Editing HOME STAR (section)

==Structure==
As of December 2009, no proposed legislation had been released, and there were few specific details of how the program would be administered, which federal agencies would be involved, or how the tax incentives would be paid (or to whom).<ref name=bb/>  The program is expected to involve preliminary [[energy audit]]s by private contractor energy experts, who then recommend a series of steps for each homeowner to upgrade their home's energy efficiency.<ref name=cnn/>  As proposed the plan was for the government to pay 50% of the cost of each home improvement project through a rebate, [[tax credit]], or funds paid to manufacturers and retailers, up to a maximum of $12,000 (~${{Format price|{{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=12000|start_year=2009}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}) paid for each home.<ref name=cnn/>  Alternatively, there was speculation that the federal government might give funds to local governments to run their own programs. There was no limitation on eligibility based on [[tax bracket]] or [[household income|income]].<ref name=cnn/>

Items under consideration for the program included [[weatherization]] of home by installing additional insulation, new doors, and windows, and replacing old appliances with more energy-efficient new ones. Expensive items such as washing machines, dishwashers, refrigerators, air conditioners, and heaters, would be covered.<ref name=cnn>{{cite news|url=https://money.cnn.com/2009/12/08/news/economy/president_energy/|title=Cash for Caulkers could seal $12,000 a home|publisher=CNN|author=Steve Hargreaves|date=2009-12-09}}</ref>

The program was expected to cost approximately $10 billion over the course of one year, paid for out of unspent [[Troubled Asset Relief Program]] funds, and would reduce energy consumption of homes that took full advantage of the program by up to 20%. To become effective it would have to be part of a [[Bill (proposed law)|bill]] passed by the [[United States Congress]].<ref name=cnn/>