The investment hedge no one talks about
Why I am doubling down on…
Congress just pulled the plug on clean energy tax credits. But here’s the truth: that move won’t lower your bills or solve America’s energy problem. After 20 years as an engineer designing and optimizing buildings across the globe, I can tell you the crisis runs deeper.
The real problem isn’t solar panels or coal—it’s our dying infrastructure. The U.S. is leaning on a power grid and building stock designed decades ago, never intended to handle today’s demand, climate extremes, or economic pressures.
And while politics grab headlines, energy costs keep creeping higher, outpacing inflation and quietly eating into both household budgets and investment returns. The question isn’t whether to care about efficiency—it’s whether you can afford not to.
Why I’m Doubling Down on Efficiency
In this issue, we’ll look at:
Why cutting tax credits won’t fix our broken energy system
How outdated infrastructure—not fuel choice—is driving up costs
Why efficiency is the only hedge investors truly control
Why Cutting Tax Credits Won’t Fix Our Broken Energy System
Eliminating clean energy credits doesn’t stabilize the market—it exposes it. These credits were designed to reduce the risk of transitioning to smarter, cheaper systems. Without them, the U.S. doubles down on old infrastructure that’s already failing.
Even more troubling is the hypocrisy: subsidies for renewables were cut in the name of “saving money,” while fossil fuels continue to receive far greater support.
In 2022, the U.S. provided $757 billion in subsidies for coal, oil, and gas—more than double what renewables received . Globally, the imbalance is even worse, with fossil fuels raking in $7 trillion in subsidies .
Subsidies exist to foster innovation, stabilize markets, and strengthen national competitiveness. By slashing renewable credits while protecting fossil fuels, we’re mortgaging our future strength.
Decades from now, the winners will be the nations that invested in cleaner, smarter, more resilient systems—not the ones that propped up outdated industries.
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How Outdated Infrastructure, Not Fuel Choice, Is Driving Up Costs
I’ve spent two decades inside mechanical rooms, rooftops, and construction sites, and I can tell you where the money leaks: ductwork that bleeds conditioned air, ancient HVAC systems, poorly insulated walls, and leaky windows.
That’s the overlooked reality. We don’t just have an energy supply problem—we have an energy waste problem. A grid under strain plus inefficient buildings and increasing weather strain equals higher costs for everyone, regardless of whether the electrons come from gas, coal, or solar.
Electricity prices are rising at more than twice the rate of inflation. Just five years ago, in 2020, average U.S. power prices were only 13.15 cents per kilowatt-hour — 23% lower than they are today. In 2025 alone, electricity prices have risen 10% (most real estate investments assume a 3% cost escalation. Are you seeing the problem?)
There is a trend to blame these increases on the large amounts of clean energy hitting the grid, but that is incorrect. Solar, wind, and batteries are the cheapest form of power, and a 2024 report from research group Energy Innovation found no correlation between renewable energy adoption and utility rate increases.
Why Efficiency Is the Only Hedge You Truly Control
You can’t and I can’t control Washington politics or the global oil market. But you can control how much energy your buildings consume.
Efficiency is the ultimate hedge because it reduces exposure to everything else—aging grids, fuel volatility, and regulatory shifts. It’s about designing systems that waste less, last longer, and keep you and others comfortable at predictable costs.
Every kilowatt-hour saved cushions your bottom line. Every building you upgrade reduces tenant turnover and protects asset value. And unlike tax incentives or subsidies, no one can repeal the ROI from efficiency.
Final Thoughts
Our country doesn’t just need new energy sources—it needs a smarter, more resilient infrastructure. And that starts with the decisions we make today about efficiency.
After 20 years of engineering high-performance buildings, I’ve seen firsthand the difference between projects that prepare for the future and those that cling to the past. One thrives. The other pays more, every single year.
That’s why I’m doubling down on efficiency—and why you should too.
Returns, seen. Impact, felt.
P.S. Want to learn how efficiency can safeguard your own residence or investment property against rising costs? Let’s Talk.
Cheers,
Jon