by Brianna Crandall — July 11, 2011—U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu announced at the Clinton Global Initiative America meeting in Chicago the 14 initial partners committing to the Better Buildings Challenge. The Better Buildings Challenge aims to support President Obama’s goal of helping businesses save nearly $40 billion annually in energy costs, enabling them to grow, invest in new technology, and create American jobs.
The Challenge is part of the Better Buildings Initiative that President Obama launched in February to catalyze private sector investment in commercial building upgrades and make America’s commercial buildings 20 percent more efficient over the next decade. The Initiative is co-led by the President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness and former President Clinton.
The initial partners in the Challenge include private sector companies, financial institutions and local governments. As part of the president’s vision for winning the future by investing in innovative clean energy technologies, the initial partners will work with the Department of Energy in the coming months to further develop the details of the challenge in advance of another round of partnership announcements in the fall.
Companies and communities currently announcing commitments will provide data on their energy savings and share their efficiency strategies, which will serve as models to save money by saving energy. Additionally, a number of financial organizations, including Citi, have agreed to support the challenge by helping to provide financing for energy efficiency projects.
The Better Buildings Challenge aims to support President Obama’s goal of helping businesses save nearly $40 billion annually in energy costs, enabling them to grow, invest in new technology, and create American jobs.
The Better Buildings Challenge partners just announced are:
Better Buildings Challenge Portfolio Partners: More than 260 million square feet of enrolled buildings and facilities
- Best Buy: More than 55 million square feet of retail space
- Green Sports Alliance: 25 sports teams in 17 cities representing more than 20 million square feet of sports arenas
- Lend Lease: 40,000 high performance, efficiency homes for military families
- Transwestern: Reducing energy consumption in 78 million square feet of managed properties
- USAA Real Estate Company: Approximately 50 million square feet
- Green Sports Alliance: 25 sports teams in 17 cities representing more than 20 million square feet of sports arenas
Better Buildings Challenge Financial Allies: More than $575 million in commitments for financing energy efficiency projects over the next 18 months
- Abundant Power: $50+ million in financing over the next 18 months
- Citi: $250+ million in financing over the next 18 months
- Green Campus Partners LLC: $100+ million in financing over the next 18 months
- Metrus Energy: $50+ million in financing over the next 18 months
- Renewable Funding: $50+ million in financing over the next 18 months
- Transcend Equity: $75+ million in financing over the next 18 months
- Citi: $250+ million in financing over the next 18 months
Better Buildings Challenge Community Partners: More than 47 million square feet, hundreds of city blocks of enrolled buildings and facilities, and up to $30 million in financing
- City of Atlanta: 220 downtown city blocks targeted with Atlanta’s City Hall and Civic Center leading the way
- City of Los Angeles: $7.5 million in Recovery Act funding will leverage $30 million in total investment to improve 22 million square feet of downtown buildings
- Seattle 2030 District: 23 million feet of downtown buildings will meet or exceed Better Building Challenge goals
- City of Los Angeles: $7.5 million in Recovery Act funding will leverage $30 million in total investment to improve 22 million square feet of downtown buildings
