Cash for Caulkers – Leaky Air Duct Work

By admin on July 26th, 2010

The Home Star Energy Retrofit Act of 2010 – also known as “Cash for Caulkers” – is nearly here. The bill passed earlier this summer in the House of Representatives and is now awaiting final approval by the Senate. This is great news for homeowners and contractors. Arguably, the greatest barrier to widespread adoption of energy efficient or “green” construction is the cost. Cash for caulkers will hopefully be the impetus for change. This program lends itself nicely to the HVAC (heating ventilation and air conditioning) industry since older heating systems are notorious for air leaks. Sealing leaky duct work often times will have a profound impact on a homeowner’s energy bill.

The Home Star bill provisions $6 billion for energy-efficient or “green” retrofits. It is expected to fund renovations for 3 million families, create 168,000 new jobs and save consumers $9.2 billion on energy bills over the next 10 years. However, in order to cash in on government funds, homeowners and contractors will need to follow specific guidelines. There are 13 types of retrofits described in the bill and each has unique requirements.

Fortunately there are many online resources discussing the latest developments in the Home Star bill. For example, HVAC Software Advice put together a cash for caulkers starter’s guide. They break down all the requirements of the bill into an easy-to-read table. The table includes specifications of retrofit requirements, along with the rebate amounts for each. They have also combined the retrofits into three packages.

To read their guide, visit: http://www.softwareadvice.com/articles/construction/cash-for-caulkers-the-definitive-guide-to-the-home-star-bill-1061110/