Cash For Caulkers: Obama Wants Auto Program Principles Applied To Home Construction

[SpartanDem]

Source: Huffington Post

In an effort to further stimulate job growth, the Obama administration is applying the principles of the Cash for Clunkers program to the housing construction industry.

The president announced on Tuesday a three-pronged approach to resuscitating a stagnant labor market. In addition to providing a series of financial incentives to spur small business growth as well as investments in modernizing the nation's infrastructure, the White House aims to spur a virtual revolution in housing weatherization.

It's been called "Cash for Caulkers," based on the name given to the (much-maligned but largely successful) program the administration put in place for the auto industry earlier this year. The outlines of the two programs are broadly the same, a senior administration official told reporters minutes before the president's speech. Incentives will be provided for people to make more energy-efficient purchases -- only instead of cars it will be home alterations.

A reform effort once closely associated with former Obama adviser Van Jones, the Cash for Caulkers program would (if done correctly) compel consumers to makes home alterations both big, like modernizing heating or water systems, and small, such as installing better-sealed windows.



Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/08/cash-for-caulkers-obama-w_n_384120.html

[LynneSin]

1. I could be interested in this

I would love to add either a deck to my backyard, redo my flooring or (if I had enough money) expand my laundry room so I could add a bathroom on the ground floor.

I'm not sure how much I'll be getting back from my income taxes but if this program happens - I would take advantage of it.

[amandabeech]

2. It looks like it will be for improvements that help reduce energy use,

like more efficient furnaces and A/C systems, insulation and better windows.

I'm not sure that your deck would qualify for this program, but putting in a ground source heat pump might.

[LynneSin]

5. Well I would review my house for any of those improvements too

I would love central air & heating but the way my row home is setup, might not work. But I do need a new window for my bathroom.

[4_TN_TITANS]

3. I would so jump on this

to replace our old 70's wooden windows and/or heating air unit. I don't need new junk, but this is spending I could totally justify with energy savings in the following years. We could immediately apply the 50% heat savings to the payments.

[Tansy_Gold]

4. Ditto here on the a/c and heating unit.

Mine's from late 80s, but in AZ the a/c unit takes a real beating. And lots of weatherproofing that could be done.

But if the whole policy doesn't end up promoting US jobs beyond the initial boost, it does no good. And that's what I'm afraid will happen.



TG

[WriteDown]

6. You should already get a pretty big tax deduction if you're

planning on doing that.

[thecrow]

16. What about unemployed people?

I would love to get new windows and paint my house except that my UEI benefits run out soon.
I've been unemployed for nearly a year, and have lots of time on my hands, but no job to finance changes.
*sigh*

[Mithreal]

7. We replaced a 1978 gas furnace with a 95% American Standard

installed by an all union company. We used up all of our federal rebate funds that were available and paid a little more for the union work, few hundred dollars, but in exchange, got it installed next day by highly qualified people including 3 annual tune ups and an extended warranty 10 year parts & LABOR included which all made it a better value than what the non-union company's were offering. So look for union companies. EFCA may not happen, but we can buy union.

We're savers so had some money for rainy days, the $1500 max rebate was significant but less than 25% of the cost, but it made the decision less painful.

[naaman fletcher]

9. what did it do for your heating bills?

I am looking at basically the same thing. Are you seeing a 25% reduction? more? thanx.

[Mithreal]

11. We are running the thermostat a few degrees warmer during the day than

we ran the old furnace and not turning it down nearly as low at night, 65+ instead of 60. If memory serves, our gas bill showed we used no more gas last month than last year at the same time and it seems like this fall has been MUCH colder than last. The really big difference, the old furnace and thermostat always overshot the set temperature by a few degrees, uncomfortably so and now the house is VERY comfortable and the furnace is MUCH quieter. The honeywell high efficiency air cleaner that sits on top of the furnace has improved the quality of the air in our home and I noticed a significant difference within the first week. I am very happy I bought that and one company didn't even tell me about it when I received my 4 estimates. Angie's List helped too but some areas may not have many reviews. If I wanted to figure out the savings, I would have to take into account how we are using it now and the colder weather.

[naaman fletcher]

8. Another scam for the rich

Look, I'm psyched about this. I happen to be in the middle of a major home renovation, and my HVAC units are nearing the end of their useful life.

But guess what? I am in the middle of a major home renovation. I'm obviously not unemployed or on the verge of losing my house. Don't get me wrong, I will take it, but this is just another example of how there is really only one political party, and almost everything is does ultimately funnels money to the people who don't need it.

[izquierdista]

10. Hey, you and I deserve it

It's not like we were going to buy time-shares in Barbados with the money. I know that every one of the installers that I will have working for me will be glad to get paid and will go out and circulate that money in the economy.

[Mithreal]

13. It's left to churches, family and community to help the people

our government almost completely ignores.

Could always use those rebates to write a check to the local food banks or shelters?

I felt as strongly about cash for clunkers.

[naaman fletcher]

14. me too,

but I got flamed like you wouldn't believe for questioning cash for clunkers

[jpak]

21. LOL!!! Here in Maine, stimulus money is already being used to weatherize low-mid income homes

and to train people how to do it right

No rich scammer here...

Hope Obama does this for everyone!

:D

[Uncle Joe]

12. I believe this is a good idea.

Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, SpartanDem.:thumbsup:

[Godhumor]

15. Let's see, I have windows, water heater and dish washer to replace

Would gladly jump on this.

[bamacrat]

17. Its all about the caulk. As one lady said on Hardball.

Sorry but I had to laugh. Good idea. caulk.

[dysfunctional press]

18. i couldn't do cash for clunkers because my clunker got 1mpg too many when it was new.

so i got zero. 1mpg less, and i could have gotten the FULL amount- but there was no graduated scale. oh, well...

and now it will be interesting to see what the parameters of this program will be.
i would hope that if there is going to be a set time limit on the length of the program that it wouldn't start until spring, so that people in the states that do have winter weather can better take part in it.

but- seeing as i'm disabled, unless/until my wife can find gainful employment again, any kind of improvements that would qualify are pretty much out of the question.

[Hekate]

19. I could get very interested in double-pane windows--they'd certainly help with heating...

This 40+ year old home was built to SoCal standard when energy was cheap: two big sliding glass doors, lots of windows, and added skylights. All that glass just sucks the heat right out. The insulation could use some upgrading too, I'm sure. It gets so damn cold in the winter you wouldn't believe it.

I'm sure the contracters, carpenters, and installers of the country would be very happy for the jobs if this comes to pass, not to mention how happy homeowners in *really* cold part of the country would be.

Hekate

[Chemical Bill]

20. "...compel consumers to make home alterations ...."

I don't like that first word.

Bill

[Waiting For Everyman]

22. He should add construction of new low-cost housing.

Too many people can't find any on what jobs pay today. Plus, lots of seniors lost their savings and home equity - there will be many more poor retirees in the coming years. Add to that, young people who can't get started in this economy. Add to that, the disabled. And we already had a big homeless problem before. There is not nearly enough existing housing for the numbers of people at the bottom of the income scale.

We should be building LOTS of much less expensive homes, as fast as we can. That, along with mortgages to those who otherwise qualify but are blackballed by the banks, would turn this around.


This is a good idea though, but not enough.