Clinton Initiative, USGBC focus on efficient buildings (March 2009)

The Clinton Climate Initiative, New York City, and the U.S. Green Building Council, Washington, D.C., have expanded their partnership, with an initial focus on accelerating efforts to drive efficiency in existing buildings. “Retrofitting buildings represents an immediate and measurable opportunity to cut greenhouse gas emissions and improve our economy; they are a priority for my Climate Initiative, which is encouraging retrofit projects around the world,” said former President Bill Clinton. “I’m proud to strengthen my foundation’s collaboration with the USGBC to accelerate this important work.” The expanded partnership aims to reduce CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions from the built environment on a global scale. “Two years ago, the Clinton Climate Initiative helped put the urgency of reducing CO2 emissions by improving the performance of our existing building stock squarely on the national agenda,” commented USGBC CEO, President and Founding Chairman Rick Fedrizzi. “[The] USGBC is proud to partner with [the] CCI to accelerate and expand the effort at this critical moment. Green building creates green jobs that save energy and money—and green building will help save our climate.”