Attendees of last week’s Good Jobs, Green Jobs conference learned how making the country more sustainable can boost employment.

Hundreds of people attended the 2014 Good Jobs, Green Jobs conference Feb. 10-11 in Washington, D.C., where the focus was on repairing infrastructure: energy, communications, transportation, water and buildings to keep cities safe and get people working.

There were dozens of seminars and speakers focusing on how sustainable construction practices such as green HVAC, can help the nation’s economy.

“We’re proud to once again put together the largest discussion in the country on how we can repair America’s infrastructure to create family-sustaining jobs, while ensuring our communities are safe and healthy and America lives up to its obligation to address climate change,” said David Foster, president of the BlueGreen Alliance. “Now, the leaders who joined us at this conference will be heading to their hometowns to begin the hard work of moving America forward to a cleaner, more prosperous economy.”

The alliance gave its Green Jobs Champion Award to Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) in recognition of their work to promote clean energy and the environment.

“Senator Merkley and Congressman Miller are both exemplary leaders in moving America forward to a cleaner, fairer, more efficient economy and creating good jobs for American workers,” Foster said. “We’re proud to honor them both with the Green Jobs Champion Award.”