For example, consumers have until 2016 to take advantage of a 30 percent federal tax credit aimed at promoting home renewable energy systems, such as wind turbines and photovoltaic arrays.
More recently, the U.S. House of Representatives has approved the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act, a two-year program that encourages homeowners to make energy efficient upgrades such as installing new windows and doors, or purchasing solar water heaters or similar improvements.
The program provides rebates for up to 50 percent of a total project cost with a limit of $1,500 per home improvement. Each household can qualify for up to $3,000 in rebates under the program as long as a project can provide energy savings of at least 20 percent.
"Home Star is a practical, common sense investment in job creation and energy savings. By partnering with the private sector and homeowners, this bipartisan bill will create jobs in construction, manufacturing and retail," said Congressman Peter Welch, the Vermont Democrat who has been leading the effort to pass the bill.
