Washington D.C. – Joining a growing chorus of businesses, trades people and environmental and efficiency organizations, the Alliance to Save Energy today urged the Senate to include Home Star in its Small Business Jobs Bill, expected to hit the Senate floor this week.

The Home Star proposal, which has the support of the Obama Administration and passed the U.S. House of Representatives in May, would give cash incentives to homeowners who make their homes more energy efficient as it creates jobs in related industries. The Alliance said Home Star will interest consumers not only because of its on-the-spot rebates, but also because of the immediate and long-term savings on energy costs.

"For the more than 110 million homes across America, Home Star will save energy and money while, in the process, putting nearly 170,000 people to work," said Alliance Director of Government Relations Brad Penney. "Most of the support will go to small businesses, which make up 90 percent of the companies involved in home retrofits, thereby bringing much-needed relief to the job engine of our still-struggling economy. When Home Star is enacted, small businesses can then help make a clean energy economy a reality, not just a catchphrase."

In recent months, Home Star has earned the support of diverse groups, from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and National Association of Manufacturers to the Sierra Club and the labor group Change to Win. Last week, the Home Star Coalition exceeded 2,000 members – mostly small businesses – that operate in every state in the country.

"In my over 30 years in Washington," Penney continued, "I have never seen a single proposal garner such widespread support. Small and large businesses alike, alongside labor, public interest and environmental groups, all understand the benefits of this proposal.

"If someone came to you tomorrow with an investment that would save money for every American household, create over 168,000 jobs, reduce our dependence on foreign oil and pay for itself in the long-run, you’d take it – especially at a time when the construction industry continues to experience Depression-level unemployment," he added.

Home Star incentivizes consumers to make energy efficiency upgrades to their homes, sparking interest in energy-saving products and energy audits. That creates a need for more workers in manufacturing and building and more home energy auditors, the Alliance said.

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The Alliance to Save Energy is a coalition of prominent business, government, environmental, and consumer leaders who promote the efficient and clean use of energy worldwide to benefit consumers, the environment, economy, and national security.

For further information:

• Ronnie Kweller (rkweller@ase.org): 202-530-2203
• Craig Schattner (cschattner@ase.org): (202) 530-4346