Issue Position: Using Technology to Save Money

Problem: A significant portion of our household budgets and our governmental budgets are dedicated to rising energy costs. Without a competitive energy market, how can we cut costs and save tax dollars?

Solution: "Green" Building Standards: There are nationally recognized standards called "LEED" (Leadership in Environmental Energy and Design) that are changing the way we construct buildings. The Green Building Council has them on their website at www.usgbc.org. These standards do more than just save energy -- they save money in the long term. Using LEED standards for new construction saves thousands of dollars in energy costs. These eco-friendly technologies, which trap and store heat, will create jobs by creating a new niche in the housing market.

Using New Standards: At the state and local level in Virginia, we should implement tax breaks to encourage new residential construction which reduces energy waste. Eventually, we should seek to change behavior so that all new housing is mandated to use energy efficient standards -- just like all new construction must comply with handicap accessibility. New standards will do more than just save energy. They will also create new products for the housing industry which can lead to more jobs.

Establishing a "Cool Commonwealth": The state should lead by example -- newly constructed government buildings (from college dormitories to DMV centers) should be required to follow the LEED standards. Let's be the "Cool Commonwealth." This will not just save energy -- it will also save taxpayer dollars.

Using Technology to Create Jobs: PACE programs ("property assessed clean energy") allow local governments to loan money for energy-saving home improvements and finance the program through third party investors. These programs will upgrade homes. They also create jobs for local contractors.

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