How to get the most out of Cash for Caulkers

The Home Star Energy Retrofit Act of 2010 - or “Cash for Caulkers” - is nearly here. The bill was approved earlier this month by the House of Representatives and now we're just waiting on final approval by the Senate. In the meantime, homeowners and contractors need to do their homework. There are 13 types of retrofits eligible for funding under the Home Star bill. Each has unique requirements and rebate amounts.

Software Advice recently put together a guide that outlines the details of the bill. In their article, "Cash for Caulkers - The Definitive Guide to the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act of 2010," they break down the eligibility requirements and rebate amounts in an easy-to-read table. For starters, here's a quick overview of the two programs described in the bill:

Silver Star – Unless another amount is specified, homeowners will receive a $1,000 rebate for each retrofit. The maximum amount of rebates paid out will be $3,000 or 50% of the total cost, whichever is lower. For example, if a homeowner spends a total of $4,000 on eligible retrofits, they will get $2,000 or 50% back as a rebate. If they spend $8,000 on eligible retrofits, they would only receive $3,000 in rebates instead of $4,000 (which would be 50% of the cost).

Gold Star – To qualify for the Gold Star program, homeowners must reduce their total home energy consumption by 20%. A $3,000 rebate will be rewarded for this reduction. Homeowners can receive an additional $1,000 for each additional 5% reduction, up to a total rebate of $8,000 or 50% of the total retrofit cost. Rebates may be provided for any of the retrofits listed under the Silver Star program, or for any other energy-saving measure, including: home energy management systems, high-efficiency appliances, highly reflective roofing, awnings, canopies, and similar external fenestration (window) attachments, automatic boiler water temperature controllers, energy-efficient wood products, insulated vinyl siding, and mechanical air circulation and heat exchangers in a passive-solar home.

To continue reading about the bill, visit here.