Washington, D.C., April 15, 2010 – The Alliance to Save Energy applauded the House Energy and Commerce Committee's passage today of the Home Star Energy Retrofits Act, a bill that would provide on-the-spot rebates for homeowners who make energy efficiency home improvements. Importantly, the Alliance said, the program would not only ease the up-front costs for these money-saving home improvements, it also would create jobs to lift the flagging construction industry.
The bill is co-sponsored by Reps. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Alliance honorary vice-chair Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Dennis Cardoza (D-Calif.) and Vern Ehlers (R-Mich.). The committee approved the bill by a vote of 30-17.
"The Alliance hails the committee's approval of a bipartisan bill that is not only a win for thousands of construction workers struggling to make a livelihood but also for millions of Americans struggling to make ends meet," 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, one for such specific improvements and one for whole-home energy-use reductions. The first category of rebates would be for up to $3,000 per home, the second for up to $8,000.