Tax Incentives for Energy Savings Are Better than Ever

There’s no break yet for installing a low-flush toilet, or planting sod on your roof.

But there’s a new or expanded federal tax incentive this year for just about every other green improvement for your home . . Check out the ULTIMATE GREENOVATION Tax Credit & Rebate Guide for detailed information.

The new law takes off all the dollar caps on the 30% credits you can claim for installing expensive solar, geothermal and wind energy systems in your home.  Which means $7,000 back on a $21,000 system.

. . . The stimulus also offers a $1,500 tax credit for the average Joe who’d like to upgrade his attic insulation, install a storm door or energy-saving windows, or buy a new furnace before energy prices spike again.

During 2009 and 2010, you can claim a 30% credit on the first $5,000 you spend on energy-efficient home improvements. That’s a $1,500 credit–unlike a less valuable deduction, it reduces your tax bill dollar for dollar. READ MORE

From: Forbes

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A brief introduction to geothermal: the next wave of clean and sustainable energy.

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Geothermal / GeoExchange^® heating and cooling uses the relatively constant temperature of the earth to heat and cool homes and businesses with 40% to 70% less energy than conventional systems. While conventional furnaces and boilers burn a fuel to generate heat, geothermal heat pumps use electricity to simply move heat from the earth into buildings, allowing much higher efficiencies. The most efficient fuel-burning heater can reach efficiencies around 95%, but a geothermal heat pump can move up to 4 units of heat for every unit of electricity needed to power the system, resulting in a practical equivalence of over 400% efficiency.

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Everyone is talking about greening their homes, but how do you begin.  Green architects, builders and developers share remodeling tips with Bloomberg on Demand. Making your home more energy and water efficient is the best investment for your home.  Bring green into your home and put green back into your wallet.

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Attention homeowners — dreaming of greening your home? Willing to try something new — like blue jean insulation? Follow green builder Blake Holden as he turns a dilapidated Brooklyn brownstone into a vintage green home. Blake guides us into the construction site and through the renovation process for a peek at all the ways this eco living space is building on solid foundations. While reclaimed wood and materials preserve the look and feel of a classic brownstone, energy-saving features like blue jean insulation (who knew?) and radiant floor heating minimize the home’s carbon footprint. And natural building materials prevent toxic indoor air pollution, ensuring a safe, healthy living environment. The end result? The family home, recycled.

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Being a ‘green’ homeowner is good for the planet and good for your wallet, too. Best selling personal finance guru David Bach, author of “Go Green – Live Rich”, explains how having an eco-friendly home will pay off in many ways.  Learn about green mortgages (aka energy efficient mortgage) and how you can save money by going green.

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Want to build responsibly, reduce waste, and help preserve the environment? Green Building & Remodeling For Dummies is your friendly, step-by-step guide to every facet of this Earth-friendly method of construction. Building a home?even a green home?uses plenty of resources and energy. This practical, hands-on book shows you how to build or remodel conscientiously, whether your dream home is a simple remodel or a brand-new multimillion-dollar mansion.  You’ll love this book and Eric Corey Freed’s sense of humor.

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As your current appliances die of old age, make sure you replace them with energy-efficient ones.

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Please enable Javascript and Flash to view this Blip.tv video.
Energy use is on the rise around the world. By 2030, global energy demand is expected to increase 50 percent above 2005 levels, with electricity demand alone in the U.S projected to rise 29 percent over the same period. Increasing demand requires additional supplies to keep costs low, ensure reliability, and reduce America’s dependence on foreign energy sources. At the same time, this growing demand must be addressed in the context of global climate change. Consumers can make a significant difference on all these fronts by reducing demand through simple energy efficiency measures. For example, households that install energy-saving bulbs can cut energy used for lighting by more than 80 percent.

In a national survey of kids ages 8-12, 85 percent of respondents believed that they could lead their family to do what is needed to consume less energy in the home. The U.S. Department of Energy and the Ad Council have partnered together to launch a new kid-targeted campaign entitled “What’s Your Excuse?” highlighting the simplicity of making energy efficient changes in the home and asking kids to join millions of others to make a difference by using their energy wisely.

The PSAs direct tweens to an interactive website www.loseyourexcuse.gov where they can download the Energy Action plan and learn fun, simple tips on energy efficient behaviors and new technological advances to reduce energy consumption in the home.

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Energy use is on the rise around the world. By 2030, global energy demand is expected to increase 50 percent above 2005 levels, with electricity demand alone in the U.S projected to rise 29 percent over the same period. Increasing demand requires additional supplies to keep costs low, ensure reliability, and reduce America’s dependence on foreign energy sources. At the same time, this growing demand must be addressed in the context of global climate change. Consumers can make a significant difference on all these fronts by reducing demand through simple energy efficiency measures. For example, households that install energy-saving bulbs can cut energy used for lighting by more than 80 percent.

In a national survey of kids ages 8-12, 85 percent of respondents believed that they could lead their family to do what is needed to consume less energy in the home. The U.S. Department of Energy and the Ad Council have partnered together to launch a new kid-targeted campaign entitled “What’s Your Excuse?” highlighting the simplicity of making energy efficient changes in the home and asking kids to join millions of others to make a difference by using their energy wisely.

The PSAs direct tweens to an interactive website www.loseyourexcuse.gov where they can download the Energy Action plan and learn fun, simple tips on energy efficient behaviors and new technological advances to reduce energy consumption in the home.

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This shows how cool it can be to remodeling green.

This is a LEED certified Gold remodel by Green Street Development. It’s a single family home in Biltmore Park, located in Phoenix Arizona. It is an example of historical preservation, and sustainable and green development. The home is certified by Energy Star and Health House by The American Lung Association.

This is the first LEED certified single family west of the Mississippi, and the first LEED Gold single family home in the western United States.

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. . . Hint . . . the best bangs for the bucks are good for the planet and your wallet too.

By Karen Klages | Tribune reporter

With sales of existing houses in the Midwest down 6 percent in October (and remain 9.1 percent below figures from October ‘07) and the median Midwestern home price down 6.7 percent from a year ago (according to the National Association of Realtors), it makes sense for homeowners to think at least twice about investing in a renovation.

What projects make sense, given the state of economic affairs? What improvements will allow folks to live better now and make the house more saleable later—and offer a handsome return on investment? READ MORE

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