Go Green with Uncle Sam's Help

. . . Across the country, thousands of homes . . .are echoing with the sounds of repairs, thanks to dramatically expanded federal spending for weatherization assistance for home­owners and increased tax credits for those who improve their energy efficiency. The funding was included in the massive economic stimulus package—the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act—signed into law by President Obama last winter. The expanded programs offer an unprecedented opportunity for Americans to make needed home repairs with Uncle Sam’s help.

Stimulus funding bolsters the U.S. Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program with $5 billion to be spent during the next one to three years. That’s many times the previous year’s funding for the program, which was started during the 1970s fuel crisis. At full capacity, the program will reduce fuel bills in 1 million homes a year, according to the DOE. It could also put an estimated 87,000 people to work fixing up older homes.

“These investments will reduce energy costs for those that need it most, while creating jobs, reducing pollution and moving the country toward energy independence,” says Secretary of Energy Steven Chu. . . .

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