letter is available from the author.
119 U.S. Government Accountability Office, Carbon Offsets: The U.S. Voluntary Market Is Growing, but Quality
Assurance Poses Challenges for Market Participants, GAO-08-1048, August 29, 2008. For more information on the
controversy surrounding the carbon offset market see Jonathan Weisman, “Capitol to Buy Offsets in Bid to Go Green,”
The Washington Post, November 5, 2007, p. A6; David A. Fahrenthold, “Value of U.S. House’s Carbon Offsets Is
Murkey,” The Washington Post, January 28, 2008, p. A1.; and Jordy Yager, “CAO Would ‘Welcome” Investigation
into Carbon Offsets,” The Hill, February 6, 2008, p. 16.
120 Letter from Minority Leader John Boehner to Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, July 29, 2008.
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that.” We are going to have to be sure that there is, in fact, a real carbon offset rather than
a scam.121
Capitol Dome
On October 19, 2007, the CAO issued a Request for Proposal (RFP)122 to design a lighting
scheme for the Capitol Building Dome using “more energy efficient lighting.”123 The RFP
specified that the “work will include the lighting of the interior and exterior of the Capitol Dome.
The design shall describe the role of the lighting in enhancing the exterior and the architecture of
the building at night and shall emphasize methods for incorporating energy saving lighting design
and sustainability as part of the overall effort.”124
On March 4, 2008, a contract to design a new lighting configuration for the Capitol Dome was
awarded to The Lighting Practice of Philadelphia.125 The Lighting Practice contract costs
$671,400 and was chosen from among five proposals ranging in cost from $521,306 to
$1,348,268 and “offered the lowest cost and the most technically acceptable design.”126 Funds for
the lighting design project will be disbursed from the CAO’s operating budget.127 The dome
lighting project was scheduled for an evaluation period in spring 2009.128 Relighting of the dome
was expected to occur in fall 2009.129
Opponents of the “Green the Capitol” initiative have expressed dissatisfaction with the process
used to solicit and evaluate proposals to relight the Capitol dome, the length of time required to
realize energy savings as a result of dome lighting expenditures, and the necessity for a separate
contract to install the lighting design. As discussed above under ““Green the Capitol” Programs,”
on October 19, 2007, the CAO issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to design a lighting scheme

121 Senate Rules Committee Energy Efficiency Hearing, pp. 16-17.
122 According to the Federal Acquisition Institute, a request for proposal (RFP) is a solicitation for offers under
negotiation procedures. Federal Acquisition Institute, Glossary of Acquisition Terms, FAC-97-09, December 1998,
http://www.fai.gov/pdfs/glossary.pdf, p. 92.
123 Green the Capitol Six-Month Progress Report, p. 2.
124 U.S. Congress, Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives, “Comprehensive Lighting Design for
the U.S. Capitol Building Dome,” Solicitation Number OPR080000004. A synopsis of the request for proposal can be
found https://www.fbo.gov/spg/House/HOCAO/HOCAOOP/OPR08000004/listing.html.
125 U.S. Congress, Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives, “Plans to Relight Symbol of
Democracy Taking Shape,” press release, March 4, 2008.
126 U.S. Congress, House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Legislative Branch, Legislative Branch
Appropriations for 2009: Part 2 Fiscal Year 2009 Legislative Branch Appropriations Requests, hearing, 110th Cong.,
2nd sess. (Washington: GPO, 2008), pp. 576-577.
127 U.S. Congress, Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives, “Plans to Relight Symbol of
Democracy Taking Shape,” press release, March 4, 2008. For press accounts of the dome lighting project see “Seeing
the Light,” The Washington Post, April 2, 2008, p. A8; Jordy Yager, “Who’s Got the Brighter Lights? Capitol Dome
vs. Memorials,” The Hill, March 5, 2008, p. 1, 8; “Editorial: Lightning Round,” The Philadelphia Inquirer, April 3,
2008, p. A14; and Linda Loyd, “Lighting Practice Caught Off-Guard by Furor,” The Philadelphia Inquirer, April 4,
2008, p. A1.
128 Green the Capitol 2008 Year-End Report, p. 6.
129 Based on CRS discussions with Robert Lane, director, Green the Capitol Initiative, July 14, 2009.
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for the Capitol Building dome130 and on March 4, 2008, a contract for $671,900 was awarded to
the Lighting Practice of Philadelphia to design a new configuration for the Capitol dome.131
A Representative addressed the Capitol Dome lighting project in a post on his personal blog.
I agree that we have a responsibility to be good stewards of the environment, but it must be
done in a consistent manner. Dan Beard, The House Chief Administrative Officer, said of
this new lighting project: “We’re not going to drastically cut our energy consumption ... ” If
Speaker Pelosi would like to upgrade the Capitol’s lighting system at such an exuberant cost,
why doesn’t she just come out and say it?
Furthermore, it would take more than 45 years to recoup the money spent on the new
“energy efficient” systems design.
My question is this, if it is not going to significantly cut energy consumption, and it will
actually cost more money in the long run, what is the goal of such a extensive and costly
overhaul?132
The House minority leader also stated his opposition to the cost of the design contract when he
was quoted in a Washington Post article. “Everyone supports making the Capitol more energy
efficient, but we don’t have to waste taxpayer dollars to do it: This is a ridiculous boondoggle.”133
The House minority leader restated his opposition in his July 29, 2008, letter to the Speaker. In
the letter, the minority leader refuted the CAO’s claim that relighting the Capitol dome will save
Congress money. “Mr. Beard claims that this effort will save money on lighting costs, but in
reality it will take the House more than 50 years to generate enough energy savings to finally
recoup the cost of Mr. Beard’s misguided design effort. When multimillion dollar construction
and installation costs are factored in, the payback period grows to well over a century.”134
Options for Program Administration
The “Green the Capitol” initiative has become a central piece of the House’s administrative
policies and programs. However, the “Green the Capitol” initiative is a non-statutory program
that is operated by the Chief Administrative Officer at the request of the Speaker of the House.
While the Speaker has the authority to create internal House programs, a number of policy
options are potentially available to create an inter-chamber greening program on Capitol Hill.135

130 Green the Capitol Six-Month Progress Report, p. 2.
131 U.S. Congress, Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives, “Plans to Relight Symbol of
Democracy Taking Shape,” press release, March 4, 2008, http://cao.house.gov/press/cao-20080305.shtml, accessed
July 16, 2008.
132 Representative John Campbell, “New Lights Over the Capitol,” blog post http://greeneyeshade.townhall.com/blog/
g/e69697a1-1f2c-40ce-a1ab-20a17264ccab, accessed July 23, 2008.
133 Christopher Lee, “Beacon or Boondoggle? New Lights For the Capitol: Update Would Conserve Energy, Democrats
Say,” The Washington Post, April 2, 2008, p. A1.
134 Letter from Minority Leader John Boehner to Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, July 29, 2008.
A copy of the letter is available from the author.
135 CRS take no position on any of the options identified in this report.
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Formal House Greening Program
The current “Green the Capitol” initiative exists because of a request by the Speaker of the
House, the majority leader, and the Committee on House Administration for the CAO to
“undertake a ‘Green the Capitol’ initiative to ensure that the House institutes the most up-to-date
industry and government standards for green building and green operating procedures.”136
Because the “Green the Capitol” initiative operates under the authority of the Speaker, it is
possible that should the current minority become the majority, or the current Speaker steps down,
the program could be discontinued.
To ensure the program’s continuation, the House has the option of passing a resolution creating a
more formal greening initiative. The resolution could create a program that includes input from
both the majority and minority and considers the critiques of the opponents and the goals of the
proponents. Should a new majority or Speaker desire to alter or terminate the program once a
resolution has been agreed to, a subsequent resolution could amend or terminate the program.
“Green the Senate” Initiative
Senate greening programs are currently administered by the Architect of the Capitol under
direction from the Committee on Rules and Administration. To augment the green programming
taking place in the House of Representatives, the Senate could create its own “Green the Senate”
initiative. A “Green the Senate” initiative could allow the Senate to create energy and cost savings
programs that cover administrative functions not typically covered by the Architect. Should the
Senate consider its own green initiative, it could choose to place its implementation with the
Architect, or could assign implementation to the Sergeant at Arms, the Secretary of the Senate, or
a combination of the three officers. If the Senate followed this course, the same continuity issues
raised by the current House initiative would also apply to the Senate.
Independent Greening Commission
The Senate, the House, or both could create a greening commission to oversee greening efforts.
Should the Senate or House choose to create a commission, it could be modeled after the
commission on Congressional Mailing Standards, also known as the “Franking Commission.”137
The franking commission “has a three fold mandate: (1) to issue regulations governing the proper
use of the franking privilege; (2) to provide guidance in connection with mailings; (3) to act as a
quasi-judicial body for the disposition of formal complaints against Members of Congress who
have allegedly violated franking laws or regulations.”138

136 U.S. Congress, Speaker of the House of Representatives, “House Democrats Urge Greening of Capitol Complex,”
press release, March 2, 2007, http://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/pressreleases?id=0082.
137 P.L. 93-191, 87 Stat. 737, December 18, 1973. For more information on the Commission on Congressional Mailing
Standards see CRS Report RL34274, Franking Privilege: Historical Development and Options for Change, by
Matthew Eric Glassman; and CRS Report RS22771, Congressional Franking Privilege: Background and Recent
Legislation, by Matthew Eric Glassman.
138 U.S. Congress, Committee on House Administration, “Franking Frequently Asked Questions,” http://cha.house.gov/
index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=166&Itemid=363.
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A greening commission could serve a similar purpose in guiding the Architect and the CAO to
coordinate greening activities within the Senate and the House and between the two chambers.
The greening commission could provide long-term strategic guidance to the Architect and CAO,
provide context to the Architect and CAO of Member intent and interest in new greening
opportunities, and act as a liaison between the greening program and the committees of
jurisdiction in the Senate and in the House.
Capitol Complex-Wide Greening Program
Although the program created in March 2007 by the House is called the “Green the Capitol”
initiative, the initiative only covers actions and opportunities in the House. By functioning in only
one chamber, “Green the Capitol” does not have the authority to set policy in the Capitol as a
whole. To maximize impact on the energy use and conservation of the Capitol, the House and the
Senate could pass a concurrent resolution or a bill to create a Capitol-wide greening initiative.
The passage of either a concurrent resolution or bill could create a more formal, cooperative
greening program that would encompass activities in the House and the Senate. Cooperation
between chambers might encourage costs savings since purchasing services or goods in quantity
often leads to lower prices. Additionally, the passage of a concurrent resolution or a bill would
allow the House and Senate to address green programs for the entire Capitol complex, rather than
creating programs that affect only a portion of the Capitol grounds.
Such legislation would need to determine who would administer a Capitol Hill-wide greening
program. The House and the Senate could chose the Architect of the Capitol and expand
Architect’s jurisdiction to include all energy and green programs associated with building
administration. The House and the Senate could also choose to designate officers within each
chamber to coordinate Capitol Hill-wide efforts, create a new officer of the Capitol for greening
issues, or create a joint committee to facilitate and provide oversight to a combination of offices
responsible for greening.
Continued Case-by-Case Programming
The House and the Senate might determine the current system of operating greening programs is
effective. Instead of creating a statutory House or Senate program, creating a “Green the Senate”
Program, or creating a joint greening effort, the House and the Senate could continue to allow the
CAO to operate the “Green the Capitol” initiative and allow the Architect of the Capitol to
administer other greening and energy usage programs in the House and Senate. Expansion could
continue on an as-needed basis, with minimal coordination between the Houses.
To provide oversight in the case-by-case system, the House and the Senate could rely on the
existing committee system to guide green programs. In the House, the Committee on House
Administration, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, the Committee on
Appropriations, and in the 110th Congress the Select Committee on Energy Independence and
Global Warming have jurisdiction. In the Senate, the Committee on Rules and Administration, the
Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and the Environment and Public Works Committee,
and the Committee on Appropriations maintain jurisdiction over current greening initiatives.
Each of these committees could hold hearings, individually or jointly, to discuss greening
programs and provide direction to the officers of Congress responsible for implementing energy
reduction and greening.
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Conclusion
Programs instituted in the House, Senate, and for the Capitol complex have already resulted in
environmental benefits and cost reductions. There are, however, options available to Congress
which may further codify green programs as part of the congressional culture. Continuation of
current House, Senate, and Capitol complex programs in combination with careful consideration
of all options available to create a sustainable complex-wide green program may be useful to
ensure that the most cost-effective and environmentally beneficial investments are made by
Congress.

Author Contact Information

Jacob R. Straus

Analyst on the Congress
jstraus@crs.loc.gov, 7-6438


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