Washington, D.C., July 27, 2010 – The Alliance to Save Energy expressed its support for inclusion of the Home Star Energy Retrofits Act in the Clean Energy Jobs and Oil Spill Accountability Act sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and expected to be introduced later today. The Home Star program, which would create as many as 168,000 American construction jobs over the next two years, offers rebates to homeowners who make energy efficiency home improvements.
“Including Home Star in the Senate energy bill underscores the widespread benefits that energy efficiency offers to U.S. households and to the nation as a whole,” said Alliance President Kateri Callahan.
“With the American construction industry experiencing record unemployment in recent years, it’s time for Congress to deliver a program that will not only create thousands of jobs but also will help thousands of Americans invest in home energy efficiency, thus helping to lay the foundation for a clean energy economy,” she added.
Home Star would provide rebates to homeowners who retrofit their homes with energy-efficient equipment and materials, including insulation, windows and heating and cooling equipment. The legislation would create two rebate programs: Silver Star for those specific improvements, would offer rebates of up to $3,000 per home; Gold Star would offer up to $8,000 per home for whole-house reductions in energy use.
Callahan continued: “While we are disappointed at the limited scope of the overall bill introduced today, Home Star is a creative solution to the energy and economic problems facing our country. It provides needed financial resources to help make it possible for Americans to invest in energy efficiency upgrades so they can realize substantial energy and money savings, improve the comfort of their homes and reduce the amount of pollution that their homes produce. In addition, the work generated by the demand for such home improvements will create up to 168,000 new jobs.
“We call on Congress to pass this provision promptly and set in motion a tidal wave of American energy efficiency investment that will have a positive and immediate impact on our economy.”
The Alliance to Save Energy is a coalition of prominent business, government, environmental, and consumer leaders who promote the efficient and clean use of energy worldwide to benefit consumers, the environment, economy, and national security.
For further information:
Ronnie Kweller: 202-530-2203
Craig Schattner : (202) 530-4346