Economic recovery must include policies focused on building construction: That's the message building industry representatives recently sent in a letter to Congressional leaders.
The building design and construction industries are responsible for nearly 10 percent of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product and employ more than 7 million Americans. One million of those jobs have disappeared in the past two years, according to the Architecture Billings Index, which is published monthly by the American Institute of Architects.
The letter, sent to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and House Minority Leader John Boehner, represents 28 building industry organizations and the National Institute of Building Sciences. The organizations foresee that federal investment in our nation's buildings will invigorate the building design and construction industries and put Americans back to work almost immediately. The letter urges Congress to support programs that will renovate federal buildings, modernize schools and create more affordable housing.
The industry organizations promote a national economic stimulus program that will set up measurements and standards of performance to prioritize how projects are identified and funded. The organizations recommend looking at long-term benefits as well as immediate economic impact; considering high performance buildings that are designed for sustainability, energy efficiency, safety, security, resiliency, productivity, and functionality; and building with the needs of future generations-those living 40 to 80 years from now-in mind.
To read the letter and view a complete list of the 28 building industry organizations, visit http://enews.nibs.org/economicstimulusletter.html.
About the Institute
The National Institute of Building Sciences, authorized by public law 93-383 in 1974, is a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization that brings together representatives of government, the professions, industry, labor, and consumer interests to identify and resolve building process and facility performance problems. The Institute serves as an authoritative source of advice for both the private and public sectors with respect to the use of building science and technology. Go to www.nibs.org to learn more.