According to a recent study conducted by The American Institute of Architects (AIA) , enacting the "American Clean Energy Security Act," H.R. 2454, also known as the Waxman-Markey Bill, could create as many as 270,000 jobs in the design and construction industry.
The AIA analyzed two provisions in the version of the bill that passed in the House of Representatives in June—the State Energy and Environment Development (SEED) program and the Green Resources for Energy Efficient Neighborhoods (GREEN) program—to estimate the number of jobs that could be created or saved. Under the SEED program, cap-and-trade allowances would be authorized for the energy-efficient design, construction, and renovation of buildings, while the GREEN program would provide multiple sources of funding for the energy-efficient design, construction, and retrofit of residential and other buildings.
AIA's study found that including significant building-related provisions in the final energy and climate bill could potentially create a large number of design and construction industry jobs per dollar invested, thereby helping achieve the government's goals of sustainability and economic development. For more on the Waxman-Markey Bill, read CUSTOM HOME's previous coverage.
