Council on Environmental Quality Blog

Jumpstarting Jobs, Enhancing Education: The American Jobs Act

Communities across the country agree that providing high-quality education for our children is critical to building a strong, sustainable economic future. To keep our nation competitive, our students need an education that enables them to succeed in a global economy. Yet, the American Society of Civil Engineers currently rates the quality of our nation's public school infrastructure a "D." Similarly, the National Research Council found that ventilation rates in many schools are inadequate, and that providing sufficient fresh air will improve students' comfort and productivity. To fulfill our commitment to high-quality education, we must start by providing our children with safe and healthy schools in which they can learn.

Last night, the President proposed the American Jobs Act, which includes a $30 billion investment to do just that – putting Americans back on the job, and modernizing at least 35,000 public schools. Improvements range from emergency repair and renovation projects, enhancing school health and safety through abatement of environmental contaminants, greening and energy efficiency upgrades, and modernization efforts to build new science and computer labs and Internet-ready classrooms. As anchors for their communities at large, local school districts will also be able to invest in shared spaces ranging from school ground outdoor learning and play areas to adult vocational and job development centers. To ensure that schools in the most disrepair will be able to make necessary enhancements, 40 percent of these funds will be directed toward the 100 largest high-need public school districts. A portion of the $30 billion investment will go also toward modernizing facilities at community colleges. This investment will ensure that these local, bedrock education institutions have the facilities and equipment to address current workforce demands in today's highly technical and growing fields.

Rebuilding our Nation's schools will put hundreds of thousands of Americans – construction workers, engineers, maintenance workers, boiler repairmen and women, and electrical workers – back to work. These investments will create jobs, while improving classrooms and upgrading our schools to meet 21st century needs. See the overwhelming support the President's plan has already received from groups across the Nation:

David Terry, Executive Director, NASEO
"The National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) strongly supports expanded energy efficiency efforts in schools. We look forward to working with the White House and Congress on the implementation of this new $30 billion proposal. The State Energy Offices have been implementing energy efficiency programs in schools for decades. This infusion of capital, coupled with private sector partners such as energy services companies, could dramatically increase these critical efforts."

Randi Weingarten, American Federation of Teachers
"Congress must pass this jobs package immediately so that students will have the teachers they need and fewer rundown schools; drivers will have better roads and bridges; and Americans will have better opportunities to get and keep good jobs, and have more money in their pockets. Tonight, President Obama made clear that we can and must do better. This package will help provide good jobs that support families; public services that build communities; and resources for schools to provide students a high-quality and robust education in safe and healthy buildings. President Obama also made it clear that the path to our future is through education. We have seen a loss of 300,000 education jobs since 2008 as well as long-delayed school repairs and modernization projects."

Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO and Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council
"The President's proposal tonight will go a long way toward jump starting jobs across every sector of the building community, a sector especially hard hit by the struggling economy. Energy retrofits especially are a cornerstone to broader economic recovery in every sector, and nowhere will that be more important than in our homes, our neighborhoods and our schools. In fact, there is a long list of school infrastructure improvements ready to go and awaiting funding. Not only could this mean great things for the economy and the millions of professionals in the building industry desperate to get back to work, it means great things for the health and well being of our children."

James Dixon, Chairman, National Association of Energy Service Companies (NAESCO) and Vice President, Legal & Compliance Services at Con Edison, New York City
"The National Association of Energy Service Companies (NAESCO) supports the President's proposal to modernize public schools, because in addition to the obvious benefits to students and teachers of a vastly improved infrastructure we know from experience that modernization investment will create hundreds of thousands of jobs in the hard-hit construction industry. Over the past twenty years, NAESCO member energy service companies (ESCOs) have delivered about $15 billion of energy efficiency and renewable energy projects to public schools and community colleges and we estimate that every $1 million of project value creates about 10 direct jobs in engineering, construction and equipment manufacturing, professions that have been the hardest hit by the recession. The multiplier effect of the income created by these direct jobs provides another 10-12 indirect and induced jobs per $1 million of project value. Thus, we believe that the President's proposal to invest $30 billion in the modernization of public schools has the potential to create more than a half million jobs. 
Furthermore, this potential job creation from the federal government investment can be significantly leveraged by private investment in the energy efficiency and renewable energy aspects of school modernization projects. NAESCO member companies deliver on average $3 billion of energy efficiency projects each year to schools, colleges and local governments. The projects are financed by private investment, which is repaid from the energy savings resulting from infrastructure improvement which lower energy use. The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has estimated that K-12 schools across the country need at least $25 billion of energy efficiency improvements, which can be financed by private investment and paid for with energy and maintenance savings. The total jobs creation potential of a program that combines the federal government investment proposed by the President with the private investment that finances the energy efficiency and renewable energy infrastructure improvements will in all likelihood exceed 1 million jobs."

Kevin Surace, CEO, Serious Energy
"Improving education is a national priority that needs to be tackled with attention paid to developing the economy as a whole – including creating jobs and decreasing our overall energy consumption. There is no greater imperative, and no better place to aggressively put these initiatives in place than within our education infrastructure. The President's proposed American Jobs Act does just that. No initiative will produce more value to our schools and communities, nor provide greater energy impact to our nation. We must get serious about energy, and about delivering this energy savings in a manner that is realistic, capital efficient, and achievable in today's economic environment. Our SeriousCapital energy efficiency financing solutions break through the cost barriers that will enable our schools to fund energy efficiency projects to save money and ensure dollars are spent where they matter most – on the programs that serve our students and our teachers."

Daryl Dulaney, CEO, Siemens Industry Inc.
"There is little doubt that the President's proposal to improve the health, safety and energy efficiency of schools would have a tremendously positive impact, not only on students and their learning environments but also as an economic driver that will create well-paying, skilled jobs for thousands of Americans. The nation's 17,450 K-12 school districts spend more than $6 billion annually on energy. Fortunately, our experience has shown that via comprehensive energy efficiency improvements, virtually every school building in the United States has the potential to reduce energy consumption by as much as 30 percent. These savings will have a direct and immediate effect – both on the financial health and sustainability of our schools as well as the economic well-being of millions of Americans."

David J. Anderson, Executive Vice President, Ameresco, Inc.
"Energy smart schools with state-of-the-art technologies are a cornerstone to a quality education for all of our students and future leaders. Ameresco supports the modernization of America's educational facilities. With the proposed investments, we can restore aging infrastructure, upgrade facilities with energy efficient technology, create local jobs, significantly reduce utility costs, and provide a safe learning environment – one free of mercury, PCBs and other hazardous materials. By investing in our school districts, comprehensive energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions will help create a more environmentally friendly and sustainable future with less reliance on fossil fuels. The added benefits include lower utility costs that will allow educators to redirect those critical dollars for other important needs such as saving teachers’ jobs and funding extracurricular activities. Upgrade schools. Create more jobs. Save money. Enhance America’s educational system. Why wouldn't we invest?"

Jeff Drees, US Country President, Schneider Electric
"The President's plan to modernize public schools through energy efficiency upgrades is good for taxpayers, the school's financial budget, the local community and local job creation, and will improve our children’s learning environments. Alternative financing mechanisms such as Energy Savings Performance Contracts are the best way to accomplish this without capital investment, as energy improvements pay for themselves with the dollar savings they generate. What better way to educate our youth about energy efficiency and environmental responsibility than to lead by example in the schools they attend every day." 

Dan Domenech, Executive Director, American Association of School Administrators
"The American Jobs Act would devote $25 billion to the renovation of 35,000 schools and $30 billion to preventing the layoff of 280,000 teachers. Keeping teachers in our classrooms is essential to meeting the educational needs of our students. Creating jobs that will make much needed repairs to our schools is a win-win situation. We urge Congress to move towards the immediate passage of the American Jobs Act."

Michael P. O'Brien, President and CEO of the Window & Door Manufacturing Association
"The Window & Door Manufacturers Association has been a longtime proponent of improving the energy efficiency of our nation's existing building stock, which consumes nearly forty percent of the nation's energy. At the same time, investing in energy efficient building upgrades helps create and preserve jobs in the severely depressed building industry. The President's school modernization proposal has the potential for both a positive impact on energy efficiency and job creation at a time when both are sorely needed and WDMA applauds such efforts."

David Foster, Executive Director, BlueGreen Alliance
"We are especially pleased with the President's proposal to modernize America's schools. A green school in every community will be a living symbol of how to put America back to work, improve the health of our children and teachers, and move our economy closer to a clean energy future. School modernization creates jobs for construction workers and demand for the energy efficiency products made in America's factories."

Johnson Controls Inc.
"We are encouraged by the President's call to include the retrofitting of America's schools with energy efficiency upgrades in the proposed American Jobs Act. Those of us already engaged in retrofitting buildings see the impact on job creation every day: there are new jobs in old buildings, including our nation's schools. Most of the schools across the country were built long before energy efficiency was a concern. They are older, dated facilities and consume a great deal of energy. A school's largest operational expense is paying for energy and they are spending about 25-30% more than they should, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. That money could and should be redirected for educational purposes. The additional good news is that money spent on energy efficiency upgrades has a payback based on reduce energy and operational costs after the work is completed. As a leader in energy retrofits for public and private institutions, Johnson Controls has worked with school districts across the country to improve energy efficiency, enabling them to redirect savings for educational purposes, while at the same time putting people to work in local communities. Improving the energy efficiency of schools is one of the key investments we can make: it helps reduce energy costs, improves the school environment, creates local jobs and pays for itself."

CEQ Chair Sutley speaks to students at the U.S. Department of Education's "official tree" planting and unveiling of the Green Ribbon Schools program in April 2011.

Larry Schweiger, President and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation, sponsor of Eco-Schools USA
"The President's plan to modernize America's schools and make them cleaner and safer for students though the American Jobs Act is also an opportunity for them to be greener and more energy efficient. This will help student health and learning, support job creation and decrease the schools' environmental footprints."

Anne L. Bryant, Executive Director, The National School Boards Association (NSBA)
"In the face of massive budget shortfalls and education layoffs at school districts across the country, this new funding would provide necessary aid to America's schools. Our school children deserve a quality education and that cannot happen when their teachers are getting laid off and their school buildings are in need of repairs and upgrades that keep getting postponed due to budget cuts."

Jeffrey King, Executive Director, Clean Economy Development Center
"The President’s proposal to modernize 35,000 American schools will create family-supporting jobs and new public-private partnerships in communities all across the country. It is also a critical step toward making America's future workforce more skilled and more competitive. The Clean Economy Development Center will do its part by helping local leaders to build the public-private partnerships required to modernize our schools, create jobs and grow America's clean economy."

Bob Wise, President, Alliance for Excellent Education, and former governor of West Virginia
"The nation's schools are in need of an upgrade in order to provide students with a 21st century education. Technology is changing nearly every facet of life, and we must capitalize on the opportunities offered by technology to strengthen the nation’s schools. The President’s school modernization proposal would help schools develop the technological infrastructure to strengthen instruction and prepare our students for success in college and careers. This investment in schools today will pay large dividends in the future."

National Indian Education Association
"The NIEA supports the President's plan to invest $30 billion dollars in our public schools, community and tribal colleges. At present 63 of 183 (approximately one third) of federal schools for American Indians administered by the federal government's Bureau of Indian Affairs are in poor condition, making it unsafe and difficult for Indian children to learn. The NIEA supports this proposal because it will create jobs and economic development in rural and tribal communities where these BIA schools and tribal community colleges are located. The President's proposal is a win-win for Indians because it will create jobs and economic development and will enable our Indian students to attend safe schools."

Leilani Bell, National Student President, Future Educators Association/PDK International Family of Associations
"After hearing President Obama's speech last night, I felt inspired to continue my education and fulfill my dream of becoming a teacher. My goal is to teach in an urban school that is outfitted with cutting-edge technology like what the President described.  As a future teacher I realize the importance of not just being a quality teacher, but in having the tools and the environment that will inspire students to want to stay in school and to learn. It's encouraging to know that the President recognizes this too."

Cheryl Scott Williams, Executive Director, Learning First Alliance
"I fully support President Obama's initiative and agree that every child deserves a great school and that we have a responsibility to one another to act as one nation and one people in support of ensuring a great education for all our students. Modernizing aging school buildings and putting teachers back to work on behalf of America's students are key to making that vision a reality."

Nancy Sutley is Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality

Doing Well by Doing Good — Remembering Ray Anderson

The Federal Government is among the organizations that Ray Anderson's work has informed and inspired. President Obama's Executive Order 13514 challenges the Federal Government to lead by example, and to live up to its responsibilities as our Nation's single largest energy consumer. The people in military and civil service who are making the President's goals a reality – myself included – have Ray Anderson's example, and the examples of many others, to thank for making the path a little clearer.

Ray Anderson's vision for making the $1.1 billion global carpet tile company he founded the first sustainable company in the world set a highwater mark for corporate sustainability and gave a new generation of American business leaders a model of a social enterprise – how to do well by doing good. I know it first-hand: Ray Anderson taught me the business case for sustainability.

I grew up in LaGrange, Georgia, less than 10 miles from Interface's first carpet tile plant. I never thought I'd end up back there after grad school, but I did, and I’m very grateful it was working for him.

It was shortly after Ray had read The Ecology of Commerce, and been so inspired that he made it Interface Inc.'s mission to become a sustainable company – taking nothing, doing no harm. "Climbing Mt. Sustainability," as he called it, began with a war on waste. And waste, by the way, was defined as "any cost that [Interface] incurred that does not add value to our customer and that translates to doing everything right the first time, every time."

That was about 1995, and even then you could tour any Interface manufacturing plant, and whether you were talking to the plant manager or a second shift tufting machine operator, he or she could tell you exactly how their work connected to sustainability and quality for the customer.

Of course the war on waste was just the beginning. Ray challenged the company to redesign products to use less material and last longer, reengineer processes to use less energy and water, and create a recycling program that used old carpet to create new products instead of sending it to a landfill as trash.

But what did it do for Interface's bottom line, and for their shareholders? Ray described it this way: "Our costs are down, not up. Our products are the best they have ever been. Our people are motivated by a shared higher purpose — esprit de corps to die for. And the goodwill in the marketplace — it's just been astonishing."

As a young person who'd always been passionate about the environment but didn't know how to connect it with my profession, seeing how Ray's vision transformed a company from the inside showed me how to marry profit with purpose.

His influence, of course, didn't end with Interface. His evangelical zeal for using his company's success as a demonstration that green business is good business led him around the world as leading advocate for corporate sustainability and helped to inspire a green building movement that is creating better, more efficient places to live, work, and go to school in communities around the world. Ray Anderson may have passed on August 8 of this year, but his legacy will continue to grow.

Michelle Moore is Federal Environmental Executive at the White House Council on Environmental Quality