If you are in real estate, you already know new building and housing starts are down. Now, the AIA has put some numbers around it. A new report shows that construction spending is down 27 percent since 2008, a loss of $300 billion in economic activity. Leanne Tobias at Greenbiz writes:

"As reported in a new study by the American Institute of Architects, construction spending in the U.S. has declined by 27 percent since 2008, an economic loss of close to $300 billion. (An additional $470 billion in construction-related spending also has been lost.) Private construction projects have been particularly hard hit, declining by more than a third, while public construction is down roughly 10 percent.

“Energy efficiency measures should be the first thing on the mind of each and every clean-energy advocate,” according to Clean Edge’s Clean Tech Job Trends 2010.

Market research organization, Clean Edge, highlights in its report Clean Tech Job Trends 2010 that within the Clean Tech space Energy Efficiency ought to be at the top of everyone’s list.  Why? First, less is more – consuming less energy means generating less energy.  And second, investments in energy efficiency have superior job creation potential.

On October 29th, 2009, from the beautiful campus of the University of California, Santa Barbara, Kevin Surace, Chairman & CEO of Serious Energy, gave an important and rivoting talk on The Green Economy and how it's key for the future of America. It was part of UCSB's Fall 2009 Distinguished Lecture Series: "The Tomorrow Makers" Change & Challenge for Entrepreneurs & Innovators. You can watch the presentation here.

Serious Materials recognized for its innovation and actions that are helping our country during this challenging time, including creating Green Jobs with New Mission of Producing Energy-Efficient Windows.

This week at Fortune's Brainstorm: Green conference, our CEO Kevin Surace joins Van Jones, recently appointed as Special Advisor for Green Jobs of the CEQ; Phil Angelides, Chairman of Apollo Alliance; and Andy Serwer to discuss the hype or reality around 'green jobs'. Marc Gunther sparked an interesting debate around this last week, and further conversation, this weekend about the topic, particularly in light of the EPA's announcement of its positioning around greenhouse gases as a public health threat. Kevin comments at length on Mark's post, but simply, this brief out-take of his commment explains what we are experiencing:

It's amazing that when Vice President Biden has so many places he could visit to highlight the use of ARRA funds in creating our future economy, he picks Serious Materials.

Vice President Joe Biden sees immediate green job creation with energy-saving building materials. Serious Energy Chicago, formerly Republic Windows and Doors, reopened this year thanks to increased demand for energy-saving building products.

We are honored that President Obama featured Serious Energy, nee Serious Materials, at an event and press conference on clean energy innovation and investment. Paul Holland, Serious Energy Board Member, investor, and Partner of Foundation Capital, was invited to represent our company at The White House. Watch the press conference below, view The White House blog post here. President Obama cites last week's SeriousWindows factory reopening in Vandergrift, Pennsylvania as an example of the Recovery Act creating new jobs.

Well. Certainly something like this doesn't happen every day. We were inspired and encouraged by a White House press release issued today. Vice President Joe Biden commended Serious Materials for working to re-open the recently shuttered Republic Windows and Doors plant outside of Chicago, Illinois and retraining and rehiring their workers.

We’ve been especially excited about retraining and rehiring employees who used to work at factories across the US that had been shut down. Being able to put good people, with families that are counting on them, back to work in this economy is a great feeling.

On March 16, 2009, Serious Energy, nee Serious Materials re-opened former Kensington Windows manufacturing plant in the small town of Vandergrift, PA with a Green Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. Joined by approximately 200 guests from near and far including Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell, customers, policy-makers, green building industry partners, the local community, and members of the media, the event celebrated and highlighted our collective efforts to create green American jobs and economic sustainable growth. It was indeed a heartfelt celebration for all in attendance, particularly for the 25+ former Kensington employees themselves who are now re-hired and manufacturing SeriousWindows.

The community truly banded together in this celebration. Local florists contributed living color to the stage, while proud business owners decorated neighboring downtowns with green balloons.  It was an incredible, real-time tribute to the commitment of job creation in sustainable industries that not only paves the path towards an energy-efficient world that protects our environment, but also ignites our U.S. economy. Feel the spirit, and yes, see the ribbon cutting, here.

Governor of Pennsylvania Edward Rendell joined us to cut the green ribbon as we celebrated the official opening of our SeriousWindows manufacturing plant, and the re-hiring of a growing number of former employees of the ex-Kensington Windows plant. Governor Rendell enthusiastically addressed the 200+ guests saying, "About six months ago, the doors to this factory closed and more than 150people lost their jobs, but today, we're taking the first step to put many of those workers back on the job," said Governor Rendell. "This is a great example of the 0pportunities we have to create a green economy where workers manufacture products that reduce our energy dependence, encourage conservation, save consumers money, and strengthen our national security."

We greatly appreciate Governor Rendell's participation and his continued, mutual efforts in actively creating opportunities for and supporting businesses that create sustainable, green jobs, products, and growth.

The impact of green job creation could not have been better communicated nor understood than the words and emotion of Robin Scott - one of our new employees at Serious Materials out of Vandergrift, Pennsylvania. A husband and father of two, Robin Scott was one of 150 workers laid off from his position as a glass department technician when Kensington Windows filed bankruptcy in 2008. On March 16, 2009, Robin participated in our Green Ribbon Cutting Ceremony as he shared his story with the our guests, partners, and customers.

The people of Vandergrift, Pennsylvania, surrounding communities, the green building industry, and government members, were absolutely inspired on March 16, 2009, and so are we.

Today we announced Serious Energy's, nee Serious Materials', acquisition of assets of former Kensington Windows. Kensington Windows, based in Vandergrift, Pennsylvania, produced vinyl replacement windows and doors for many years. We are working fast to install new equipment to make super-insulating windows and commercial glass and to continue to create more green collar jobs. The US economy needs a boost, and creating new jobs to make products targeted at saving energy can help get the country back on track while saving the environment.