BPA Board Member Leticia Colon de Mejias Testifies Before Congress

The CEO of Energy Efficiency Solutions and Policy Co-Chair of the Building Performance Association, Leticia Colon de Mejias, testified before the U.S. House of Representatives, Select Committee on the Climate Crisis. The testimony, Making the Case for Climate Action: Creating New Jobs and Catalyzing Economic Growth, focused on the opportunities and benefits of climate action through sensible and expanded investments in energy efficiency for homes and buildings.

Highlights of her testimony included the following:

• “Through energy efficiency retrofits we can address the climate crisis while we prioritize basic needs including safe, affordable, energy efficient, resilient shelter for all Americans. An affordable, clean energy future should be built on a foundation of energy efficiency.”
• “As we rebuild our nation’s energy grid to implement the best possible solutions with the least possible harm to our society, it is critical that we invest in expanded energy efficiency for homes and buildings.”
• “Investing in the nation’s energy efficiency and building retrofit workforce will not only protect and create many jobs, but it will also help American families save money on utility bills and make their homes safer and more comfortable, while supporting a sustainable energy future for the country.”
• “Energy efficiency jobs are inherently local and cannot be outsourced, since upgrading our nation’s building stock requires ‘boots on the ground.’”

Leticia is the recipient of the United States of America’s Department of Energy award for work with at risk and minority populations, National Tony Woods Award Building Scientist of the year award, Minority Small Business of the year award, and a two-time Capital Workforce Partners Employer of the Year award. Her companies have provided energy efficiency assessments and upgrades to over 12,000 Connecticut households and completed full energy efficiency retrofits in over 10 million square feet of multifamily housing. Through her nonprofit Green Eco Warriors, she has provided climate change and energy education to over 30,000 youth and families.

As she concluded in her testimony, the building sector is one of the largest contributors to our carbon emissions, and it is also a key part of the solution. The time for action is now.

You can watch her full testimony here.