Washington ? Homeowners could collect thousands of dollars in Cash for Caulkers rebates for renovating their homes with better insulation and energy-saving windows and doors under a new economic stimulus bill the House passed Thursday.

The Home Star bill, H.R. 5019, passed 246-161, would authorize $5.7 billion over two years for a program that supporters — mostly Democrats — said would invigorate the slumping construction industry and make the earth a little cleaner.

“Home Star is that solid investment that’s going to achieve that hat trick of energy savings for the homeowner, of moving toward a cleaner environment and of creating jobs here at home,” said bill sponsor Peter Welch, D-Vt.

Republicans opposed the bill, and they were able to attach a condition that it would be terminated if Democrats do not come up with a way to pay for it.

The measure has come to be dubbed Cash for Caulkers, a takeoff on the 2009 Cash for Clunkers initiative that rewarded replacing gas-guzzling vehicles with more fuel-efficient models.

President Barack Obama praised the action, saying the bill “will help jump-start job growth and demand for new products created right here in America” as well as saving consumers money on energy bills.

The initiative is separate from an energy tax credit of up to $1,500 included in last year’s economic stimulus act. That credit for energy efficiency improvements runs through the end of this year.

Supporters estimate that 3 million households would make use of the new program, saving $9.2 billion in energy costs over a 10-year period. They said it would create 168,000 jobs, mainly in the recession-hit construction industry.

“Nearly one in four workers in the home construction and services industry has been laid off,” said Energy and Commerce Committee chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif. “Passing Home Star says, ‘Help is on the way.”‘

Republicans were more skeptical, saying the price tag was too high at a time of mounting federal debts.

“This is not a terribly bad bill, but it has one fatal flaw: It is not paid for,” said Rep. Joe Barton of Texas, top Republican on the energy committee. Democrats argued that the issue of paying for the legislation will come later, when Congress approves annual spending bills.

Republicans succeeded at the end of the debate in altering the bill to say it will be terminated if it is found to drive up the federal deficit, a provision that will force Democrats to come up with an offset. The Republicans also were able to alter the legislation so that the rebates would go directly to homeowners. In the original version, homeowners were to receive a discount or rebate from a retailer or contractor, who then would apply for payment from the government.

Under Home Star, rebates or discounts would be provided to homeowners at the time of sale. The retailer or contractor then would submit documentation to a processing office that would verify the information and forward the request to the Energy Department for payment.

The bill has two parts: The Silver Star program provides upfront rebates of up to $3,000 for specific energy-efficient improvements in homes, such as installing energy-efficient appliances or duct sealing, insulation or new windows or doors.

A Gold Star program would entitle people to up to $8,000 when they conduct comprehensive energy audits and implement measures that reduce energy use throughout their homes by more than 20 percent.

With House passage, the bill moves to the Senate, where it most likely will be attached to the next jobs bill.