Washington, D.C. — The 1,000+ member Home Star Coalition commended U.S. Representatives Ed Markey (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Vern Ehlers (R-MI) and Dennis Cardoza (D-CA) for introducing the bipartisan “Home Star Energy Retrofit Act of 2010” today. Home Star would create jobs fast by scaling the existing home energy efficiency improvement industry. Bipartisan Home Star legislation was introduced in the Senate on March 25.
“Home Star is a win-win-win: it will put our nation's skilled construction force back to work, benefit homeowners through comfort and energy efficient improvements to their existing homes, and result in long-term energy and environmental gains. I urge Congress to act quickly to commence this program,” said WellHome President Larry Laseter, who spoke on behalf of the Home Star Coalition at a Capitol Hill press conference held to introduce the House bill.
“On behalf of more than 1,000 small and medium sized contactor businesses across the U.S., Efficiency First applauds the introduction of the Home Star bill in the U.S. House of Representatives,” said Matt Golden, Chair of the nonprofit Efficiency First and founder of the sustainable home-retrofit business, Recurve. “Efficiency First urges Congress to move swiftly to enact Home Star so our members, home energy-efficiency contactors, can get down to business creating jobs and saving energy.”
Home Star is a market-driven, low-bureaucracy program that would create jobs fast by scaling the existing home energy efficiency improvement industry. Home Star would use incentives to spur more Americans to start making their homes more energy efficient. It would establish a $6 billion rebate program to encourage immediate investment in energy-efficient appliances, building mechanical systems and insulation, and whole-home energy efficiency retrofits. Consumers nationwide would embrace Home Star because it will be simple, accessible and help them save money.
“Home Star is an essential step to help Americans save on their energy bills while spurring the creation of good jobs and new industries that drive economic recovery and help our country achieve energy independence,” said Kevin Pranis, Director of Home Performance of Change to Win.
“Lowe’s supports Home Star because it’s the right thing to do for our customers, the economy and the environment. In the near term, Home Star will get America’s contractors back to work and help homeowners reinvest in their homes; in the long term, Home Star will help homeowners save money by improving their homes’ energy efficiency,” said Michael D. Chenard, Director, Environmental Affairs, Lowe’s.
Home Star would help to kick-start the comeback of our country’s hard-hit construction industry. The Coalition estimates the legislation would create 168,000 new jobs in construction and related industries over the next two years. This would have a big impact because one out of four construction workers is currently unemployed.
“Home Star contains all the innovative thinking that it will take to move us to a clean energy economy — energy efficiency, job creation, and it saves consumers money,” said Green For All CEO Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins.
“Nothing could be more American than passing this truly bipartisan bill right now,” said Stephen Cowell, CEO of Conservation Services Group. “Beyond construction and retrofitting, Home Star will have a ripple effect of creating jobs in other areas of the U.S. economy such as retailing, trucking and manufacturing. We applaud the House of Representatives for moving on this.”
The Home Star Coalition represents over 1,000 construction contractors, building products and mechanical manufacturers, retail sales businesses, environmental and energy efficiency groups and labor advocates from all 50 states who want to see the job creation and energy savings benefits of federal Home Star legislation realized.
For more information about Home Star and the Home Star Coalition visit
www.homestarcoalition.org .
