You
may have heard of the Home Star program that will provide rebates and financing
to homeowners for energy improvements on their homes - if it passes Congress.
The proposed federal legislation (the Home Star Energy Retrofit Bill of 2010,
H.R. 5019) passed the House of Representatives May 6. The Senate bill (S. 3177)
is now in the hands of the Senate Finance Committee.
President
Barack Obama highlighted the Home Star program in a June 12 letter to
Democratic and Republican leaders in the House and Senate, encouraging its
passage.
Matt
Golden, co-founder and president of energy-efficiency/home remodeling firmRecurve, believes the legislation is in a “very good position” to pass the
Senate and be signed into law, “because we have such a broad coalition.” Golden’s
company is part of the Home Star Coalition, and he has spent much of his time
working to get this piece of legislation passed.
Proponents
of the legislation include business leaders, construction contractors, building
products and mechanical manufacturers, retail sales businesses, environmental
and energy-efficiency groups, and labor advocates.
So
what exactly is Home Star, and how will it help contractors?
Read here for the full blog from Kelly Faloon,
managing editor of PM.