CASH FOR CAULKERS

Obama's new plan to create jobs, save energy: Call it cash for caulkers?; At a Home Depot in Virginia, the president pushes his plan to offer cash incentives to consumers who install insulation and make other energy-efficient home improvements.
Jim Puzzanghera, December 15, 2009 (LA Times)

"Declaring that insulation is "sexy," President Obama…pushed Congress to create a program giving homeowners cash incentives to improve their energy efficiency by replacing windows, caulking leaks and modernizing heaters and air conditioners.

"…[At] a Home Depot store in Alexandria, Va., [the President pitched] a job-creation plan some have dubbed "cash for caulkers" -- government incentives given directly to consumers to spur economic activity, similar to the popular "cash for clunkers" rebates that spurred a surge in auto sales last summer. Obama also held a roundtable at the store…"

Jobs, jobs, jobs...(click to enlarge)

[President Obama:] "I know the idea may not be very glamorous, although I get really excited about it. We were at the roundtable and somebody said, 'Insulation's not sexy.' I disagree…Here's what's sexy about it: saving money…If you saw 20-dollar bills just sort of floating through the window up into the atmosphere, you'd try to figure out how you were going to keep that…But that's exactly what's happening because of the lack of efficiency in our buildings…So what we want to do is create incentives that stimulate consumer spending…[boosting manufacturering]…It spurs hiring…It saves consumers money…And it reduces our energy consumption…"

"…[The President] said homes built in the first half of the 20th century use about 50% more energy than those built today. Much of the energy is wasted through leaky roofs and windows. Making homes more energy efficient not only will help the environment, but also will help homeowners save money and boost the economy."

...jobs, jobs, jobs...(click to enlarge)

"Such a program is among several 'strategic surgical steps' Obama is pushing to help create jobs as the unemployment rate remains at 10% despite a return to economic growth after the deep recession. Obama [said]…Congress must create ['cash for caulkers'], as it did with 'cash for clunkers.'

"Obama joked that his trip to Home Depot would allow him to do some holiday shopping, such as 'a few million energy-efficient light bulbs' for Energy Secretary Steven Chu and 'something that will prevent leaks' for White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs. But it was insulation that he focused on, saying incentives for consumers to buy it and other home weatherization material would be a 'win-win' for the economy and the environment…"