REEP and HomeStar

Currently in the hands of the US Senate: HR 1778 is an energy bill that includes a comprehensive energy conservation program to be wielded by Secretary Cheu and the DOE. Named in the bill (along with some mega dollars) are existing programs from RESNET and BPI and programs titled REEP (Residential Energy Efficiency Program)also titled HomeStar. Tax and cash incentives for home owners interested in becoming more efficient and less carbon creating are the happy part. The not so happy part is the attached cap and trade proposals. Our august Senators are, seemingly, taking a dim view of the "trade" portion of the bill. Not unlike the Health Bill there is now an effort to segment 1778 and send the "Homes" portion to a vote, I hope they do. Cap and Trade is a tricky sell to "smaller government" folks and has not been terrifically successful in the EU model. The Home component is an excellent tool for carbon reduction in the residential housing world while providing work for the construction workforce now relatively idol. I was fortunate to be invited to DC with a group of Green carbon cap advocates and met with House and Senate members from ET. Nothing conclusive, this is politics after all, but a good sense of understanding the value of energy efficiency in residential housing. There is tremendous good sense in more efficient housing, it is a "no regrets" legislation in the "Right if you are wrong, Right if you are right" concept.