1. Solar electric is a straight 30% up to a $2,000 credit.  Include the cost of your electrician and other actual labor costs.  If you are a DIY your labor is free. Update May 2009: We understand the $2,000 limit has been dropped but cannot at this time confirm exact limits.

2. Qualified solar water heating property costs is a straight 30% up to a $2,000 credit.

3. Qualified small wind energy is a straight 30% up to a $4,000 credit. Update May 2009: We understand the $2,000 limit has been dropped but cannot at this time confirm exact limits. The size limit is 100kw installations.

4. Qualified SEER 14-16 Air conditioning and Heat pumps have 30$ up to $1,500.

This is a good leap forward for geothermal, solar water heaters, solar panels all qualify.  Caulk your house to seal up leaks, add weather stripping on the doors, get new air ducts installed, these all count.  A fresh coat of paint even helps and makes the old castle look better at the same time.

If your calculation exceeds the allowed rebate you can roll the overage forward to future years so get busy and start your conversion.  Later you will be part of the solution to our energy problems.

There is an option for fuel cell rebates but who has a real product for real people?  Nobody.

You must reduce the basis cost of your home by the amount of any credits allowed.  This won’t matter for people to sell a home and buy a home costing more money.  This comes into play if you sell and do not buy anything as a replacement.  The IRS wants to tax the profit you made which is sold price minus cost.   See your accountant we are not accountants.  Here is a link to the tax form

Direct excerpt from the energy department.
“Home Energy Efficiency Improvement Tax Credits
Consumers who purchase and install specific products, such as energy-efficient windows, insulation, doors, roofs, and heating and cooling equipment in existing homes can receive a tax credit for 30% of the cost, up to $1,500, for improvements “placed in service” starting January 1, 2009, through December 31, 2010.”

May 2009 Update: Radiatn barriers may not qualify, labor will not qualify for tax credits.

Automotive tax credits for Hybrids is worse.

This may or may not be new but there is a dis-incentive for automakers to produce Hybrid cars.  After 60,000 elegible vehicles are sold the tax credit will be phased out for each manufacturer.  Is Obama in bed with big oil too?

Do your own research at the energy department.
Automotive tax credit summary

We are still digesting all the publications and some of the credits for business just make you laugh.  There is more work to do..
If you want to know more then sign up for the Announcement List

Would you be surprised to know that a million people a year die from Malaria?

What are a few things you do on a personal level?
Clean up a beach or local lake area.
Check your sprinkler system.
Use biodegradable products.
Use hydrogen based bleach instead of Chlorine bleach.
Teach a child to use less water when brushing thier teeth.

There are thousands of possibilities. Visit the UN website if you want more info:   www.un.org/waterforlifedecade

alexandracousteau.com

Rebate and Incentive Program Goals

• Demonstrate individual energy savings by tracking usage (kWh) and monthly payments
• Encourage energy-efficiency upgrades throughout the City of Plano
• Demonstrate total energy savings as a City

Qualified Purchases

• Residential upgrades or replacements that are considered energy efficient. Examples include but are not limited to:
  • Energy Star Appliances
  • Air conditioners (14 SEER and above)
  • Attic Insulation
  • Solar Screens/Solar Film
  • Radiant Barrier
  • Duct Replacement/lnsulation
  • Low-e windows
• The City will rebate up to 20% of qualified purchases up to $2000 per household
• Funds will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis until funds are exhausted
• Minimum purchase to be rebated is $100

Eligibility Requirements and Guidelines

• Must be a Plano resident
• Only one application per household
• Residential dwellings only
• Items must be purchased and installed between 5115/2008-5/15/2009
• Resident must track and report energy usage for current year for at least three months after installation as well as the same months from the previous year
• City of Plano must be able to verify purchase price, purchase date and installation (receipts and other designated means)
• Rebate check will be awarded after all eligibility requirements have been met

Commitment Program and Bonus

• Any Plano resident who commits to tracking and reporting energy usage will be eligible for monthly drawings for energy efficiency give-a-ways (ex. programmable thermostats)
• Those who commit to track and report energy usage for at least 6 months will be eligible for a “Tracking Bonus” that will be awarded through drawings.
• Encourage energy-efficiency upgrades throughout the City of Plano Demonstrate individual energy savings by tracking usage (kWh) and monthly payments

When I was finishing I could see the screen again that keeps the bugs out and as clogged as the soffit vent was certainly no air was moving either.  Big problem! I quickly went around the entire house and all but one was pretty dirty.   I had turbine fans put in several years ago and noticed they did not turn as fast as they used to.  After cleaning out the vents those turbines are noticeably faster again.  So, if you are like me and never cleaned the attic vents it will pay to check yours so the air can move freely in the attic. There are many types of vents.  It was over 100 today and without air moving I can only guess how hot it could get in the attic and what that is doing to my electric bill.  What ever type of attic vents you have, if they are clogged will not do much good to move air as needed and we all know the result.  Yes, it’s another project to be done around the house but this one is fast, cheap and easy to do.