Homestar Energy Efficiency Retrofit Program
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Update from the White House...
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press
Secretary
_______________________________________________________________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 2, 2010
FACT SHEET: HOMESTAR
ENERGY EFFICIENCY RETROFIT PROGRAM
WASHINGTON--In his State of the Union address, the President
called on Congress to pass a program of incentives for homeowners who make
energy efficiency investments in their homes. Today, while touring a training
facility at Savannah Technical College, the President outlined more details of
a new "HOMESTAR" program that would help create jobs by encouraging
American families to invest in energy saving home improvements. Consistent with
the President's call for a HOMESTAR program, the Senate Democratic leadership
included a proposal of this kind as part of their Jobs Agenda released on February 4, 2010. The
President looks forward to continuing to work with Members of Congress,
business, environmental and labor leaders to enact a HOMESTAR program into law.
Background on the HOMESTAR program
With unemployment in the construction sector near 25% and with
substantial underutilized capacity in our manufacturing sector, the HOMESTAR
program has the potential to jumpstart our economic recovery by boosting demand
for energy efficiency products and installation services. For middle-class
families, this program will help them save hundreds of dollars a year in energy
costs while improving the comfort and value of their most important investment
- their homes. In addition, the program would help reduce our economy's
dependence on oil and support the development of an energy efficiency services
sector in our economy. Key components of the HOMESTAR Program include:
- Rebates delivered directly to
consumers: Like
the Cash for Clunkers program, consumers would be eligible for direct
HOMESTAR rebates at the point of sale for a variety of energy-saving
investments in their homes. A broad array of vendors, from small
independent building material dealers, large national home improvement
chains, energy efficiency installation professionals and utility energy
efficiency programs (including rural utilities) would market the rebates,
provide them directly to consumers and then be reimbursed by the federal
government.
- $1,000 - $1,500 Silver Star
Rebates:
Consumers looking to have simple upgrades performed in their homes would
be eligible for 50% rebates up to $1,000 - $1,500 for doing any of a
straightforward set of upgrades, including: insulation, duct sealing,
water heaters, HVAC units, windows, roofing and doors. Under Silver Star,
consumers can chose a combination of upgrades for rebates up to a maximum
of $3,000 per home. Rebates would be limited to the most energy efficient
categories of upgrades-focusing on products made primarily in the United
States and installed by certified contractors.
- $3000 Gold Star Rebates: Consumers interested in more
comprehensive energy retrofits would be eligible for a $3,000 rebate for a
whole home energy audit and subsequent retrofit tailored to achieve a 20%
energy savings in their homes. Consumers could receive additional rebate
amounts for energy savings in excess of 20%. Gold Star would build on
existing whole home retrofit programs, like EPA's successful Home Performance
with Energy Star program.
- Oversight to Ensure Quality
Installations:
The program would require that contractors be certified to perform
efficiency installations. Independent quality assurance providers would
conduct field audits after work is completed to ensure proper installation
so consumers receive energy savings from their upgrades. States would
oversee the implementation of quality assurance to ensure that the program
was moving the industry toward more robust standards and comprehensive energy
retrofit practices.
- Support for financing: The program would include
support to State and local governments to provide financing options for
consumers seeking to make efficiency investments in their homes. This will
help ensure that consumers can afford to make these investments.
The program will result in the creation of tens
of thousands of jobs while achieving substantial reductions in energy use - the
equivalent of the entire output of three coal-fired power plants each year.
Consumers in the program are anticipated to save between $200 - $500 per year
in energy costs, while improving the comfort and value of their homes.