Report: Stimulus Weatherization Program Bogged Down by Red Tape - ABC News

Report: Stimulus Weatherization Program Bogged Down by Red Tape - ABC News

Another perfect example of why Government cannot create jobs or manage money with any efficiency whatsoever. A part of this program is the famed window replacement program wherein tax refunds are available for installing energy efficient new windows that meet "certain" Energy Star requirements. The difference between the regular, run of the mill Energy Star windows, which are thermo-pane double insulated, "low e" glass models and the Energy Star windows approved by the government to be eligable is a whopping effieiency difference of .03%. The approved windows on average cost twice as much and would generate a .03% savings in energy usage.
In a typical installation for replacement windows, say a house with 15 windows, you would pay about $6500 just for materials for the Government's "approved" windows. The "off the shelf" at your local home center, Energy Star rated replacement window would be about $3200 for the same number of windows. Now, you would be eligable for "up to" a $1500 tax credit to apply toward the cost of your new "approved" windows, bringing your investment after your tax credit is applied down to $5000. On the bright side, your new windows will save you about an extra .03% on your heating and cooling bill. For argument's sake lets pretend you have a total electric home and your current electric bill runs an average of $200 per month. Replacing the windows with the "off the shelf" Energy Star windows is touted as saving up to 30% on your energy use. This should lower your electric bill to around $140 per month.
So, logic would have it that your extra $1500 out of pocket for the Government "approved" windows will pay for themselves in no time. Let's do the math, that extra .03% works out to $.60 per month x 12 months = $7.2/year.
At that rate to make up your difference for supporting the Government Approved Program will take 208 years and 4 months, after that you are on easy street with the savings just rolling in.