Energy-efficient buildings are performing well and creating more jobs, new reports find

As energy prices continue to increase, keeping costs down is top of mind when buying or renting commercial space.

A new survey from the National Association of Realtors found that businesses are focused on energy efficiency when purchasing or leasing commercial property. The responses came from over 2,000 realtors, more than half of whom reported that promoting a building’s energy efficiency is valuable when listing it. Similarly, a third of realtors said green building certifications increased commercial property value.

While 70% of respondents said clients found utility and operations costs to be important considerations, only 27% said clients were focused on renewable energy systems such as solar and geothermal. Even still, 35% of realtors said it was important to understand how solar panels impact a real-estate transaction. Behind-the-meter solar infrastructure that directly powers buildings can lower utility bills, as can net metering, and proper insulation prevents heat or cooling loss.

In a recent House hearing on energy efficiency, hearing witness Kara Saul Rinaldi, chief policy officer of the Building Performance Association, said that energy efficiency can guarantee building longevity and support the grid.

“Energy efficiency in buildings and appliances lowers costs for families and businesses,” Rinaldi said during the hearing. “Advancing energy efficiency across the US reduces demand on our energy system.”

Beyond lowering energy bills and aiding the grid, a new report from the Building Performance Association also found rising employment as a result of green building construction and upgrading existing structures. The energy-efficiency industry is “creating more jobs than any other energy sector” and the number of energy-efficiency jobs has “nearly doubled since 2021.” What’s more, energy efficiency is the “largest energy sector” in most states.

Although the sector continues to throw points on the board, an energy-efficiency home improvement tax credit created by the Inflation Reduction Act is about to be phased out as part of Trump’s so-called One Big Beautiful Bill. But an executive from an energy-efficient home appliance company told Tech Brew that higher energy prices will make energy-saving devices more attractive, even without the tax credits.

“A variety of actions that the administration is taking are expected to drive up prices in ways that have the potential to be pretty significant,” Michael Rigney, CEO of smart heat pump company Cala Systems, told Tech Brew over the summer. “That’s going to make the savings even bigger. We think that’s a surprising positive.”