Friday, May 7, 2010

House Passes Home Star Energy Retrofit Act, 246-161

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act (H.R. 5019) on May 6. The legislation would provide on-the-spot rebates for homeowners who make energy efficiency home improvements. It would also create as many as 168,000 American construction jobs over the next two years.

The legislation would also create two rebate programs, one for specific improvements and one for whole-home energy-use reductions. The first category of rebates would be for up to $3,000 per home, the second for up to $8,000.

The act passed the House by a vote of 246-161 after House Republicans forced adoption of an amendment requiring retrofit funds to go directly to homeowners instead of certified contractors.


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ICC to Hold Public Comment Hearings on International Green Construction Code

The International Code Council (ICC) will be holding public comment hearings on the International Green Construction Code (IGCC) Public Version 1.0 in Rosemont, Illinois from August 14-22.

These hearings will involve a review of submitted public comments received up until the May 14 deadline, along with testimony presented at the hearings themselves.

The committee’s actions resulting from this process will result in the issuance of the IGCC Public Version 2.0 on November 3, 2010, which will serve as the working document upon which code changes will be received and considered at the May 2011 Code Development and November 2011 Final Action Hearings on the 2012 IGCC.