The U.S. House of Representative’s passed the Home Star Energy Retrofits Act (H.R. 5019) that will provide on-the-spot rebates for homeowners who make energy efficiency home improvements. The act could create as many as 168,000 American construction jobs over the next two years.

Home Star will provide rebates to homeowners who retrofit their homes with energy efficient equipment and materials, including insulation, windows and heating and cooling equipment. The legislation creates two rebate programs, one for specific improvements and one for whole-home energy-use reductions. The first category of rebates would be for up to $3,000 per home, and the second for up to $8,000.

“While the average U.S. household could save up to 20 percent on its home energy bills with energy efficiency upgrades, in today’s economy many have not had the financial wherewithal to do so,” said Kateri Callahan, president of The Alliance To Save Energy. “By helping to ‘buy down’ the cost of energy efficiency home improvements, Congress can create a ripple effect that will be felt across our entire economy.”