by Shane Henson — June 8, 2012—The City of Chicago recently announced that it is joining the Obama Administration’s Better Buildings Challenge, an initiative launched in 2011 by President Obama to catalyze investment in commercial and industrial building energy upgrades and support new jobs across the country.
As a partner in this national initiative, Chicago, the third-largest U.S. city, is committing to reduce energy use by 20 percent across nearly 24 million square feet of public and private building space within the next five years.
The Better Buildings Challenge supports the Obama Administration’s blueprint for an economy built to last, reducing energy costs in buildings—which last year consumed more than 40 percent of all the energy used by the U.S. economy—while boosting American competitiveness in the global clean energy race. So far, seven other cities have joined this cause, including Atlanta, Georgia; Los Angeles, California; and Houston, Texas.
“Investments in energy efficiency are making the American economy more competitive by creating jobs, growing industries, reducing energy bills for families and businesses, and protecting our air and water,” said U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Chu. “By joining the Better Buildings Challenge, Chicago is not only leading by example, but is also better positioning the city in the global economy by saving millions in energy costs.”
