IN SUPPORT OF THE BETTER BUILDING INITIATIVE

WHEREAS, commercial buildings consume approximately 20 percent of all energy in the U.S. economy; and

WHEREAS, Mayors are leaders of their regional economy and can have a transformative effect on energy and job creation; and

WHEREAS, President Obama has laid out the Better Building Initiative, a goal to improve building efficiency by 20 percent within 10 years; and

WHEREAS, improving energy efficiency in buildings can create jobs, save energy costs to businesses, and clean the environment; and

WHEREAS, achieving the Better Building Initiative goal can reduce businesses owners’ energy expenses by $40 billion per year; and

WHEREAS, job creation is especially vital in metro economies, where unemployment in the construction industry hovers around 22.5%; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that The U.S. Conference of Mayors urges the Obama Administration to partner with mayors and cities to make the Better Building Initiative a success and should connect cities to its Better Building Challenge, to continue to support the Energy Star Program; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that as leaders of their economy, The U.S. Conference of Mayors support mayors to convene national and regional financial institutions to partner with cities to finance energy efficiency projects in buildings; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED  that The U.S. Conference of Mayors support Congressional passage of “Race to Green”, a competitive grant program to incentivize states and local governments to streamline standards and codes related to energy efficiency; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The U.S. Conference of Mayors urge Congress to support the Obama Administration’s proposal to redesign the current tax deduction for commercial building upgrades to a tax credit that will incentivize building owners to retrofit their properties.