Obama unveils $3,000 green home sweeteners

The US president has lifted the veil on a $6bn programme designed to incentivise households to become more energy efficient and bolster employment in the emerging green homes sector.

The plan, which was first announced in early December but still needs to be passed by Congress, is intended to encourage consumers to invest in everything from insulation to new windows.

In a factsheet released alongside the announcement, the White House said the aim was to help two to three million households generate savings of between $200 and $300 on their annual energy bills, while also creating employment in the construction and manufacturing sectors.

Under the scheme, consumers could receive between $1,000 and $1,500 towards simple home upgrades, such as insulation, windows or new heating and cooling systems, while those undertaking more ambitious plans that deliver energy savings of over 20 per cent will be eligible for rebates of up to $3,000.

Speaking at an event in Savannah, Georgia, the latest stop on his "White House to Main Street" tour, President Obama predicted the scheme would stimulate energy efficiency improvements across the country.

"These are big incentives," he said. "You would get these rebates instantly from the hardware store, from the contractor."

Support will also be provided to state and local governments as part of the scheme to enable them to provide interested parties with further financing options.

The initiative has been dubbed "cash for caulkers" after last year's successful "cash for clunkers" vehicle trade-in scheme. But like its predecessor, it will have time-limits attached, which will be worked out by Congress.