EIMA CEO Stephen Sears connected with numerous members during the 2025 AIA Conference in Boston, where discussions centered on the evolving role of energy efficiency in architecture. While recent federal legislation, including the "Big Beautiful Bill," signals a pullback from climate priorities, the AEC community remains committed to designing low-carbon, high-performance buildings. With unmatched R-values and compliance with key energy codes and green certifications like LEED, IECC, and Passive House standards, EIFS continues to stand out as a premier solution for reducing energy demand. EIMA members like Dryvit, Sika, ROCKWOOL, Saint-Gobain ADFORS, National Gypsum, Georgia-Pacific, Intertek, and OPCMIA ITF were on hand to reinforce this message.

One interesting observation - while the The White House, the US Congress, the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are de-emphasizing green building design and carbon emissions in the "Big Beautiful Bil", many players in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction space are proceeding full steam ahead with their climate change priorities. This approach makes sense, too, because "unleashing energy dominance" should mean more than increasing energy supply; it should also include reducing energy demand.

With an R-value that is 20 times greater than that of brick, stone, concrete and plain glass and more than three times that of wood, EIFS can play a key role in helping architects, designers and building owners reduce energy demand. EIFS also helps meet the requirements of Passive House Institute | iPHA certification, U.S. Green Building Council's LEED, the International Code Council's International Energy Conservation Code, ASHRAE 90.1 and more.