ECC promotes sustainable development practices through greening cities, building communities, and strengthening democracy. It builds collaborations across sectors to develop energy efficiency and job training programs. Partners include labor unions, non-profits, businesses, and governments. The environmental case cites benefits of a green cities initiative. Economically, retrofitting buildings could create over a million jobs and savings. Investing in urban infrastructure and affordable housing also provides economic opportunities. Addressing rising utility costs through efficiency helps low-income families. However, some distressed housing requires repairs beyond weatherization's scope, presenting an equity challenge.

1. THE
ENVIRONMENTAL, ECONOMIC, & SOCIAL CASE
FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES
Solutions for Sustainable Communities 2011
September 26, 2011
Washington, DC

2. ECC’s Mission
Green Build Our
Our Cities Communities
Strengthen
Our Democracy
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3. The Vision
• Green,
natural
environment
• Vibrant
businesses &
workers
• Healthy
families in
quality
housing
• A real
community
• Tolerant
• Inclusive
• Active

4. Our Approach
• Building a collaboration of people, resources, & ideas
from across the nation (market intermediaries)
• Building an energy efficiency/sustainable development
market (job creation)
• Policy development
• Project development
• Financing
• Building career pathways & workforce development
systems
• Civic engagement
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5. Our Partners
LABOR UNIONS YOUTH & COMMUNITY SERVICE
ORGANIZATIONS
POLICY & SOCIAL JUSTICE
ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS
ORGANIZATIONS
HOUSING & COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS
SOCIAL SERVICE & WORKFORCE
BUSINESS/FINANCIAL
DEVELOPMENT
ORGANIZATIONS
ORGANIZATIONS
ACADEMIC & TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
ORGANIZATIONS
5

6. Green Our Cities:
The Environmental Case
Green
Our Cities
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7. Build Our Communities:
The Economic Case
Build Our
Communities
7

8. A New Economic Model:
Transactions To Transformation

9. The Economic Case: Jobs
• 400 billion dollars of potential commercial retrofits
• 41 billion of annual energy savings of commercial properties
• 112 million residential properties
• 2 billion annual savings for public housing
• 80 billion dollars of stimulus funds invested
• 5-8B+ of utility public rate payer funds
• 1 million dollars of investments in energy efficiency
produces 21 direct & indirect jobs
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10. The Economic Case:
Community Revitalization
Reinvesting in Urban Areas/Inner Cities
• Location Efficient Mortgages
Reinvestment in Urban Infrastructure
• Transit Oriented Development
• Improving Quality and Functioning of Schools
Reinvesting in Affordable Housing
• $5 Billion in Weatherization Assistance Program
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11. The Social Case
Strengthen
Our Democracy

12. The Energy Gap
Rising Cost of Utilities (electricity, water, trash)
• Spikes from political upheavals/foreign markets
• Uncertainties of a De-regulated markets
• Depleting resources
Utilities Account for 8-9 percent of HH expenses
Low income Families pay 12-13 percent of HH expenses
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13. Greening America’s Distressed Housing: Equity
Issues
 Extensive Secondary Research
 Surveyed Member Organizations (n-157)
 Conducted Telephone and In-person Focus Groups (n=3)
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14. The Equity Problem
Defining the problem? (walk-aways, deferrals…)
Size of the problem?
What’s being done about it?
Who is in charge?
What should be done?
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15. The Equity Challenge
America’s inherited legacy problem
• Older housing (pre-1940) make up 15 percent of America’s
housing stock, representing 17.4 million units of U.S. housing
• Distressed, substandard housing accounts for two percent of
the housing stock and disproportionately comprises older
housing (n=2.2 million units)
Disproportionately affects vulnerable populations – elderly,
communities of color, older communities
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16. The Equity Challenge
The scope is bigger than weatherization
• 25 percent of the homes they encounter have distressed housing
conditions beyond the scope of WAP
• Roofing
• Electrical
• Plumbing/Water Damage
Heroic efforts of first responders
• Public resources and allocation formulas to upgrade and
weatherize distressed properties are uncoordinated and vary by
region
• an assessment of the problem is not effectively captured in WAP
data systems, census or other existing housing data bases
• 25 percent of the homes they encounter have distressed housing
conditions beyond the scope of WAP

17. Building the Case to Bridge the Equity Gap
Comprehensive Assessments
Expanded Technical Skills
Referral Protocols
Funding Sources & Regulations
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18. Thank You