Clinton Initiative to Launch Green Retrofits of Schools, Commercial Buildings

CHICAGO — The Clinton Climate Initiative will work with K-12 schools and universities across the United States to improve energy efficiency in school buildings.

The organization, founded in August 2006 by former President Bill Clinton, plans to partner with the U.S. Green Building Council and the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment to establish the Green Schools Program. Under the program, K-12 and university buildings will be retrofitted to reduce their energy consumption and help achieve climate neutrality.

Additional partners in the program include the American Federation of Teachers; the Council of Educational Facilities Planners, International; the Illinois Association of School Board Members; Miami-Dade County Public Schools and several other organizations.

CCI officials also announced partnerships with the City of Chicago and GE Real Estate to reduce energy use at public and private facilities nationwide.

Under its Energy Efficiency Building Retrofit Program launched in May 2007, the initiative will collaborate with Chicago officials to implement green retrofits of Merchandise Mart, a commercial building and wholesale design center; the Sears Tower; and privately owned, multi-tenant housing in the city.

Working with the city’s Department of Housing, private building owners will be able to apply for energy performance contracts and use future energy savings to finance project implementation.

GE Real Estate, a commercial property firm with more than $72 billion of real estate in 31 countries, will partner with CCI to identify and implement retrofit projects at its properties. The firm hopes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase property efficiency and improve the health of tenants through green retrofits.