West Virginia residents are being invited by the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), along with all Americans, to participate in an online forum designed to receive public ideas and comments on the Recovery Through Retrofit report.

The report, presented on October 19, by Vice President Biden, at a Middle Class Task Force meeting, is designed to expand green job opportunities and boost energy savings by making homes more energy efficient.

“The report is the result of an interagency process, facilitated by CEQ, and provides recommendations for Federal action to lay the groundwork for a self-sustaining home energy efficiency retrofit industry,” states a White House press release.

The public is invited to submit their ideas and comments on the report through the CEQ website at : http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ceq/initiatives/retrofit/submit.

According to the site, the White House CEQ is seeking input from interested communities, governments, tribes, businesses, associations, non-governmental organizations and the general public.

In particular, the agency is seeking input on three vital areas:

1. Provide better information on the costs and benefits of home energy retrofits. We are particularly interested in comments related to our proposed Energy Performance Label for Homes and a National Home Energy Performance Measure.

2. Encourage the use of energy retrofit financing tools and products. Specifically, we encourage comments on Municipal Energy Financing (PACE), Energy Efficient Mortgages and State Revolving Loan Funds.

3. Grow a skilled national energy retrofit workforce. We are particularly interested in your thoughts related to potential Weatherization Workforce Certifications and Training Standards.

The deadline for public ideas and comments is Dec. 4.