Since my last update, there has been a lot of talk on Capitol Hill and around the world with implications not only for the energy efficiency retrofit social enterprise we’re developing here at RNSI, but also for the world. On June 26, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a historic piece of legislation intended to curb greenhouse gas emissions and spur economic growth in the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries. The American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES) puts a price on emissions that would affect the way electricity is generated, how homes and offices are designed, how foreign trade is conducted and how Americans pay to drive cars or to heat their homes.
Although the discussion on the bill is starting to heat up in the Senate, there is at least one glimmer of hope that gives reason for the passage of the bill. ACES includes around $1 billion in funding for job training programs that ensures local access to quality jobs in the green collar economy. Also, there are provisions in the bill that ensure that the principles of equity and opportunity, career pathways out of poverty for low-income and disadvantaged communities. All of this debate is so exciting for RNSI and for me personally. There has already been a lot of funding allocation for green job creation and for residential energy efficiency project, of which we are applying for, but this piece of legislation is of special importance. If passed, it is a statement that no longer will the United States turn away from the threat of climate change, while providing an economic boost to the communities that need quality jobs the most. In my personal opinion, creating social change and saving the planet are not mutually exclusive.
With our feasibility study coming to a close, RNSI is gearing up to write a business plan for our energy efficiency retrofit social enterprise and apply for federal funding. Under the Green Jobs Act, the Department of Labor is soliciting $150 million in competitive grants for national and local nonprofit entities to provide “pathways out of poverty” and into the green collar workforce. Because of the tremendous increase in capacity to do residential energy audits, retrofits, and other green labor, the grant solicitation requires that applicants have strategic partnerships to ensure that training leads to employment. RNSI is currently trying to identify strong partnerships for the enterprise in the select cities that have shown the most potential for business (Philly is one of them!). Because the industry is nascent and fragmented, RNSI and other potential partners have been finding this task to be difficult. It also doesn’t help when nonprofit are competing over the same resources.
I may not have made it clear to everyone how important it is to make our homes more energy efficient, so here are just a few figures:
- Over 40% of total U.S. energy consumption is in our buildings
- Residential and Commercial building are highly inefficient, and you can potentially save up to 40% in energy costs by retrofitting your building
- 80% of the U.S. housing stock will still be standing and in use over the next 15 years
- Energy prices are highly unpredictable, and the costs can be extremely taxing on low-income households, some of whom spend 14% or more of their income to heat and cool their homes
You see, it’s not just the question of climate change that is driving the clean energy revolution. As fuel resources continue to diminish, prices will rise and the burden on low-income households will increase. Although it is such a difficult time to invest in switching to more sustainable living, it is also the best time.
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