Government Economic Stimulus Funds for Homeowners
By Don Chapman

The idea I have is not my own.  I believe that I heard about it on the
United States National Public Radio, but I will be darned if I can find
any reference to it in searching the web.

So, I will offer a description based on my own understanding.  My
recollection is that this idea was to be tried in the eastern part of
the US.

The notion is to implement a 'different' use of some of the
currently-planned government economic stimulus funds.  The monies would
be used to 'give away' to homeowners with older furnaces, new
high-efficiency furnaces, including installation.

The 'pitch' to homeowners would be that the homeowners would receive, at
no charge, a newly-installed high-efficiency furnace.  In addition,
their annual gas charges would be reduced as a result of this furnace.
So, the homeowner would get an upgraded furnace AND would see an
immediate and permanent reduction in their energy bill as a result of a
reduction in energy use.

The 'catch' is that the reduction in energy costs, for the first 'x'
number of years, would be about half the actual reduction in the cost of
energy used, as the difference would be used to pay off the furnace and
installation costs.

Such an initiative would stimulate:

1. Energy conservation,
2. Permanent reduction in household expenditures
3. Job creation due to:
     - manufacturing of new furnaces and related materials
     - need for installers, transportation, old furnace recycling, etc.
4. Potential jobs due to abilities of homeowners to re-distribute income
for other goods and services, or for savings, debt reduction, etc.
5. Reduction in greenhouse and other gases.

And, in the end, the initially-invested funds would be repaid by the
portion of the accumulated energy savings.

Ultimately, the full energy savings (after the required paydown) would
go to the home owner.

Win, win, win, win, win.

Please note: the opinions expressed in these stories are those of the authors and not necessarily shared or endorsed by Dialogue Programs