HOME STAR Update
Greg Thomas, CEO of Performance Systems Development, and other members of Efficiency First are working with key Senators and staff in the final push for passage of the Home Star legislation. The bill passed the House of Representatives on May 5 with a bipartisan vote of 246 – 161. The measure now in the Senate, S. 3177, the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act of 2010 is said to have strong support.
HOME STAR, also known as "Cash for Caulkers", is a fast-acting stimulus program designed to boost demand for energy efficiency products and installation services. This short-term program will create an estimated 168,000 jobs in construction and skilled manufacturing to accomplish more than 3 million home retrofits. By building on state programs and existing industry capacity for the retrofits themselves as well as quality assurance, the program will be fast‐acting, in addition to increasing consumer awareness of residential energy efficiency. The bill provides $6 billion dollars of incentives, coupled with private investment, to generate an estimated three million home retrofits and tens of thousands of jobs.
Want to learn more? The National Save Energy Coalition, Efficiency First, RESNET, and BPI have created a webinar that explains in detail what HOME STAR means for you.
Rebate Programs
$1000‐$1500 Silver Star rebates. Consumers can receive between $1000 and $1500 for each retrofit, with a benefit not exceeding $3,000 or at least 50% of total project costs (whichever is less). Eligible measures include insulation, duct sealing, water heaters, HVAC units, windows, and doors. Rebates will be targeted to the most energy efficient categories of upgrades, focusing on products primarily made in the United States. All retrofits must be installed by a certified contractor.
$3000 Gold Star rebates. Consumers interested in whole home retrofits would be eligible for up to $3000 for a comprehensive energy audit and retrofits tailored to achieve a 20% energy savings in the home. Consumers can receive additional incentives for energy savings higher than 20%. The Gold Star rebate program would build on existing whole home retrofit programs, such as EPA’s Home Performance with Energy Star program and the Department of Energy’s building programs.
Direct Rebates. For eligible measures, consumers are eligible for direct rebates at the point of sale. Small independent building material dealers, large national home improvement chains, merchants across the country, energy efficiency installation professionals and utility energy efficiency programs (including rural utilities) can provide the rebates directly to the consumers and be reimbursed by the federal government.
Quality Assurance
Contractor certification. Contractors are required to be certified to install the retrofits.
PSD can help you prepare for HOME STAR with first-class [BPI Certification.] courses.
Independent quality assurance providers are responsible for field audits after job completion in order to ensure proper installation and measurable energy savings for consumers. States oversee the quality assurance implementation.
Financing support. Funding is included in the proposal to support State and local financing programs.
