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Home Star Explained
What is Home Star?
HOME STAR, aka 'Cash for Caulkers', is a proposed new national weatherization incentive program. This initiative establishes a $6 billion rebate program to help you invest in improving the energy efficiency, comfort, durability and safety of your home.
Home Star Goals:
- Improve energy efficiency
- Increase and create jobs in both construction and manufacturing in local communities across the country, in turn boosting your industries economy!
Two different incentive levels GOLD STAR and SILVER STAR.
Register now to become a certified BPI Building Analyst or save time and money by registering for a Building Analyst and Envelope Shell Professional Combo course!
GOLD STAR
Gold Star is a two year program that features the highest incentive amounts offered and will be available only for whole-home improvement projects.
Your BPI Building Analyst certified professional or RESNET qualified rater (or approved equivalent) conducts an energy audit and inclusive home performance assessment, develops and prioritizes improvement measures specific to the needs of the particular house. Those measures are then implemented by a BPI GOLD STAR Accredited Contracting Company—or another accreditation approved by the U.S. Department of Energy.
When the work is complete, the certified analyst or rater returns to the house to conduct a second (test/out) energy audit. This assessment ensures that the installed measures are working properly and determines the energy savings achieved.
If you improve your home’s energy performance by 20% you will receive $3,000 in incentives. You’ll also get an additional $1,000 for each additional 5% improvement. Depending on how much your home’s energy use is reduced, you could get up to 50% of the entire project cost (capped at $8,000)! And, of course, you get a much lower energy bill, greater comfort and durability, as well as enhanced health and safety.
SILVER STAR
Silver Star is a one-year program designed for immediate job creation. It features lower incentive amounts and is intended for faster, small scale projects with less impact on overall energy efficiency.
You can receive between $1,000 and $1,500 for each measure installed in the home, or $250 per appliance, with a benefit not exceeding $3,000 or at most 50% of total project costs (whichever is less).
Covered measures include:
- Air sealing
- Attic, wall, and crawl space insulation
- Duct sealing or replacement
- Replacement of existing windows and doors, furnaces, air conditioners, heat pumps, water heaters and appliances with high-efficiency models
Why Home Star?
These limitations are in place to protect you, the homeowner and taxpayer. Trained, skilled and qualified experts have the knowledge and skills to diagnose the cause of the problems in your house and the ability to provide solutions to fix it right the first time.
The independent quality assurance providers are there to reduce the risk of fraud and abuse, and also to make sure your home is operating properly and safely based on the improvements made.
You get your money’s worth – a comfortable, safe, durable home with improved indoor air quality and lower energy bills.
Why Choose Everblue for BPI Home Star Training?
Everblue is proud of our 96% pass rate for our students taking the BPI exams.
Only BPI Certified Building Analysts and RESNET raters (or an approved equivalent) can perform the test-in/test-out energy audit assessments under the Gold Star level.
Only BPI GOLD STAR Accredited Contractors (or equivalent approved by the U.S. Department of Energy) can implement energy efficiency improvement measures.
Chairman Waxman Supporting the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act
Register now to become a certified BPI Building Analyst or save time and money by registering for a Building Analyst and Envelope Shell Professional Combo course!
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Arizona rebate for appliances
The Arizona rebate for appliances program is beginning and Arizona citizens can get the Arizona rebate for getting approved appliances. Federal funds were allocated to give people some cash back on appliances that use less energy according to the Energy Star program. Of course, if the new appliances are more energy efficient, a person can save a payday cash advances worth annually, and they do not cost more than the normal models anyway. It seems like virtue would be its own reward in this case.
Homestar
I just completed the shell and analyst training with you, what additional will i need for the homestar? hurry up and pass me on the field test, i'm ready to go.....
Homestar Ready to Go
William,
Congrats on passing your written BPI exams. If you've completed both the BPI Building Analyst and the BPI Envelope/Shell, it'll be a 4-6 weeks before BPI lets you know the results of your field exam and certifies your credentials. In the meantime, the National Save Energy coalition has great information on Home Star which is still working its way through Congress.
Now it's just a waiting game until it passes.
Everblue
homestar runner
Even without subsidies the return on investment on many home upgrades is 5 years or less. The subsidies, particularly in Austin, TX, where I am, make it a no brainer. Visit www.txeteam.com to learn more about home energy efficiency and rebates available.
Austin TX Energy Retrofits
William,
Thanks for commenting. I checked out your site and I'll add you to our referral list for when homeowners call asking for local energy auditors.
Everblue
Home Star Questions
Am interesting in knowing what training certifications will be required of contrators to perform work and to do test in / test out for Home Star. I have tried to find a reliable source for this imformation but get differing stories pertaining to same.
1. Does the contractor have to be a BPA (build perform anaylst)?
2. What testing is required for test in and test out? BPA standards or Resnet (HERS rater).
3. If Resnet, then does the contractor have to be a HERS rater?
4. Can the contractor hire a third party (HERS Rater or BPA) to do the test in / test out for them.
Thanks,
Michael Ray
Homestar Program Answers
Michael,
Hello and thank you for commenting on our site. For the most part the following details about Homestar are yet, however, the Homestar program is not finalized yet so some of these answers may change.
1. Does the contractor have to be a BPA (build perform anaylst)? The contractor has to be BPI accredited which means multiple BPI Certifications and an application to BPI for accreditation (demonstrated quality assurance program required).
2. What testing is required for test in and test out? BPA standards or Resnet (HERS rater). The testing piece is intended to be performed by a third party and right now the bill calls for BPI Building Analyst, however, there is some vague wording about an Energy Modeling requirement. BPI does not prescribe Energy Modeling but RESNET does so if Energy modeling is required it will most likely entail RESNET’s REMRATE software.
3. If Resnet, then does the contractor have to be a HERS rater? Unkown at this point. HERS raters really focus on new homes so BPI BA which is currently required makes more sense as a Building Analyst focuses on existing home retrofits.
4. Can the contractor hire a third party (HERS Rater or BPA) to do the test in / test out for them. The bill intends for this to be the can – should be good business for energy auditors and home inspectors.
Everblue
What a great article.
What a great article. I will share this information with anyone that needs it. It’s valuable, useful, and gives the kind of information that isn’t commonly found.
Homestar Program Answers
Does the rebate for appliances program apply to "green" products as well? Such as garbage disposals? They may not be as energy efficient but they do contribute to the overall improvement of our environment.
Homestar Program Answers
Hello and thank you for your questions.
Appliances definitely factor into home energy efficiency and should be considered as part of any energy audit.
Thank you,
Bana
advantages of buying a new home
the advantages of buying a new home is you will get up to date and energy efficient appliances along with better quality windows and insulation in the walls.This Home star program is excellent for those of us who need to improve the houses we live in.
Energy Tax Credits
I was able to take advantage of the energy tax credits of $1,500 last December by buying a new energy efficient furnace and A/C. Both were still working but they were 20 years old. My gas bill for the winter were almost 20% less than the year before.
Agree with Your Post
I agree with you.I like the concept of Home Star because You get your money’s worth – a comfortable, safe, durable home with improved indoor air quality and lower energy bills.
Purchase High Star Rankings
Thanks for this additional information. After read this blog I will always purchase high star ranking home appliances. It will save energy as well as my pocket.
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