Home Star Could Create New Era of Energy Efficiency
If you were president of the United States, how would you improve the energy efficiency of homes, cut energy bills and put more people back to work in the construction and remodeling industries?
Well, President Barack Obama already has introduced and supported such a program that would do all that and even more in terms of increasing home values. Developed by an ad hoc committee of private sector advisers, the program is called Home Star or nicknamed “Cash for Caulkers” in the same vein as the “Cash for Clunkers” program that helped boost the auto industry.
With the president’s urging, Home Star legislation is moving through the House and Senate committee process in anticipation of a congressional vote. Obama kicked off his drive for energy efficiency in his State of the Union address and gave his support for the $6 billion Home Star legislation in a March 2, 2010, speech at the Savannah Technical College in Savannah, Ga.
“You’ve seen that ‘Energy Star’ sticker on a computer or on a microwave? The Energy Star program was created to promote energy efficiency by letting consumers know which appliances, which electronics would save electricity and, therefore, would save them money over time,” Obama said. “The program I’m describing today applies this concept not to the appliances, but to the home itself — and it takes it further. So we’re going to call it ‘Home Star,’ just to make it easy to remember.”
The president further explained: “Here’s how it would work. We’d identify the kinds of building supplies and systems that would save folks energy over time. And here’s one of the best things about energy efficiency — it turns out that energy-efficient windows or insulation, those things are products that are almost exclusively manufactured right here in the United States of America.”
According to the Home Star Coalition, a nationwide broad-based group of supporters, highlights of the proposed Home Star program would include:
“Home Star will make $6 billion in rebates and financing available to homeowners for energy efficiency improvements on their homes. The program will offer rebates to homeowners at the time of sale through two tracks:
“The Silver Star level will offer rebates for the purchase and installation of energy-saving equipment, such as furnaces and water heaters, or home improvements, such as insulation and new windows. Homeowners will receive matching funds from $250 to $1,500 (not to exceed 50 percent of cost) depending on the type of project, with a cap of $3,000 on rebates.
“The Gold Star level will go a step further by providing incentives for retrofitting the entire home. First, an energy audit will be completed on the house, then, working with the homeowner, the contractor will design a customized retrofit plan and calculate the energy savings that will result from the recommended improvements. Homeowners will receive $3,000 for projected savings of 20 percent, plus $1,000 for each additional 5 percent of energy savings, with matching incentives of up to $8,000.”
Energy Exteriors has been servicing the State of Washington and Oregon for well over 10 years. For more information, visit www.energyexteriors.net .
This article has been provided courtesy of Energy Exteriors – www.energyexteriors.net, a full service company that specializes in energy efficient custom replacement vinyl windows and vinyl siding for the residential home owner.
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