WORKING GROUPS
GREEN BUILDINGS
HIGH-PERFORMANCE AND SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS
The commercial and residential building sectors will account for 73 percent of domestic electricity consumption and 40 percent of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions in 2011, according to the United States Department of Energy. The good news is that incorporating green-building techniques and accelerating retrofits will reduce our environmental footprint while providing savings from the increased energy efficiency. This massive economic opportunity will also create jobs for electricians, plumbers, construction workers, technology specialists, and more. By integrating information technologies, the building sector can jump-start existing industries while putting into place a framework for the longer-term vitality of a more innovative and competitive economy.
There are, however, many barriers to progress, including the need for up-front capital for energy efficiency, building retrofits, and new solar panel installation equipment. The economic equation makes sense, but an innovative set of business models, financial tools, and partnerships are needed to spark the necessary investments. This Working Group will focus on how to create new financing mechanisms and engage utilities to spur economic growth, activate new markets for information technologies, and improve the long-term environmental sustainability of the building sector.
SUBTOPICS
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE
The commercial sector is ripe for collaboration among real-estate owners, tenants, and investors in energy efficiency.
AFFORDABLE AND MULTIFAMILY HOUSING
Because low-income households spend a higher percentage of their income on utility bills than households in other income brackets, efficiency leads to increased affordability.
UNIVERSITIES, SCHOOLS, AND HOSPITALS
Making these buildings more environmentally friendly will reduce energy costs, improve indoor air quality, and create more hospitable settings for health and education.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Buildings are embedded in the social and economic fabric of their communities. This subtopic will address how to engage community members and local workforces in program design.
MUNICIPALITIES AND GOVERNMENT-OWNED BUILDINGS
Retrofitting and green construction of public buildings saves taxpayer funds, tests innovative financial models, and provides an opportunity for the public sector to lead by example.