Over 100 contractors arrived in Washington D.C. today to advocate for the swift passage of the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act. The contractors joined together with Efficiency First, a national non-profit trade association, and CleanEdison, a leading green job training provider, to send a clear message to the U.S. Senate -- act now, put construction workers to work and help main street America and homeowners save money.

"The Department of Labor estimates one in five workers in the building construction industry are unemployed. This legislation offers tremendous opportunity for job creation and incentives for homeowners that will help them save money," said Lauren Carson, Vice President of CleanEdison and Board Member of Efficiency First. Carson continued, "If passed, this would be a win-win for everyone involved. I'm honored to collaborate with the contractors and Efficiency First to support the Home Star legislation together."

The Home Star Energy Retrofit Act of 2010 (H.R. 5019), commonly referred to as "Cash for Caulkers," will provide homeowners with rebates for energy-efficiency upgrades -- a total of $6 billion over two years. But for thousands of American building construction professionals who have been hit hard by the recession, the proposed Home Star legislation -- which now awaits Senate approval -- represents a lifeline to good jobs with living wages in a growing 21st-century industry.

CleanEdison has quickly become a leading green job training firm, offering state-of-the-art classes in a variety of disciplines, from Energy Auditing to LEED exam preparation. As the country's largest training providers for the Building Performance Institute (BPI), CleanEdison has been selected for numerous contracts funded by local, state and federal initiatives, and anticipates additional growth as taxpayers continue to see the benefits of energy efficiency.

SOURCE: CleanEdison