Mr Williamsburg, Revolutionary ideas on real estate!Hampton Roads Virginia

The economy still needs help. So White House officials are looking at creating a new version of cash for clunkers — this time for home weatherization. President Obama is expected to add details to a new program that will create jobs and cut needless energy consumption through home retrofits. This follows Obama’s request to Congress last week to create a new program to provide incentives to home owners who retrofit their homes to be more energy efficient. The announcement is expected to take place at 11 a.m. at the Home Depot in Alexandria, VA.

There is no question that we should pursue home retrofits in a big way, but how we do it and how soon we can get started remain to be answered.

The idea has a lot to recommend it. The housing bust has idled contractors and construction workers, who could be put to work insulating homes and caulking air leaks. Many households, meanwhile, would save substantial money — not to mention help the climate — by weatherizing their homes.

But I would also mention one point of caution: the details of any caulkers plan will matter enormously. Weatherizing a home, is a lot more complicated than buying a car  — yet would have the potential to do far more good. McKinsey, the consulting firm, estimates that households could reduce their energy use by 28 percent over the next decade. In terms of greenhouse gases, that would be the equivalent of taking half of all vehicles in this country off the road.

While we are on this topic , did you know that James City County homeowners can receive a rebate from the county for purchasing and installing  a ‘water smart’ landscape, or rain sensors for your  your older lawn irrigation system,  rain barrels, high-efficiency toilets,  Energy Star high-efficiency washing machines, on demand’ hot water recirculators,  Energy Star high-efficiency dishwashers.  Read more here

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