a:26:{s:9:"weblog_id";s:1:"5";s:8:"entry_id";s:0:"";s:6:"sticky";s:0:"";s:14:"allow_comments";s:1:"n";s:16:"allow_trackbacks";s:1:"n";s:10:"entry_date";s:19:"2009-01-23 12:18 AM";s:15:"expiration_date";s:0:"";s:23:"comment_expiration_date";s:0:"";s:8:"category";a:2:{i:0;s:1:"9";i:1;s:2:"36";}s:9:"author_id";s:1:"2";s:6:"status";s:4:"open";s:14:"trackback_urls";s:0:"";s:18:"versioning_enabled";s:1:"y";s:5:"title";s:45:"Start Now on Green Jobs and Energy Efficiency";s:9:"url_title";s:45:"start_now_on_green_jobs_and_energy_efficiency";s:6:"submit";s:6:"Submit";s:11:"field_id_20";s:45:"Start Now on Green Jobs and Energy Efficiency";s:11:"field_ft_20";s:4:"none";s:11:"field_id_25";s:0:"";s:11:"field_id_45";s:108:"There\'s no better time than now to start educating our municipal leaders about the benefits of going green.";s:11:"field_ft_45";s:4:"none";s:11:"field_id_22";s:24:"green, education, reilly";s:11:"field_ft_22";s:4:"none";s:11:"field_id_23";s:3509:"<p><em>By Richard Reilly</em></p>
<p>There\'s no better time than now to start educating our municipal leaders about the benefits of going green.<br /> <br /> President-elect Barack Obama\'s inauguration will mean changes in the
distribution of federal funds to states, metropolitan regions and
cities. The state of the economy requires new initiatives for job
creation amid reduced tax revenue for all government agencies. The
answers are green jobs and energy savings.<br /> <br /> Our regional political leadership must be prepared to make educated
decisions that will bring green jobs to the entire spectrum of the work
force, as well as ensuring that government buildings operate at the
highest possible levels of energy efficiency.</p>
<p>These opportunities and responsibilities are both bottom-up and
top-down. To make real progress and be accountable, all levels of the
community must be involved.
<br /> Grass-roots groups such as Missouri Votes Conservation are
working in a nonpartisan way as advocates for pro-environmental
legislation on a statewide basis. The St. Louis chapter of Architecture
for Humanity is beginning to work with North &amp; South County Tech to
design and build a green curriculum.<br /> <br /> The St. Louis Regional Chamber &amp; Growth Association is in the draft
stages of \"The St Louis Climate Prosperity Project,\" which includes its
support for businesses, organizations and cities to become more energy
efficient and for the cultivation of a green-minded work force to make
sure the St. Louis area is nationally recognized as a \"Top Ten Green
Region.\" <br /> <br /> This can happen only with broad support at the municipal, regional and
state levels for higher energy performance standards for all buildings,
including new and renovated government facilities. If we do not begin
to take these initiatives now, we will be following the herd again,
instead of leading it.<br /> <br /> We also should pay close attention to the \"voice on the street,\" where
our existing, wasteful energy practices hit families, individuals and
businesses hard in the form of higher utility bills. <br /> <br /> It doesn\'t have to be this way. People living in Habitat for Humanity
St. Louis 2008 homes &mdash; homes built with careful attention to energy
efficiency &mdash; are spending 40 percent to 60 percent less on their
utility bills than people in comparable housing units that lack
improved energy efficiency.<br /> <br /> The St. Louis chapter of the United States Green Building Council is
going to begin working with the East-West Gateway Council of
Governments to organize and present a series of seminars for mayors,
city managers and county executives on the basics of energy efficiency
programs and retrofits, including Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design programs for schools, neighborhood development and
existing buildings.<br /> <br /> Let\'s encourage these organizations to provide an excellent and
flexible program that will allow as many political decision-makers as
possible to attend. And let\'s encourage our municipal leaders to attend
as many sessions as possible so they will be prepared to make informed
decisions in the very near future on the environment, the bottom line
of their municipal budgets and the long-term health of our region.<br /> <em><br />Richard Reilly is the chief operating officer
of Boa Construction Company in St. Louis County and has been in the
construction industry for more than 25 years.</em> <br /> <br /></p>";s:10:"category_0";s:1:"9";s:10:"category_1";s:2:"36";}