Home Star
HOME STAR is proposed new legislation that will offer strong short-term incentives for energy efficiency improvements in residential buildings. It is geared at creating jobs while saving families money on their energy bills. There will be two packages offered: Gold Star and Silver Star.
The SILVER STAR path provides homeowners between $1,000 and $1,500 for each measure installed in the home, or $250 per appliance, with a benefit not exceeding $3,000 or at least 50% of total project costs (whichever is less). Covered measures include air sealing; attic, wall, and crawl space insulation; duct sealing or replacement; and replacement of existing windows and doors, furnaces, air conditioners, heat pumps, water heaters and appliances with high-efficiency models.
The GOLD STAR path encourages households to conduct a comprehensive energy audit and then implement a variety of measures that are designed together to provide greater total returns in energy savings. A certified professional with accreditation from the Building Performance Institute (BPI), the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) or an approved equivalent conducts an energy audit before work begins, and a test-out when the performance retrofit is complete. Consumers receive $3,000 for modeled savings of 20%, plus an additional $1,500 incentive for each additional 5% of modeled energy savings, with incentives not to exceed 50% of project costs. Contractors implementing the GOLD STAR performance path must be BPI accredited.