HOME STAR in the News
The New York Times has published an article and related blog post about HOME STAR, a proposed federal program that would provide direct incentives to American homeowners who invest in improving the energy efficiency of their homes. If enacted, the HOME STAR program will have a profound positive impact on our industry, and address America’s urgent need for job creation in the troubled construction and manufacturing sectors.
The basic structure of the HOME STAR program was developed by an ad hoc committee of private sector advisors, with strong participation by members and officers of Efficiency First. Venture capitalist John Doerr presented the program at a Nov. 2 meeting of President’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board (PERAB), and the plan is now under consideration by the White House.
As outlined in the Times, HOME STAR would reimburse homeowners for a range of residential energy upgrades including air sealing, insulation, new light bulbs and household appliances. Homeowners would be eligible to receive up to $2,000 for implementing at least two upgrades from a list of qualifying measures, or up to $3,500 for at least four qualifying measures. Higher incentives would be available to homeowners who achieve energy savings of at least 20 percent. Projects that reduce energy consumption by 20 percent would be eligible for up to $4,000 in incentives, plus $1,500 for every additional 5 percent reduction in energy consumption. The Times also notes that all HOME STAR incentives would be capped at 50 percent of project costs, and a percentage of projects would be audited to ensure that the improvements perform as expected. The plan is projected to cost $23 billion over two years.
The HOME STAR program leverages private investment to enable a robust national market for home energy retrofits that would put hundreds of thousands of unemployed Americans back to work. The program also would stimulate demand for building materials produced by American factories.
HOME STAR is compatible with the Retrofit for Energy and Environmental Performance (REEP) legislation now pending on Capitol Hill and the Recovery Through Retrofit recommendations developed by the Obama administration’s Middle Class Task Force. The program also dovetails with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding for worker retraining.
As one of the driving forces behind this important proposal, Efficiency First continues to push for smart national energy policies that will drive growth in the Home Performance market and help the United States achieve its urgent economic and climate goals.
Read about HOME STAR in the New York Times:
- A Stimulus That Could Save Money
David Leonhardt, The New York Times (Nov. 18) - “Cash for Caulkers:” The Details
David Leonhardt, The New York Times Economix Blog (Nov. 17)
More media reactions:
- Cash for Caulkers
Ezra Klein, The Washington Post
- Cash for Caulkers: The President is Mulling Home Energy Efficiency
Michael Kanellos, Greentech Media
- Cash for Caulking?
Matt Hickman, Mother Nature Network
- “Cash for Caulkers” Could Deliver $23B for Home Energy Efficiency
Justin Moresco, earth2tech
- Cash for Clunkers? Nope—Cash for Caulkers
Sabrina Shankman, ProPublica - Obama Admin looking to Cash for Caulkers?
Get Energy Smart! NOW! - Some Thoughts on Cash for Caulkers
Matthew E. Kahn, Environmental and Urban Economics
Copyright © 2009 Efficiency First ·
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During the era of our last environmental president, Jimmy Carter, we had CETA, Comprehensive employment training act.
One of the CETA programs was home weatherization, where an unemployed person could work for a bit more than minimum wage insulating houses of low income folks.
It was a very productive use of government money, which has paid off many times over in the last 30 years of reduced energy consumption. I am proud to have insulated and weatherized 20 Oregon houses as part of that program.