Senator John F. Kerry on Green Initiatives
 Senator John F. Kerry visited the NonProfit Center in June as the keynote speaker for the Alliance to Save Energy’s first Associates Dialogue in Boston, Mass.
The June 23, 2008, forum was hosted by the Alliance and the American Institute of Architects.
A longtime champion of energy security and environmental causes, Senator Kerry spoke about the Commercial Building Initiative (CBI), which is designed to achieve zero-energy, carbon-free new buildings by the year 2030.
The Environment, Economy and Security
“America’s oil dependence and contributions to global climate change are endangering our national security, our economy and our environment,” Senator Kerry explained.
The United States currently imports about 60 percent of the oil it consumes. This, according to Senator Kerry, makes the country far too dependent on some of the most unstable regions in the world for an energy source which is vital to the U.S. economy and way of life.
If the country stays the course with current energy policies, U.S. oil consumption will increase, not decrease over the next 20 years. However, inventing new energy technologies and reducing consumption are key to saving the earth, creating new jobs and producing a more lasting peace.
Buildings: The Problem and Solution
Buildings are a major part of the problem and solution concerning energy use and climate change. The building sector in the United States accounts for about 40 percent of total energy, 70 percent of electricity and 40 percent of carbon emissions. Therefore, according to Senator Kerry, all sectors of society have a stake in helping CBI to be successful.
CBI is working to bring together industries and all other relevant private sector parties, research institutions, government and the nonprofit sector to:
- Facilitate communication
- Provide a plan to make sure that zero-energy building technology is brought to the marketplace
- Transform the entire commercial buildings sector
According to Senator Kerry, neither government nor the for-profit sector will make this transformation happen alone. Government needs to provide the space for the private sector to develop innovative solutions. The nonprofit sector can aid in this process, providing oversight and creativity.
“A safer, more secure energy future is well within our reach,” the senator declared during his visit to the NonProfit Center.
And the country can achieve this future “by clearing the pathways to innovation, investing in our workers and infrastructure, and providing American consumers with broader, more responsible choices.”
Also Noted by Senator Kerry
- The senator shared his hope that Congress will pass a cap and trade policy for CO2 in the next year. This would be a significant step forward for the United States, creating limits and consequently incentives for CO2 producers to reduce and/or offset their emissions. For more on current voluntary CO2 trading, check out: http://www.chicagoclimatex.com
- Massachusetts can lead the way in developing innovative technologies and new fuel sources. He mentioned A123 Systems, a company in Watertown that retrofits hybrid electric vehicles with plug-in technology ‑ that effectively turns them into electric vehicles capable of getting 100 mpg or more.
The Commercial Buildings Initiative is an alliance of industry, academic and government focused on the cost-effective and widespread delivery of Zero Net Energy Commercial Buildings. Founding sponsoring organizations include the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineers; the American Institute of Architects; the United States Green Building Council; the World Business Council for Sustainable Development; Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory; and the Alliance to Save Energy. CBI’s goals are echoed and supported by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (Section 422).
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