Home Star is the name of a proposed federal government rebate program in which homeowners will receive rebates (50% of total installed cost, up to a stated maximum amount) as a result of purchasing and/or installing certain energy efficiency measures on their homes.  This program in various proposed forms has been under consideration in Congress since late last year. 

The IWFA Manufacturers Committee * instituted a government advocacy initiative when Home Star first came up and thru their efforts and the letter writing efforts of their dealers, window film was added as one of the categories of products which can qualify for use in this program. 

A bill was passed by the House of Representatives in late spring this year and since that time much work has been done to have the same type of legislation introduced in the Senate.  Yesterday, as part of an energy bill introduced in the Senate, for consideration over the next several weeks, the Home Star Program with window film as a category was included.

If this energy bill can pass the Senate with the Home Star Program intact (and we are urging dealers to continue to send letters to their local senators to help make this happen), then it will likely go to a congressional conference committee to iron out any differences between the House and Senate versions for joint agreement. This final bill would then be submitted to the President to sign into law.

Although we have accomplished much already, there is still work to be done, so please get out the letters to your senators as we requested and stay tuned.  The Government Affairs Subcommittee of the IWFA Manufacturers Committee will continue to monitor and influence the direction of this pending legislation by providing information, education, and personal assistance to lawmakers and their staffs as needed.

Darrell Smith, IWFA Executive Director

* The IWFA Manufacturers Committee is made up of the following member manufacturers: 3M, Bekaert Specialty Films, HanitaTek, Johnson Window Films, Madico and Solutia Performance Films.