New Energy Future News

Today at the Savannah Technical College, President Barack Obama toured classrooms training students to install insulation and other efficient technologies and delivered remarks highlighting the proposed Home Star program for residential energy efficiency retrofits.  Home Star was included in the Senate Democratic leadership’s Jobs Agenda for this spring, and is also being considered in the House for inclusion in job creation legislation.  The program would provide rebates to consumers who invest in new energy efficient appliances, weatherize their homes, or purchase other efficient technologies for their home.  Environment Virginia Advocate J.R. Tolbert, released the following statement in response:

“We support President Obama’s push for the Home Star program that could tackle several of our most pressing environmental and economic issues.  By taking bold action to improve the energy efficiency of our homes, we can put Virginians to work, save consumers money on energy, and reduce global warming pollution immediately.

 “Virginia’s buildings use forty-eight percent of our energy.  The good news is we currently have the technology, the know-how and a workforce that is ready to retrofit our homes and commercial buildings to make them more efficient.

“Home and business owners need incentives and financing mechanisms that will make it feasible to invest in making their buildings more energy efficient and reap tremendous benefits for our economy and our environment.  In fact, every billion dollars of public spending on energy efficiency can leverage $2-3 billion in private investment and create 25,000 jobs in 2010.  The program will also result in substantial reductions in energy use – the equivalent of the entire output of three coal-fired power plants each year, if fully funded with $6 billion. Through this program, consumers are anticipated to save between $200 and $500 per year in energy costs, while reducing pollution and improving the comfort and value of their homes.

“We look forward to working with the President and Congress to pass and implement Home Star to bring our homes into the 21st century and put Americans to work in our new clean energy economy.”