Comptroller Combs has released a somewhat disappointing new study on home energy efficiency. The report points out that improving the energy efficiency of existing homes could save the average Texas homeowner $1,791 to $2,507 on electric bills over a five- to seven-year period. If every one of the 5.5 million single-family homes in Texas increased their efficiency by 20 percent, the owners of those homes would save “$1.9 billion annually, for $9.8 billion in savings over five years or more than $13.7 billion over seven years.” The report didn’t estimate the emissions reductions of such a program, but they would certainly be sizable.

Great! So what do we do? The report (required by legislation passed in 2007 - HB 3070 and authored by state Representatives Strama, Leibowitz, Anchia, Rodriguez and Berman and sponsored by state Sen. Kirk Watson) has some interesting ideas on marketing efficiency to Texans. For example, the report suggests inviting the television program Extreme Makeover: Home Edition to do a show about building an efficient home. Don’t get me wrong, I love the show, but I think counting on Ty Pennington to help us meet our energy goals is not very solid public policy. Voluntary programs will most likely not do enough to lower energy costs, reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and avoid dangerous global warming. Unfortunately, the report dismisses real policies that would help address our energy crisis. Without any justification, the report claims “the establishment of a mandatory home energy rating system on new and existing homes would be difficult to implement”. Not surprising since the advisory committee which helped write the report including only industry representatives and no consumer or environmental advocates.

The report points out that such a program would take the training of 500-1000 energy raters. Great, new green jobs! American Youthworks’ Casa Verde program is already busy training young people to build energy-efficient, affordable housing. I know there are a lot of people out there that would love to be trained to work in our new energy economy. We need bold solutions, not PR gimmicks.