How Energy-Efficiency Programs Create Jobs

Hemmings: “Communities benefit from energy-efficiency programs by reducing their carbon footprint and water use and making progress toward their greenhouse-gas emission-reduction goals.”

IRVINE, CA— Jobs in the clean-energy economy are spurred by HERO -financed renovations , from HVAC system installers to drivers and administration positions, Renovate America’s CFO Tom Hemmings tells GlobeSt.com. Officials at the HERO Property Assessed Clean Energy Program recently announced that more than 10,000 local jobs have been created in California through HERO projects completed in more than 50,000 homes since the program launched in December 2011. We spoke exclusively with Hemmings about energy-efficiency programs like HERO and how they create jobs. GlobeSt.com: We know that energy-efficiency programs like HERO save energy and money, but how do they create jobs? Hemmings: The HERO Program increases demand for local contractor services by stimulating home-renovation activity. HERO has helped fund residential efficiency projects in more than 50,000 households in California, in 37 counties across the state, totaling $1.2 billion in financing. HERO is estimated to have spurred the creation of more than 10,000 jobs in California since beginning in December 2011. GlobeSt.com:  Which are the best job opportunities created by these programs? Hemmings: Most of the jobs created by HERO-financed home renovations are in the clean-energy economy. Clean-energy and energy-efficiency products and systems can include new whole-home heating and air-conditioning systems, roofing and insulation, high-efficiency doors and windows, solar power panels and more. Demand for home renovations involving these types of products drives job creation. These jobs are in a wide range of positions. Examples include HVAC system installers, professional-level project design, efficiency-rated product sales, planning jobs for a solar firm and support positions like drivers and administrative positions. GlobeSt.com:  What other benefits are there to energy-efficiency programs? Hemmings: Beyond job creation and local economic impact, there are clear benefits to homeowners and to communities. All of the energy-efficiency products described above increase the comfort of people’s homes. Energy-efficient renovations also benefit homeowners by lowering utility bills, in most cases. Communities benefit by reducing their carbon footprint and water use and making progress toward their greenhouse-gas emission-reduction goals. GlobeSt.com:  What else should our readers know about these programs? Hemmings: A recent study conducted by nationally recognized housing economist Laurie Goodman showed that HERO-financed efficiency improvements can increase property values. Homes included in the study with HERO improvements sold at a price premium that recovered and often exceeded the original investment. This is in contrast to recent studies showing that popular kitchen and bathroom remodels recover only 58% to 66% of their costs. HERO provides homeowners with the strongest consumer protections in the home improvement industry, including pricing protections, dispute resolution and more. Notably, HERO-registered contractors are only paid after the homeowner signs a completion certificate noting that the project has been finished to their satisfaction. In addition to the opportunity to save money on utility bills, homeowners may have tax benefits from PACE financing .