Thursday
Feb262009
Where are the green building lobbyists?
Thursday, February 26, 2009 at 7:08PM
An estimated 2,340 lobbyists went to Capitol Hill last year to influence federal policy on climate change. Two of them were there to promote green building.
In fact, of the more than $90 million spent lobbying Congress last year on climate change, only the U.S. Green Building Council’s $250,000 suggests any direct lobbying for green building, according to figures released by the Center for Public Integrity. Their study also shows that the American Institute of Architects spent just over a half million dollars on lobbying Congress last year, but it’s not clear how much of that focused on green building.
Now, for some perspective on those numbers, consider that PG&E, a single utility company, spent over $24 million.
Whose voice do you think is going to ring the loudest in the halls of Congress? And is it any wonder green building related funds in the recent American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the so-called economic stimulus package) were cut by more than $2 billion in the final version passed by Congress?
Buildings are responsible for 40% of our nation’s energy consumption, waste and carbon emissions. So if we’re going to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, effectively fight climate change, and build a sustainable economy, green building is going to have to lead the way. But will we have to out-shout 2,340 lobbyists to do it?
In fact, of the more than $90 million spent lobbying Congress last year on climate change, only the U.S. Green Building Council’s $250,000 suggests any direct lobbying for green building, according to figures released by the Center for Public Integrity. Their study also shows that the American Institute of Architects spent just over a half million dollars on lobbying Congress last year, but it’s not clear how much of that focused on green building.
Now, for some perspective on those numbers, consider that PG&E, a single utility company, spent over $24 million.
Whose voice do you think is going to ring the loudest in the halls of Congress? And is it any wonder green building related funds in the recent American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the so-called economic stimulus package) were cut by more than $2 billion in the final version passed by Congress?
Buildings are responsible for 40% of our nation’s energy consumption, waste and carbon emissions. So if we’re going to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, effectively fight climate change, and build a sustainable economy, green building is going to have to lead the way. But will we have to out-shout 2,340 lobbyists to do it?
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