The AHRI is lauding President Barack Obama’s call for Congress to pass legislation to encourage the installation of high-efficiency HVAC equipment and water heaters.

The president unveiled the details of a $6 billion program to improve the energy efficiency of U.S. homes Tuesday while visiting Savannah Technical College in Georgia. Named “Home Star” after the popular Energy Star efficiency-certification program, it would offer point-of-sale consumer rebates for the purchase of energy-saving products. Contractors, home improvement stores and utility companies would market the program. Rebates would come from the federal government.

David Calabrese, the Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute’s senior vice president for policy, said his group has long wanted such a program to boost sales of efficient equipment. AHRI members make most of the HVAC equipment sold in the United States.

"We are thrilled to have the solid backing of the White House in this effort," Calabrese said. For several years, AHRI has been working with Congress to enact incentives to help replace the nation's installed base of heating, cooling, and water heating equipment.  This program would go a long way toward making that goal a reality.”