| Home Star, the home energy efficiency policy that will save consumers millions of dollars and create over 150,000 jobs, continues to gain momentum in Congress. Earlier today a diverse group of businesses and advocacy organizations testified before the House Energy and Commerce Committee, calling for swift action on this policy. What's most impressive about Home Star is the broad support it has. The Home Star Coalition has over 700 supporting organizations, ranging from Green For All and Blue Green Alliance to Home Depot. Five groups testified before Congress on the environmental and economic benefits of the program. You can read full testimony here. Chairman Henry Waxman of California opened the hearing by reminding us that Home Star combines two vital issues:job creation and energy independence. Today, our nation continues its courageous struggle to overcome the worst recession in 70 years. No sector of the economy has been harder hit than the home construction services sector. Today, more than one in four construction workers are unemployed – more than twice the national average. We need these workers and their skills more than ever. We must seize the opportunity to modernize our homes and buildings and ensure their efficient use of energy. Ten percent of global greenhouse gas emissions are attributable to American buildings. Improving the efficiency of those buildings would allow us to reduce our carbon pollution and save money at the same time. The HomeStar proposal is compelling because it addresses both of these problems simultaneously.
The Home Star Coalition, which boasts over 700 supporting organizations, issued a press release this morning re-affirming support for this legislation. Jewish Funds for Justice added our official support to the coalition with this statement: “We share President Obama’s belief in the need to invest in the green economy and create good jobs that can’t be shipped overseas. We are supporting HOME STAR because it will create long-term, well-paying jobs that help struggling workers achieve economic security while also lowering energy costs. These goals are not only consonant with Jewish values of tzedek (justice) and tikkun olam (repair of the world), but are squarely in the interest of a Jewish community that would like to see the United States end our dependence on foreign energy while taking necessary steps to heal our planet,” said Simon Greer, President and CEO, Jewish Funds for Justice.
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