Walkinshaw Introduces Bill to Cool Federal Properties, Cut Smog, and Lower Energy Costs

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman James R. Walkinshaw (VA-11) introduced the Heat Island Reduction Act , which would require federal agencies to plan cost-effective upgrades that cool their properties, improve air quality, and lower energy costs. Parking lots and dark rooftops soak up heat and hold it, which warms nearby communities, raises cooling bills, and speeds the formation of smog. The bill targets federal properties in areas that already fail federal smog standards. Northern Virginia is already working on the problem. This summer, more than 80 volunteers teamed up with the Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions and George Mason University’s Virginia Climate Center to map where heat hits hardest across Fairfax County, Arlington, and Alexandria. What they found points to simple fixes: more trees, more shade, and cooler surfaces. Walkinshaw’s bill would apply the same approach to federal properties nationwide. “Extreme heat endangers workers, worsens the air our families breathe, and drives up cooling costs,” said Congressman Walkinshaw . “Volunteers here in Northern Virginia are working to pinpoint where heat hits hardest. The federal government should take the same hard look at its own properties and start with the fixes that deliver the most. Shade trees and cooler roofs protect federal workers and visitors and lower the cooling bills taxpayers pay.” The Heat Island Reduction Act would: Within six months: Require agencies to plan cooling fixes, such as trees, shade, cool roofs, and cooler pavement, for their properties in areas that fail federal smog standards. Six months later: Require agencies to set out each project’s cost, funding source, and timeline, and to update these plans every two years. Every year: Require the General Services Administration to report to Congress on progress, spending, and changes in temperature and energy use. At every step: Prioritize cost-effective fixes and build them into routine repairs and construction. Congressman Paul Tonko (NY-20) and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC) are original cosponsors. Read the full bill text here . ###