Energy Efficiency Jobs Are Green Jobs
Channel: eesionline
Date: 2019-08-01

Learn more at https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/073119jobs

Energy Efficiency for All (EEFA) and the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) held a briefing about an upcoming EEFA report, Job Potential in Retrofitting Affordable Multifamily Housing, which was previewed at the briefing.

Speakers: 

    John Marshall
    Senior Policy Advisor, Rep. Bobby L. Rush (D-IL)
    Skip to presentation: https://youtu.be/BcTU6uUgXUo?t=3m43s

    Khalil Shahyd
    Energy Efficiency for All Program Manager and Senior Policy Advocate, Natural Resources Defense Council
    Download Slides: https://www.eesi.org/files/Khalil_Shahyd_073119.pdf
    Skip to presentation: https://youtu.be/BcTU6uUgXUo?t=8m9s

    Phil Miller
    Director of Operations, Rising Sun Center For Opportunity
    Download Slides: https://www.eesi.org/files/Phil_Miller_073119.pdf
    Skip to presentation: https://youtu.be/BcTU6uUgXUo?t=23m4s

    Donele Wilkins
    President / CEO, Green Door Initiative
    Download Slides: https://www.eesi.org/files/Donele_Wilkins_073119.pdf
    Skip to presentation: https://youtu.be/BcTU6uUgXUo?t=35m59s

    Lauren Asplen
    Director, Healthy Sustainability Program, BlueGreen Alliance
    Download Slides: https://www.eesi.org/files/Lauren_Asplen_073119.pdf
    Skip to presentation: https://youtu.be/BcTU6uUgXUo?t=49m46s

    Question & Answer Session
    https://youtu.be/BcTU6uUgXUo?t=1h2m33s

The report shows a large untapped job creation potential in the residential retrofit market, particularly for efficiency upgrades to affordable housing. To unlock this potential, however, the disparities in access to those energy efficiency jobs must be addressed.

Energy efficiency improvements are the largest source of clean energy jobs in the United States and a major driver of the economy. Retrofit projects also reduce emissions that pollute our air and overheat our planet, while making homes more comfortable and more affordable through lower utility bills. Indeed, energy efficiency is the cheapest, fastest and simplest way to address energy and environmental goals while providing additional benefits to society and the economy. EEFA’s multi-state analysis shows the distribution of existing energy efficiency jobs across 12 states and their 15 largest metro areas, as well as the employment potential of the sector.

As many as 2.25 million Americans work in energy efficiency, and more jobs are in the pipeline. Demand for home energy efficiency upgrades and more skilled workers is projected to increase, given the huge inventory of existing homes built to outdated energy codes, the rising cost of housing, and a greater understanding of the multiple benefits of energy efficiency. Importantly, new programs for financing energy upgrades and training workers can help meet this demand.

While the jobs potential of retrofitting residential buildings is great, more needs to be done to ensure equitable access to these jobs. EEFA’s research shows that disparities in access to the higher income jobs in the efficiency sector are common along racial/ethnic, gender, geographic and educational lines. This new report offers policy solutions and best practices for addressing these disparities and recommends more investment and job creation services in the sector overall. Developing a more diverse and well-trained workforce to deliver energy efficiency services at good wages will benefit the entire nation.