Clinton Foundation Tackles Existing Building Retrofits

The Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI) will undertake a global project to encourage retrofitting buildings with energy-efficient technologies, former President Bill Clinton announced in May 2007. The program brings together several energy service companies and banks to help initiate and finance retrofit programs in 15 cities around the world, including Chicago, Houston, New York, and Toronto. The energy service companies have agreed to perform energy audits and building retrofits, initially focusing on commercial and municipal buildings, while the banks have agreed to arrange a total of $5 billion in financing. CCI hopes the retrofits will lead to energy savings of 20%–50% in each building. The U.S. Green Building Council and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers, among other organizations, have agreed to provide educational support for the program. More information is available at www.clintonfoundation.org.