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HERS® Industry Adopts "Blue Print for Action"

Policy Initiatives to Take Residential Energy Efficiency into the 21st Century

Energy is back in the news. Every day headlines speak of spiraling gas and electric prices and rolling black outs in California. Bills have been introduced in Congress aimed at creating a national energy policy. Te renewed interest in energy and the 2001 RESNET Conference's theme "Taking Residential Energy Efficiency Into the 21st Century" provided the home energy rating industry an opportunity to develop policy initiatives aimed at achieving the theme of the Conference.

Prior to the Conference RESNET solicited input on initiatives that should be considered in a blue print for action from all facets of the residential energy efficiency industry. A working session was scheduled at the RESNET Conference to select the key priority issues from these suggestions.

At the Conference the home energy rating industry adopted the following initiatives:

1. Enact the Smith-Finestein Bill for Tax Credits for Energy Efficient New Buildings.
2. Enact Tax Incentives for Improving the Energy Efficiency of Existing Buildings
3. Make Home Energy Ratings the Certification Instrument for all Federal Residential Energy Efficiency Programs (Tax Credits, ENERGY STAR, Building America, PATH, Weatherization)