Efficiency First

Downturn in construction employment presents historic opportunity to build a new clean energy economy An interactive map and memo jointly produced by the Center for American Progress and Efficiency First’s research arm, the Home Performance Resource Center, clearly illustrates the dire state of the American construction sector – a situation the memo describes as a “tool [...]

Larry Laseter, president of Efficiency First Capitol Circle member Masco Home Services, joined Barack Obama in Savannah, Ga., on Tuesday as the President delivered a speech outlining details of the proposed HOME STAR efficiency retrofit program. Here is a video released by the White House that shows a brief behind-the-scenes conversation between Larry Laseter and [...]

In a statement issued following President Obama’s March 2 address at Savannah Technical College, California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger added his voice to the growing tide of support for the proposed HOME STAR efficiency retrofit program. “I am excited about the HOME STAR program that the President detailed today,” Schwarzenegger said in his statement. “Offering incentives [...]

Senate committee hearings scheduled next week for the Home Star Act of 2010 The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources has unveiled language for proposed legislation authorizing the HOME STAR energy retrofit program, which would allocate $6 billion in federal funds to provide short-term consumer incentives for residential energy improvements. The legislation was designed [...]

Politico has posted excerpts from the speech about HOME STAR that President Obama delivered earlier today in Georgia: Here’s another compilation posted by the Associated Press:

In a speech delivered today at Savannah Technical College in Savannah, Ga., President Barack Obama made a strong case for consumer incentives targeting home energy efficiency improvements, and encouraged Congress to pass legislation authorizing the HOME STAR incentive program. The President provided details about the proposed HOME STAR efficiency retrofit incentives, which would award homeowners [...]

Bracken Hendricks and Tom Kenworthy of the Center for American Progress have published an excellent overview of the HOME STAR program that is currently taking shape in Congress, including analysis of the economic and environmental arguments in favor of stimulating consumer demand for energy retrofits: HOME STAR, sometimes called “cash for caulkers,” is a proposal [...]