DeLauro Praises Passage of Home Star Energy Legislation

Washington, DC— Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3) celebrated the passage today of H.R. 5019, the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act of 2010. This legislation will create clean energy jobs, provide energy savings for American families across the country, and reduce our dependence on foreign oil.

The bill will provide immediate incentives to families with gross incomes of up to $250,000 to renovate their homes to make them more energy efficient through two different options. Those who make improvements such as installing insulation, more energy-efficient windows and doors, and air sealing and water heaters will qualify for the Silver Star program, and earn up to $3,000 in benefits. Homeowners can also qualify for the Gold Star incentive, which rewards those who demonstrate though energy audits and quality assurance programs that they have reduced their consumption. Consumers who do this will be able to save up to $8,000 if they meet the required percentages of energy savings.

By encouraging homeowners to renovate their homes, this legislation will create up to 168,000 jobs in the construction, manufacturing and retail industries, which have been among the hardest hit in this recession. The construction industry in particular, with an employment rate of over 25 percent nationwide, will benefit greatly from this legislation. As construction jobs cannot be outsourced, and 90 percent of the energy saving products needed to qualify for Home Star incentives are manufactured here in the United States.

Congresswoman DeLauro said, "This is an important, common-sense bill that will help promote energy efficiency, conserve our resources, spur job creation and the green economy, and reduce our dangerous dependence on foreign oil. In my home state, excellent efficiency programs like the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund have helped to reduce energy demand, improve air quality, and deliver savings to customers. That is why they enjoy the support of business, industrial, commercial, low-income, consumer, and environmental advocates alike."

Congresswoman DeLauro, along with Congresswoman Chellie Pingree of Maine, was successful in including language in the manager's amendment to the bill requiring Home Star implementers to coordinate with existing state efforts. DeLauro noted, "This will help ensure that leading states like Connecticut can maximize their impact, using both state and federal resources, when it comes to energy efficiency."

Connecticut customers wishing to find more information about energy efficiency programs in the state can contact their utility companies or visit the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund at www.ctsavesenergy.org.