Building Star Energy-Efficiency Incentives Could Create 300,000 New Jobs
In his January 27, 2010, State of the Union Address, President Obama declared that “jobs must be our number-one focus in 2010.” NECA and the other members of the Rebuilding America coalition agree wholeheartedly. That’s why we’re urging Congress to support a package of rebates and tax incentive recommendations that could create up to an estimated 300,000 energy-efficiency retrofitting jobs in the commercial and industrial building sector this year.
A joint initiative of the Energy Future Coalition and the Center for American Progress Action Fund, Rebuilding America is a labor and industry alliance that is committed to wholesale investment in the energy-efficient retrofit of 50 million buildings by 2020. The coalition is the moving force pushing for “Building Star” recommendations to be included in the legislative effort to create jobs that the president said is needed.
The Building Star proposal is modeled after the Obama administration's 2009 “Cash for Clunkers” program, which encouraged consumers to upgrade their older model automobiles for newer, energy-efficient cars. The proposed program would provide up-front rebates to commercial, institutional, and multi-family building owners who install energy-efficient building equipment, materials, products, and services during 2010.
The types of products and services covered by the rebate would include:
- building envelope insulation;
- mechanical insulation;
- windows, window films, and doors;
- low-slope roofing;
- HVAC equipment, water heaters, and boilers;
- duct testing and sealing;
- variable speed motors;
- interior and exterior lighting;
- building energy audits, commissioning, tune-ups, and training; and
- energy management and monitoring systems.
The Building Star proposal is intended to be a short term program that could be operational within 30 to 60 days. Full details are contained in the Rebuilding America report which you can access by clicking the link under “Related Documents” at the end of this article.
The coalition also supports a similar initiative that would provide incentives for homeowners to invest in energy-efficient products and services. It is called “Home Star.”
“Energy retrofits will immediately create jobs that cannot be outsourced while decreasing our energy consumption and saving families’ money,” according to Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR).
Merkley, the same lawmaker responsible for a NECA-supported amendment to health care legislation, is championing the Building Star proposal in the Senate and has introduced legislation to this effect. The senator is also working to gain support for the Home Star proposal. A decision on whether these programs will be proposed as free-standing legislation or supported as amendments that could ultimately be adopted into a bigger jobs bill has not yet been made.
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