A report recently released by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and co-sponsored by the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA) and other leading energy, housing and real estate organizations, documents all the existing legal authorities that federal agencies have to spur the use of energy efficiency in the country's multifamily and commercial buildings.

"Using Executive Authority to Achieve Greener Buildings: A Guide for Policymakers to Enhance Sustainability and Efficiency in Multifamily Housing and Commercial Buildings" concludes that under current executive authority, the Obama Administration has the ability to use more than 30 existing federal programs worth $72 billion to enhance efficiency in commercial buildings and multifamily housing, with no new legislation.

This new report unveils an even larger opportunity for the Obama Administration to increase the nation's energy efficiency, while creating thousands of jobs and saving taxpayers money.

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