The Air Conditioning Contractors of America is
continuing to urge senators to fix a bill encouraging the purchase of energy-efficient
products before passing the legislation.
The Air Conditioning Contractors of
America is continuing to ask senators to fix a bill encouraging the purchase of
energy-efficient products before passing the legislation.
ACCA officials say the U.S.
House-passed version of “Home Star” deals with only some of their issues.
"We are certainly supportive of the goals of this legislation
- to make American homes more energy efficient and provide much-needed jobs in
the construction industry," said John Sedine, ACCA chairman and
president of Engineered Heating and Cooling in Michigan.
The
association recently sent a letter to the Senate finance and natural resources
committees outlining their concerns.
"Unfortunately, certain provisions in
this legislation make the achievement of these goals actually less likely,"
Sedine said.
The $6 billion proposal to improve the energy efficiency of
U.S. homes was announced in March by President Barack Obama. Named “Home Star”
after the popular Energy Star efficiency-certification program, it would offer
point-of-sale consumer rebates for the purchase of energy-saving products.
Contractors, home improvement stores and utility companies would market the
program. Rebates would come from the federal government.
Some
construction groups, such as the ACCA, have expressed opposition to the proposed
reimbursement mechanism.
