With Congress’ return to session this month, there is little doubt that the critical issue of healthcare will be foremost on the agenda. No less important, however, are other issues that are on Congress’ plate -– namely the economy and energy policy. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is urging lawmakers not to lose sight of these important issues while the media focus remains strong on healthcare.

With the economy still on shaky ground, moving full-steam ahead in the passing of pending legislation to promote job creation is critical to the health of the economy, particularly programs that promote green buildings and communities. The building sector accounts for one dollar in every ten of US GDP, making it a huge factor and indicator in the overall health of the market. And let’s be clear: there are few better stimuli for the economy than promoting green buildings.

The proof comes from a study the AIA conducted earlier this summer with the encouragement of Senate majority leader Harry Reid (D-NV), which determined how many jobs in the design and construction industry could be created if the American Clean Energy Security Act – also known as the Waxman-Markey bill - was enacted. The study analyzed the State Energy and Environment Development (SEED) program and the Green Resources for Energy Efficient Neighborhoods (GREEN) program, as both provisions were included in the House-passed Waxman-Markey bill. Using studies that measure the extent of job creation in the building industry, the findings estimated that as many as 270,000 jobs could be created or saved if these building-related provisions become law.

For this reason, the AIA is undertaking efforts to ensure that green building programs like GREEN and SEED are not lost this fall.

Green Resources for Energy Efficient Neighborhoods (GREEN)

GREEN was already introduced in both the House and Senate as a separate bill, and the AIA is working with its sponsors and allied organizations to see it passed on its own. Some additional provisions the AIA would like to see from the GREEN program that could provide incentives for the energy efficient design, construction and/or retrofit of buildings:

-- Residential Energy Efficiency Block Grant Program Establishes a residential energy efficiency block grant program to distribute grants for activities that improve the energy-efficiency of single-family or multi-family housing.

-- Sustainable Low-Income Community Grant Program Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to make grants to nonprofit organizations to use for a number of activities, including training, supporting, and providing financing to eligible community development organizations and qualified youth service and conservation corps in improving energy efficiency.

-- Alternative Energy Sources State Loan Fund Authorizes HUD to provide loans to states and Indian tribes that offer incentives to owners of single-family and multifamily housing, commercial properties, and to provide loans for public buildings for expanding renewable energy sources, energy efficiency and energy conserving improvements and features for such structures, or for infrastructure related to the delivery of electricity and hot water for structures lacking such amenities.

-- Green Guarantees Authorizes HUD to guarantee mortgages used to finance sustainable building elements for housing that is subject to the mortgage. HUD is prohibited from guaranteeing a mortgage unless the borrower has demonstrated the amount of energy savings that will be derived from the green portion of the mortgage.

State Energy and Environment Development (SEED)

The SEED program would provide resources to states and communities to invest in a range of clean energy activities. Most notably:

Low-Income Community Energy Efficiency Program This program allows funds to be used by private, nonprofit, mission-driven community development organizations to provide financing to businesses and projects that improve energy efficiency; identify and develop alternative, renewable, and distributed energy supplies; provide technical assistance and promote job and business opportunities for low-income residents; and increase energy conservation in low income rural and urban communities.

Retrofit for Energy and Environmental Performance (REEP) Program
This program facilitates the retrofitting of existing buildings to achieve maximum cost-effective, energy-efficiency improvements and significant improvements in water use and other environmental attributes.

Economic Development and Building Go Hand in Hand

The large job creation potential per dollar invested in energy efficient building design, construction and renovations – combined with the sizable potential for energy savings from building efficiency measures – suggests that the inclusion of significant building-related provisions on the Congressional docket this fall will help policymakers achieve the twin goals of sustainability and economic development.