Cash For Caulkers

“Cash for Caulkers” was a 2010 program, instituted by President Obama, designed to encourage people to install more efficient and green appliances or insulation (basically anything to make the home more efficient).

The program operated on a rebate system of up to 50% of the cost of the item or installation, up to a total of 12,000. Republicans opposed the bill that budgeted 5.7 billion over two years. It passed, 246 to 161, with the Left in strong support. The goal was to both perk up the construction field by installing all these nifty new green items, and decrease consumption of resources, like natural gas.

An example here would be if a homeowner opted to put in a new furnace for a total of $5,000. They could be reimbursed via a tax refund (or sometimes through the utility company) for up to $2,500, depending on make and model, etc. This new furnace would generate business for the company that made it, the people that transported it, and the people who installed it. Sort of a perk for the greater and local economy both...plus, with lower utilities consumed via these new furnace, the environment would benefit.

The program lost steam though, as people started to realize that the savings generated by that efficient new furnace were outweighed by the cost to buy it in the first place.