NEMA endorses Building STAR proposal

Building STAR offers performance-based rebates and financing for energy-efficient retrofits in commercial buildings, including lighting, HVAC, and controls, cutting operating costs, reducing energy waste, and creating high-skilled jobs in construction, manufacturing, and related sectors.

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) has joined a coalition of 80 contractor groups, unions, manufacturers, businesses, financial services companies, and energy-efficiency advocates to advance the adoption of Building STAR.

Building STAR is a proposal to makeover America's commercial and apartment building infrastructure with more energy-efficient technologies, aligned with home energy initiatives now underway, creating thousands of jobs in the construction, manufacturing, and other high-skilled sectors on the economy.

"Building STAR will provide significant rebates, similar to the appliance rebate program rolled out nationally, to focus on commercial sectors hurt most by the current economic downturn," said NEMA President and CEO Evan R. Gaddis. "By making our buildings more energy efficient, we reduce energy waste and operating costs as well as create good jobs, particularly among small businesses that would perform the vast majority of work."

Introduced March 4 as S. 3079, Building STAR Energy Efficiency Rebate Act of 2010, and echoing the House-approved energy bill in scope, the bill is a package of rebates and financing incentives for building owners to upgrade their property's energy efficiency, with practical rebates and grants resources available to guide applicants, including interior and exterior lighting, energy management, HVAC, motors, and drives. It is estimated that the prospective $6 billion in funding for the Building STAR program would spur $18 to $24 billion in total program spending, creating up to 200,000 jobs, particularly for the hard-hit construction industry, as well as manufacturing and other industries.

"Building STAR is the kind of performance-based incentive that attracts broad bipartisan support and delivers real results in the near term, as seen with Energy Star homes adoption across communities," said Gaddis. "We urge Congress to include Building STAR in upcoming jobs legislation.”

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