Are We Ready for Cash-for-Caulking?
by National Trust for Historic Preservation on November 18th, 2009Written by Adrian Scott Fine
Remember just a couple months ago the hype and coverage over Obama’s Cash-for-Clunkers program? It was so successful that they ran out of money way ahead of their projections. Well, now there is talk of dusting off this approach, only this time for home weatherization. A New York Times article by David Leonhardt reports President Obama is seriously considering proposals that would provide funding to help homeowners pay for weatherization projects.
A “Cash-for-Caulking” program could do a lot for stimulating the economy by putting home industry trades people to work and helping to make older homes more energy efficient. We know it doesn’t have to cost a lot to properly weatherize a home and make a real impact. A little strategic sealing, insulation and caulking can go a long way, something Leonhardt himself learned from having a home energy audit done. The auditor, Leonhardt states, “was also willing to tell us which changes were usually a waste of money (new windows).”
The article goes on to imagine a “weatherization-for-dummies” fact sheet promoted by the Obama administration. While it’s still too soon to know if a “Cash-for-Caulking” program might become a reality — and preservationists are anything but dummies — there is some help already through the online Weatherization Guide offering homeowners ways to go green, save energy and still retain the best parts of their older homes.
Still want to know more about energy and the economy, check out the recent report Unlocking Energy Efficiency in the U.S. Economy.
Adrian Scott Fine is the director of the Center for State and Local Policy at the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
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December 16th, 2009 at 12:54 am
PRAY tell me just how many people have homes to CAULK?