Capitalism, that unending drive to make a few more bucks, heats the blood of green business entrepreneurs. But what’s going to drive customers to all things green? Sex.

Green is sexy? Apparently so, according to President Barack Obama. He was very clear about it this week as he visited, not Victoria’s Secret for a possible stocking stuffer for the First Lady, but Home Depot. He’s talking home insulation and energy efficiencies.

Home Depot? Sexy? Same story?

Didn’t he see that Saturday Night Live routine featuring Dan Aykroyd as a refrigerator repairman with pants that didn’t cover his butt?

While touring the hardware haven with some Members of Congress this week, Obama finally made the capitalism/sexy connection.  “Here’s what’s sexy about it. It saves money.”

Calling green “sexy” was President Obama’s attempt to gin up support on Capitol Hill to approve another round of stimulus spending, this time for green infrastructure investments, like getting a home insulated for the winter.

And, by talking up the sexy nature of insulation at a hardware story, Obama’s hoping to boost demand for installations and thereby help reduce the nation’s 10% unemployment rate by creating demand for green jobs.

Obama’s hoping Congress will approve redirecting billions in unspent bailout money for the green infrastructure investments that would include a so-called Cash for Caulkers program to create jobs for out-of-work installers. Congress has approved a $75 billion spending package, but it doesn’t include two of Obama’s priorities, new tax breaks for home energy-efficiency renovations and for small businesses that hire new employees.

The Wall St. Journal reports that Obama also wants Congress to provide $5 billion more in tax credits for manufacturers of wind, solar, electric-vehicles and other renewable-energy products to help create tens of thousands of green jobs.

Tags: energy efficiency, green infrastructure, green jobs, Home Depot, insulation