ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Insisting insulation is “sexy,” President Barack Obama called Tuesday for new federal incentives to make millions of homes more energy-efficient as a way to create jobs, save money for home owners and reduce pollution.
Speaking at a suburban Washington Home Depot store cleared of shoppers, Obama said he wants Congress to provide temporary incentives for consumers to rush out and buy such items as insulation, new windows and doors, and caulk to plug leaks where they live.
Obama said homes and offices are responsible for 40 percent of U.S. energy consumption and that homes built in the first half of the 20th century can use about 50 percent more energy than modern dwellings.
It was the fourth time in less than two weeks that Obama has staged a high-profile event to call attention to his efforts to curb unemployment, which dropped slightly to 10 percent in November.
Obama said he disagreed with those who think energy-efficiency isn’t glamorous.
“Here’s what’s sexy about it: saving money,” he said. The Associated Press
