Builders Commend Proposed Energy-Efficient Initiatives

How’s this for a startling statistic: Economists from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) estimate that every $1 billion in remodeling and home improvement activity generates 11,000 jobs, $527 million in wages and salaries and $300 million in business income.

That’s quite an estimate. And one that President Obama, who in Savannah, Ga., recently, outlined a $6 billion proposal to provide homeowners making energy-saving home improvements with cash rebates, agrees with.

According to Nation’s Building News Online, “administration officials estimate that up to four million households could benefit from the program, officially known as Homestar, but dubbed “Cash for Caulkers” by many in Congress and the media.”

“This has the potential to be a real shot in the arm for the home building industry,” said NAHB Chairman Bob Jones. “It would help put America back to work and it will help families save on monthly energy bills.”

‘Cash for Caulkers’: Stimulus for contractors

Who could forget the government’s much-hyped Cash for Clunkers program? Its runaway success has inspired yet another industry to save—this time one that contractors, construction workers and do-it-yourself homeowners alike can benefit from. Proposed earlier this month, Cash for Caulkers might just prove a boon to all of us in the industry, if the program comes to life as part of President Obama’s job creation agenda in 2010.

From performing an energy audit to using an online Energy Saver calculator, we recommend reading this article in the USA Today,  which outlines 19 different measures you can take to weatherize your home, and the potential incentives that will get contractors back to work, and homeowners on the path to save.
And for extra credit, check out this diagram outlining some potential weatherization projects on Treehugger.com.