Buildings + Efficiency = Jobs
March 11, 2010
11:14 AM
Buildings + Efficiency = Jobs
March 11, 2010
“We have today three legislative proposals designed to improve the energy efficiency of existing buildings, to reduce energy bills for residential and commercial buildings and to create jobs in building construction and building-related manufacturing sectors. Buildings are a large source of greenhouse gas emissions – they account for as much as 39 percent, a figure from 2006. Numerous studies have shown that energy efficiency improvements in buildings are among the most cost-effective ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
“I was very glad to work with Sen. Murkowski and all Members of the Committee to report bipartisan energy legislation last summer. The committee bill – S. 1462, which is ACELA, the American Clean Energy Leadership Act – includes provisions to incentivize energy efficiency retrofits in the residential and commercial buildings sector, as well as a rebate program for replacing extremely inefficient manufactured housing with Energy Star manufactured housing. Today, several months after that legislation was reported from our Committee, the continued levels of unemployment in the building sector have made energy retrofit programs attractive for their job creation potential as well as their energy savings benefits.
“Over the past several weeks I have been working with a group of Senators on developing the ‘Home Star’ program, which the President advocates for as well, along with a large coalition of leaders from the construction industry, energy efficiency and clean energy advocate groups as well as labor groups, to expand the residential retrofit program in the bill we previously reported. Sens. Warner, Sanders and Merkley have made important contributions to this effort. The effort to establish a program that could be established quickly has required detailed legislative language to enable to get the program up and running quickly.
“I am also glad that we will be hearing from the Building Star coalition, which supports legislation introduced by Sen. Merkley, focused on commercial building retrofits. We’ll also receive testimony on Sen. Tester’s proposed manufactured housing rebates to allow low-income residents to afford Energy Star rated manufactured homes as well.
“We’ve invited State and utility experts in efficiency programs and the National Association of Home Builders to give their views today. And, of course, the assistant secretary for energy efficiency and renewables, Catherine Zoi, is here to give the Administration’s perspective.”
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