The HOME STAR Program: How Silver and Gold Could Soon Make Green for the American People

What Is HOME STAR?
You know ENERGY STAR, the Department of Energy's (DOE) home appliance and new home construction ratings for energy efficiency. Now meet HOME STAR, a federal program under consideration by the White House that would create more than half a million new jobs over the next two years by offering homeowners direct incentives for improving the energy efficiency of their homes.

Why?
Essentially, it is ENERGY STAR for the home performance industry. These State administered programs will offer rebates to homeowners who hire qualified contractors to perform energy efficient home improvements. Windows, insulation, heating, cooling, and roofing, just to name a few. Water heating, air sealing, refrigerators, and ventilation, to name a few more.

HOME STAR was created in response to the depression in the construction industry and the growing concerns of imported oil and environmental impact. If you go to the Center for American Progress' website you can view an that shows the percentage of construction jobs lost, the number of construction workers at the peak, and the current number of construction workers by state. Here in Michigan we have lost 42.6 percent of the construction jobs from the peak. California has lost 342,000 construction jobs, down from a peak of 948,500. Only Nevada (-46.8%) and Arizona (-46.1%) topped Michigan in percentage of construction workforce lost.

How Silver and Gold Make Green
HOME STAR has two parts: Silver Star and Gold Star. The current proposals include:

Silver Star

Silver Star offers rebates up to $3,000 for simple energy efficient upgrades. Homeowners will choose from a prescriptive list of improvements, hire a qualified contractor to perform the work, get an instant rebate, and have lower utility bills. Rebates are capped at 50% of the project cost. Up to 20% of the projects will be audited for quality assurance by DOE. It is designed to quickly create home performance industry jobs among idle constructioin workers. It is meant to "pick the low hanging fruit", or do the easy energy efficient stuff first.

Gold Star

Gold Star offers rebates up to $8,000 for comprehensive energy efficient upgrades. Homeowners will choose a single accredited contractor who pre-audits, determines the scope of work, performs the work, post-audits and certifies the work. Rebates will be dependent on measured energy cost reductions. Rebates are capped at 50% of the project cost. Up to 15% of the projects will be audited for quality assurance by DOE. It is designed to create a self sustaining home performance industry complete with new trades, new technology, and new materials. It is meant to determine new standards for doing the work and new measurements to quantify the savings.

The Update on Legislation
Today, HOME STAR is a White House proposed program, not a current program. It needs congressional legislation and it is playing second fiddle to health care reform. It is contained the the Waxman-Markey climate bill that the House passed last year. It is being touted as a jobs bill, not an energy bill, to win support. The Senate would have to pass legislation, negotiate a deal with the House that they both can agree on, and sent the bill to the President for his signature. This is not small task.

How to Get Involved
If you wish to get involved go to the Efficiency First website and follow the tabs. Efficiency First is a non-profit trade organization meant to promote HOME STAR and the home performance industry. I joined at the beginning of March (22nd Michigan member) because this is where the home performance industry is going. Many of the old jobs are gone but there are new jobs coming that will be skilled jobs.

What People Have to Say about HOME STAR
On Thursday, March 11, 2010, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources committee held a hearing on HOME STAR. Larry Laseter, president of WellHome, a subsidiary of Efficiency First founding member Masco Corporation testied at this hear and said,

"We applaud the efforts of the administration to introduce a jobs creation bill and stand together in support of the HOME STAR program, which will deliver a rare triple win for the American people in the form of jobs, savings to consumers, and a positive impact on the environment," Laseter told the committee. "The HOME STAR program will put our nation's skilled construction force back to work, benefit homeowner through comfort and energy efficiency improvements to their existing homes, and result in long-term energy and environmental gains. We urge Congress to expedite approval of this program so that Americans can get back to work."

Rare indeed, I underlined that key phrase above because I cannot remember the last "triple win" for the American people. I'm hoping that those reading this will let me know.

As things progress, I'll be sure to post updates so check back often to see what's new with HOME STAR!