Feds shut down housing efficiency program

Proving that all good things come to an end, the Federal government quietly and abruptly shutdown the EcoEnergy retrofit program. The program offered rebates on purchases of energy efficient improvements to existing homes. For example, some of the green tech we're adding to our house had the following rebates:

• Geo-exchange system for heating and cooling: $4375
• Solar hot-water collector on the roof: $1250
• Drain-water heat recovery unit: $125

The program was so successful it was costing the Feds more than they could afford. Somehow they still have millions of dollars to give to single company for the wishful thinking known as 'Carbon Capture and Storage" though.

Since we are building a new home, we were excluded from the program as it was only for existing homes. So I definitely would have liked to see the rebate program extended to new homes as it has been in the US. However our politicians would rather kill a good idea so they can keep funding stupid ones for big industry. Sounds "Conservative" to me...

Posted by Guy | Posted on 2010-04-04 at 1:11 PM | Public Post