The House on Wednesday backed legislation that would establish energy-efficient best practices in commercial real estate buildings.

The bill (HR 2126), passed 375-36, would give the General Services Administration six months to publish best practices and model leasing provisions — in conjunction with the Energy Department — that would promote investment in cost- and energy-efficient measures for buildings.

The House passed the bill under suspension of the rules, an expedited process that requires a two-thirds majority vote. The House Energy and Commerce Committee approved the measure by voice vote in January.

The bill would require the GSA to implement cost-effective energy and water efficiency measures for the real estate properties it manages. Business and environmental groups — who typically find themselves on opposing sides of energy debates — have coalesced around the legislation.

They say that promoting efficiency can create jobs and save consumers and businesses money. According to one estimate from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy cited by both sides, the legislation could cut consumer and business energy costs by nearly $2 billion by 2030.

“Finding ways to use energy more efficiently is simply common sense,” said bill sponsor West Virginia Republican David B. McKinley.

The bill also would direct federal agencies to develop — with the Office of Management and Budget, the Energy Department and the Environmental Protection Agency — a strategy for using energy-efficient and energy-saving information technologies.

Under the measure, the existing Energy Star program, which encourages individuals and businesses to use energy-efficient appliances, systems and products, would be expanded to recognize tenants who voluntarily achieve energy efficiency in buildings. Jim Himes, D-Conn., said, “The cheapest and cleanest energy is that which we do not use and conserve for the future.”

The bill also might provide Senate Democrats with the opportunity to revive energy legislation by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., that stalled last fall. Shaheen introduced a revamped version of the legislation (S 2074) last week, which includes similar provisions around energy-saving building guidelines and information technologies and the tenant star rating program.

It was referred to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee last week, and supporters hope to sidestep the committee process and bring it directly to the Senate floor. Randy Leonard, Annie Shuppy and Melanie Zanona contributed to this report.