Real Estate Recovery Through Retrofit
On Tuesday 20 October, Vice President Biden announced a Federal program to retrofit existing homes and buildings to make them more energy efficient. The intention, as described in the ‘Recovery Through Retrofit Report’ released on the same day is to help create ‘green sector’ jobs while addressing an important environmental issue greenhouse emissions.
Approximately twenty percent of the United States carbon dioxide emissions are generated by the nation’s 130 million homes. The programs goals are to reduce home energy use by 40% by 2020 which would lower greenhouse gas emissions by up to 160 million metric tons. By any measure that is a significant amount. The added benefits of jobs creation and reduced energy bills of up to $21 billion annually make this one of the more synergistic programs to come out of Washington in years.
The growing green home industry, which is currently at the early adoption life-cycle, will receive a much needed boost into mainstream real estate markets. This is a great idea and a great program using business and commerce to solve real world problems with triple bottom line solutions—people, planet, profit.
We must remember, however, the business dynamics and corresponding business models that will be created must become self-sustaining as quickly as possible. If not, it could be destined to become another great government program that fizzles when the funding sources dry up or new politicians are elected.
Green house gases are not a political issue and we cannot buy our way out of the hole we have got ourselves into. But we can solve prove problems with innovative solutions that creates value while improving the quality of life for everyone. We’ve done it before and we can do it again.
US DoE press announcement here.
The White House report can be downloaded here.
Information on Colorado Energy Efficient Real Estate: E3GreenHomes.com
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John Thomas MSEE, MBA
(m) 720-771-5594 (e) john.thomas@e3greenhomes.com
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John, thanks for your post. It's going to take a long, long time for people to "get it" about saving the planet--how many years have we had laws in effect and active promotional campaigns with regard to stopping smoking? You folks in Colorado have a much higher degree of education, which creates a social pressure to conform, both of which are not found in other areas of the country. Charlie Gantz, Greenwood, IN; J.D., M.B.A.; owner/principal broker, Atlas Commercial Real Estate, LLC
Its sad what has to happen before people try to change there ways
Thanks Charles. I like the comparison to smoking. Especially when you consider it was only about 50-60 years ago that doctors were on television telling us about the benefits of smoking.
We evolve as we individually and collectively expand our awareness and open up to new ideas. Often times that doesn't happen until we experience the negative impact in a more personal way. Let's hope that doesn't have to happen on a global scale for all of us to 'get it'. By then, it may be too late.