There’s a lot of buzz going around the industry about BuildingSTAR, a proposal in federal jobs legislation created by Rebuilding America-Future Energy Coalition.
According to Insulation.org, BuildingSTAR would authorize a rebate program “for commercial, institutional and multi-family building owners who install or implement energy-efficient building equipment, materials, products, and services during 2010, including mechanical insulation and building envelope insulation.
“Once enacted into law, this program could be up and running within 30 to 60 days, using public funding to leverage two to three times as much private investment. Building STAR rebates will help drive demand for commercial building efficiency upgrades because they are based on, and can be used in conjunction with, successful state and utility incentive programs. The program’s backers hope it will be included in the “jobs bill” currently under debate in Congress.
Why is this important? Here’s a sobering statistic:
According to Energy Future Coalition, Today, 1 in 5 construction workers—more than 1.7 million people—are out of work. “Many of them are skilled tradesmen who have worked on commercial, institutional, and large residential buildings. Finding a way to create good jobs for Americans is a priority across the country, from Pennsylvania Avenue to Main Street.
“By jumpstarting energy-efficient retrofits of buildings, we can get people working again, improve financial security by cutting energy bills, and help address climate change by slashing energy waste. The Rebuilding America initiative worked with a wide range of technical, industry, and efficiency experts to accomplish just that.”
Building STAR is a package of incentives intended to quickly create jobs. For more information, visit EnergyFutureCoalition.org.
