Rebuilding America | Energy Future Coalition

Rebuilding America is a broad-based coalition of labor, business, utilities, manufacturers, and policy groups that will have come together to foster a robust, self-sustaining retrofit industry that will cut the energy waste in 50 million U.S. homes and businesses by 2020.

Reducing energy use in our buildings through simple fixes like caulking or more elaborate renovations will reinvigorate the economy through direct investments in materials and labor, drive sustainable, long-term economic growth, create good local jobs across the country, and contribute to reducing global warming emissions. Basic renovations and improvements to buildings to increase their energy efficiency can cut energy use by 20-30%—and often more—with off-the-shelf, cost-effective technologies and techniques.

To brighten our economic and environmental future, we need big action and we need it now. We need national policies that create the conditions for a thriving market to cut building energy waste—one built on sustainable long-term private-sector investment, with adequate capital, new business models, and well-trained workers to do the job.

The good news is that examples of state and local programs that are getting it right can be found around the country. Successful programs take a wide variety of approaches to overcome market barriers and represent regional differences in climate, utility regulation, tax policy, government structure, housing stock, and other factors. National policy changes are needed to bring successful local and state building efficiency programs to scale. While the particulars might vary, existing programs that have spurred market growth and driven efficiency improvements have several common elements, including:

Creating funding mechanisms that leverage private capital to pay the upfront costs of retrofits while capturing value from energy savings to pay back these investments.
Aggregating projects to reduce investor risk, ensure steady work for contractors and workers, and achieve economies of scale.
Certifying and licensing workers and contractors to ensure that those who perform the work have the necessary skills to do the job right.
Ensuring that consumers benefit by guaranteeing the quality of work and net savings on energy bills.

Resources

Vision Statement: Recommendations to Rebuild America

Building STAR: Incentives for Retrofitting Commercial and Multi-Family Residential Buildings

Recommendations for the Senate

White Paper - Rebuilding America: A National Policy Framework for Investment in Energy Efficiency Retrofits

Rebuilding America Endorser List

Press Release: Rebuilding America Launch

Rebuilding America Letter to Senators

Fact Sheet: Establish a 10 percent Energy Efficiency Standard

Fact Sheet: Financing Energy Efficiency

Fact Sheet: Building a High Standards Industry

Fact Sheet: Incentives for Energy Efficient Technology

Letter to Senator Boxer calling for carbon allowances to fund energy efficiency