Political Quotes

“I yield myself 2 minutes. Madam Chair, for nearly 20 years, the Energy Star program has been raising awareness about energy efficiency and helping consumers reduce their energy bills. And I share my colleague's astonishment at the March GAO report that showed how easy it was to obtain Energy Star certification for products that didn't even exist. We need to do all we can to restore the integrity of the Energy Star program. And I want to assure all of the Members that we have common cause in achieving that goal. But I also similarly want to assure all Members that no similar danger exists for waste and fraud in the Home Star program as opposed to the Energy Star program. First, only real, proven energy-saving technologies are included in Home Star. A group of technical experts provided extensive input to establish a specific list of Silver Star products. Second, in contrast to Energy Star, which relied on self-certification of products, self- certification, the Home Star program uses an independent third-party quality assurance process to ensure that work is performed as promised. Finally, Home Star relies on a professional and certified workforce to install energy efficiency measures. Under Silver Star, contractors must be licensed, insured, and warranted. Under Gold Star, contractors must be certified by the Building Performance Institute and other reputable organizations. We must ensure that Home Star lives up to its promises. The CHAIR.…”