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 introduced by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Tuesday.
The Home Star program is expected to create as many as 168,000 American construction jobs over the next two years by offering rebates to homeowners who make energy efficiency home improvements.
“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,” said Alliance President Kateri Callahan.
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 [Tuesday], Home Star is a creative solution to the energy and economic problems facing our country."
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