Tax Incentives For Making Your House More Green
April 6th, 2009 by Richard Moyle
At 1,588 pages, The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is quite an undertaking to read. Most people probably wouldn’t take the time to read the whole thing, but there are some tax credits they might be missing out on. The economic stimulus package lengthens the Energy Efficiency Tax Incentives first enacted in 2005 and even creates some new ones for those who remodel their homes using more energy efficient and eco-friendly materials.
Homeowners can get credits for installing efficient air conditioners and heat pumps; gas or oil furnaces and furnace fans; and gas, oil, or electric heat pump water heaters in new or existing homes. They can also get credits for energy improvements to their homes, such as windows, insulation, and envelope and duct sealing.
When it comes to insulation, asbestos abatement may be necessary. All homes built before 1970 contain asbestos, and many built since then contain it as well. Asbestos was utilized in a number of ways throughout the 20th century, but it was mainly used for insulation because of its fire-resistant qualities. Unfortunately, exposure to asbestos is the only known cause of a rare and aggressive type of lung cancer known as pleural mesothelioma. Because mesothelioma symptoms do not usually show up until about 15 to 25 years after exposure, it is not usually diagnosed until it’s in its advanced stages
Eco-friendly products can cut energy costs by 25 to 35% per year. Instead of expensive and mal-treated wood, interior walls can be made from steel and concrete. This avoids many of the problems associated with asbestos and other insulation methods. Green alternatives to asbestos include cotton fiber, lycene foam and cellulose.
There are a number of other alternative types of insulation that can be used that are more eco-friendly than asbestos and don’t pose any danger to your health. The United States Department of Energy has a list of insulation “Energy Savers” you can use when making plans to remodel your home.
Richard Moyle is the National Awareness Coordinator for Asbestos.com, the leading Mesothelioma Cancer Resource.
One Response to “Tax Incentives For Making Your House More Green”
I think that the stimulus package have helped a lot in restoring the economy. right now we can see some improvements in the economy. right now we can see some improvements in the eco:”`
By Ashton Cox on May 1, 2010