Career Advice & News Center

On February 19, the Obama administration announced an initiative aimed at serving the dual purpose of creating economic growth at the local level and making buildings more energy efficient. The collaborative effort will use the resources of seven federal agencies and up to $129.7 million in federal funding create regional research centers that will develop and help implement new building efficiency technologies.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, buildings currently account for about 40 percent of U.S. energy consumption and carbon emissions - a fact that officials are trying to counteract.

The seven agencies - the Department of Energy, Department of Labor, National Science Foundation, Small Business Administration, Department of Education, Manufacturing Extension Partnership and Department of Commerce - will work to fund and promote regional job opportunities through an Energy Regional Innovation Cluster (E-RIC).

The purpose of the E-RIC is to introduce cutting-edge technologies to the local marketplace and spread the best practices in energy efficiency to the public and private sectors.

U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu commented, "This unique partnership will not only advance the development of new, energy efficient technologies, it will help local governments, businesses and homeowners save money on their utility bills."

He added, "Energy efficient buildings represent one of our best and most immediate opportunities to create jobs, save money and cut carbon pollution."

The Department of Energy has set aside up to $22 million for the E-RIC project in its first year, and has reserved up to $100 million to use over the next four years.

In addition, the Department of Commerce is devoting $3 million in Public Works and Economic Development funds and up to $2 million in Economic Adjustment Assistance awards.

The initiative is likely to boost the environmental science industry, which the Bureau of Labor Statistics already expects to grow by about 28 percent through 2018.