According to the Heat and Frost Insulators, Local Union No. 12, former financial secretary, Matthew Aracich, has been elected to lead the union as the new business manager. As the new leader, Aracich will work to implement a business plan to promote job growth and new legislation affecting the mechanical insulation industry. As the business manager of Local 12, Aracich will continue to advocate for greater energy efficiency standards by fostering strong relationships with government agencies and communities, while establishing trust with builders. He serves on the mayor's committee on Construction Opportunity within the Department of Small Business Services, which works with MWBE enterprises to stimulate growth in the city. In addition to legislative activities, Aracich is committed to developing business opportunities for union contractors. Mechanical insulation maintenance in buildings is a large, untapped resource in the area. Aracich has made it his goal to educate building managers on the importance of mechanical insulation and the financial savings that come along with proper maintenance. In addition to providing insulation contractors with employment opportunities, proper mechanical insulation maintenance is a sustainable solution that will go a long way in supporting environmental efficiency efforts. Promoting Legislation in Support of the Industry Mechanical Insulation Installation Incentive Act of 2011 Aracich has been a staunch supporter of the Mechanical Insulation Installation Incentive Act of 2011 (MIA 2011), introduced by U.S. Reps. Don Manzullo (R-IL) and Tim Ryan (D-OH), along with U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Mike Johanns (R-NE) as House Bill HR 2866 and Senate Bill S. 1526. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation would cut energy costs, reduce carbon emissions, and put Americans back to work through a tax incentive encouraging the use of mechanical insulation. The bill would create up to a 30% tax deduction to encourage commercial and industrial entities - like manufacturing facilities, office buildings, schools, hospitals, power plants, hotels, and universities - to go beyond minimum mechanical insulation requirements in new construction and retrofit projects and increase their maintenance activities. Conservative estimates indicate that over a 5-year implementation period this legislation could save $35 billion, reduce 170 million metric tons of CO2, and create more than 25,000 jobs for skilled craftsmen in all 50 states within weeks or months - not years. While similar incentives have been developed for walls, roofing, windows, lighting, and other energy efficiency options, there are no existing tax incentives tailored for mechanical insulation. Power NY Act of 2011 Aracich served as a speaker along with Governor Andrew Cuomo to promote the Power NY Act of 2011 at the New York Power Legislation press conference on August 4, 2011. The purpose of the press conference was to reveal the signing of The Power NY Act of 2011, an omnibus energy package that encourages new investments in electric generating facilities across New York and creates the nation's first statewide "on-bill" recovery program to increase energy efficiency for homeowners and businesses. This new law will create thousands of jobs and set the state on a course of reliable, cleaner energy while strengthening environmental protections. Working to Improve NYC Building Codes Additionally, Aracich was selected by Assistant Buildings Commissioner, James Colgate, to serve as a member of the Mechanical, HVAC and Boilers Technical Committee. Committee participants are considered experts in the subject matter of their respective committees. As a member, Aracich was responsible for actively participating in discussions of potential decisions affecting the results of code amendments. The code assignments for the Mechanical, HVAC and Boilers Technical Committee are all Mechanical Codes, Building Code chapter 28 and the Fuel Gas Code chapters 3, 5 and 6. Aracich participated in the code revision effort as a part of the committee working collectively to improve the energy efficiency of all buildings, as well as improving the quality of life and safety of all New Yorkers. About The Heat and Frost Insulators, Local Union No.12 of NYC and Long Island The International Association of Heat & Frost Insulators & Allied Workers Local 12 of NYC and Long Island is committed to delivering proper design, installation and maintenance of mechanical insulation and firestopping in New York City and its surrounding areas. Local 12's union workforce completes a wide-range of complex insulation assignments, including industrial and commercial insulation installation, insulation repair, firestopping and maintenance services. All Local 12 insulators receive the highest level of training, in-class and on-site, and are committed to the safety and quality of each installation. To learn more about Local 12, visit www.insulatorslocal12.org.