The HOMESTAR Initiative

This proposed legislation (pdf) is a policy trifecta.

• Incentives for homeowners/businesses to invest in home improvement products
• Implementation of improvements aimed at cutting down energy costs and waste
• Recovery of the long-term employment sector by training the workforce for green jobs

This is a strong idea. I hope it becomes a successful action.

UPDATE: The White House fact sheet

From the Notes: The future regulation in the past

- Are there any studies on what the effects of the economy would have been assuming regulatory laws that are currently being legislated (reaction to current financial crisis) were in place during the late 1990's - 2000 boom?

-- Would the public/Congress have been receptive to these policy changes during the boom times?

--- I assume not receptive because even after a near meltdown of the system (2007-2008), policies are still difficult to reform.

---- Why is this? (pressure from pro-business groups, status quo is comfort zone, etc?)

----- If we assume current legislated policies were in place back then, what changes would we probably see in today's economy (i.e. Would there have been a financial crisis)?

------ Would these changes convince the public/Congress?