Federal Mechanical Insulation Act

The Federal Mechanical Insulation Act would require federal agencies to include information about mechanical system insulation in their annual energy and water efficiency reports to the Department of Energy. The bill clarifies that installing mechanical insulation—materials that reduce energy loss from heating, cooling, and water systems in federal buildings—counts as an energy or water efficiency measure under existing law. This would apply to the approximately 350,000 federal buildings across the country.

If enacted, the bill would encourage federal agencies to consider mechanical insulation when evaluating and upgrading their buildings' energy systems. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill would cost less than $500,000 to implement over five years, as federal agencies already typically consider mechanical insulation under current law. Supporters argue the bill could help reduce taxpayer costs by lowering energy consumption and extending the life of mechanical systems in federal facilities.