Schneider Electric drives digital transformation by integrating world-leading process and energy technologies, enabling integrated company management for homes, buildings, data centers, infrastructure, and industries. In early October, Boston University and the company jointly announced the results of a first-of-its-kind study. According to the study, more than two million new jobs and up to 141 million additional job years can be created in Europe and the United States by adopting clean energy technologies in new and retrofitted buildings.

The results come from a research collaboration between the Boston University Institute for Global Sustainability and the Schneider Electric Sustainability Research Institute. The open-access paper, "Building a Green Future: Examining the Job Creation Potential of Electricity, Heating, and Storage in Low-Carbon Buildings," is the first to estimate job creation in low-carbon "buildings of the future" at such a granular level. Taking a micro-scale view, the study estimates the global employment outcomes for low-carbon building archetypes spanning residential, hospital, hotel, office, retail, and education in regions of North America, Europe, and Asia.

The data focused specifically on the potential around deploying rooftop solar panels, heat pumps, and energy storage batteries for self-produced, or prosumer, renewable energy. These low-carbon technologies-all of which are readily available today-support the electrification and digitalization of the buildings sector, which is critical to reducing greenhouse gas emissions on a global scale. The study's job estimates will be fully realized over time in alignment with global net-zero goals targeting 2050, making this a reasonable timeline for 100% renovation of eligible buildings, according to the study's authors.

Using heat pumps for large buildings and battery storage in regions and building types with surplus solar energy offer the greatest job creation potential, the study says. The study's key findings include an estimate of job creation potential based on region and building type. "Job creation potential depends on both the region and type of building. For residential buildings, approximately 0.05 jobs can be created per building. For commercial buildings, it ranges between 0.3 and 4.7 jobs each. Due to the number of combined residential and commercial buildings, the job creation potential surpasses millions," according to the study.

The U.S. can expect significant job creation as a result of investing in low-carbon buildings, according to the findings. The study estimated the potential for 182,000 new jobs to be created in the West, "while the Midwest is projected to see an increase of 18,900 jobs. In the Northeast, 123,000 jobs are anticipated, and the South and Southeast regions are poised for substantial growth, with an estimated 319,000 jobs."
"These findings can drive significant benefits in the near term, making the detailed estimations useful for informing companies, communities, and governments seeking to engage in building projects," according to Schneider Electric officials. "For policymakers, understanding the potential that the transition to net-zero living can have on creating jobs could potentially incentivize skeptics to favor a green energy shift. For business decision makers, job estimates can improve forecasts around scope, investment, lifecycle management, and impact for building projects."

In September 2023, the company was included in the Fortune 2023 "Change the World" list. This is a ranking of the top companies in the world making positive social or environmental impact through activities integral to their core business strategy and operations. The inclusion marks the fourth time Schneider Electric has featured on this prestigious annual list.

Schneider Electric U.S. became a Hacienda tenant in 2013. The U.S. division has 25 manufacturing facilities across the nation and more than 19,000 employees. Its global parent, Schneider Electric, is headquartered in Rueil-Malmaison, France.

For more information about Schneider Electric U.S., please visit www.se.com/us.

Photo by Jeroen van de Water on Unsplash