Energy-Efficiency Coalition Aims to Spark New Jobs

A number of real estate, business, lending, manufacturing, environmental, and energy-efficiency organizations led by Real Estate Roundtable, U.S. Green Building Council, and the Natural Resources Defense Council recently launched the Coalition for Better Buildings, which is aimed at analyzing energy-efficiency policies that may create new jobs and boost economic growth.

“Public policies that encourage energy efficiency in buildings and create jobs make perfect sense in our uncertain economic climate,” said Jeffrey D. DeBoer, president and chief executive officer of Real Estate Roundtable. “This diverse coalition of industries has come together to work with Congress and the Obama administration on common-sense business practices that will produce real results — jobs, economic growth, and incentives for businesses across the nation to take on new retrofit projects."

The coalition’s analysis reveals that approximately 114,000 domestic jobs could be created with modest federal incentives. Additional findings illustrate how energy-efficiency upgrades could have a positive impact on the economy, creating new manufacturing, production, and service jobs while demonstrating how public funds can leverage private investment to retrofit commercial and multifamily properties. 

“America could save more than 30 percent of projected energy use over the next 20 years using off-the-shelf building-efficiency technologies that are widely available today,” said David Goldstein, co-director of the NRDC’s Energy Program. "Cutting energy usage means cutting harmful pollution from power plants, while creating much-needed jobs in the construction sector. It also means saving money for building owners and businesses — money that can be injected back into our economy to buy goods and services and create even more jobs.”