St. Patrick Goes Green!
The spirit of the holiday and day two of spring cleaning week here at claytonrealtygroup.com got me thinking about all things green. Which naturally got me thinking about energy efficiency and cash!
Over the last couple of years I’ve been slowly making green upgrades to my home and they are almost complete. So far I’ve got energy efficient windows, gas heat and central AC. I love being able to program the thermostat for different times and zones and ALL my windows open and STAY open! It’s fantastic. Next on the list is a look up at the attic to address some insulation issues. Or more clearly put, I need to insulate up there.
For all of this I received money from Uncle Sam! In 2007 the windows qualified for a tax credit and in 2008 I got a break for the heat and air conditioning. I was also able to get some money back in the form of rebates from my gas company. The stimulus passed in February sweetens the deal for energy efficient home improvements. According to the Energy Star website, the highlights are as follows:
- The tax credits that were previously effective for 2009, have been extended to 2010 as well.
- The tax credit has been raised from 10% to 30%.
- The tax credits that were for a specific dollar amount (ex $300 for a CAC), have been converted to 30% of the cost.
- The maximum credit has been raised from $500 to $1500 for the two years (2009-2010). However, some improvements such as geothermal heat pumps, solar water heaters, and solar panels are not subject to the $1,500 maximum.
- The $200 cap on windows has been removed, but the requirements for windows has been increased significantly. Not all ENERGY STAR qualified windows will qualify.
Greater detail is available on their website under a new section for Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency.
I’ll be keeping an eye on how past winter and summer bills compare once my insulation is complete. There are many sensible ways to do cost effective improvements to your home and this is a great time to line up a Spring project. If you’re thinking of selling, the buyers will love it too!
Check out our tools & links for more green resources and let me know if you have any of your own to share!
Hi, I'm Jake...and that's my dog. By day I'm Executive Director of Business Development at Barrett & Company Real Estate. By night I am part geek, struggling musician and frustrated writer. I started this blog mainly to learn WordPress, work on my design and writing skills, and showcase some folks with all kinds of talents and great stuff to say. (Read the long version if you dare) and please introduce yourself over on my Google+ Profile!
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