While some choose to protest the various measures taken by this administration to stimulate the sluggish economy, it may be time to look at some of the "egregious" measures found within that stimulus package.
Within the The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 that was signed into law in February there are several tax INCENTIVES for people who would like to remodel their homes. In fact, some incentives are add ons to the Energy Efficiency Tax Incentives first enacted in 2005.
Within the The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 that was signed into law in February there are several tax INCENTIVES for people who would like to remodel their homes. In fact, some incentives are add ons to the Energy Efficiency Tax Incentives first enacted in 2005.
Some of the measures eligible for tax credits are:
Replacing windows and skylights, and exterior doors which are equal to or below a 0.30 U factor and a Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) of 0.30.
Sealing cracks in the building shell and ducts to reduce infiltration and heat loss - these should be sealed so as to be consistent with the 2009 IECC.
Window films certified by the manufacturer that the product meets the requirements of a "qualifying insulation system."
Pigmented metal roofs, or an asphalt roof with cooling granules must meet Energy Star requirements.
Adding insulation to walls, ceilings, or other part of the building envelope that meets the 2009 IECC (& supplements) specifications.
Notice that each of these incentives has the dual purpose of stimulating the economy and creating the sustainable green economy of the future. The energy savings that could potentially be had from these remodels is in the neighborhood of 25-35% each and every year. So, in addition to the tax incentive that comes with making these improvements you will see additional energy savings every year thereafter.
In the process of doing this green remodeling you have the potential to improve your health as well. One of the features of most homes built throughout the last century is asbestos which has been shown to cause Pleural mesothelioma. With these new tax incentives, you may be able to remove this material once and for all from the place in which you live.
In the process of doing this green remodeling you have the potential to improve your health as well. One of the features of most homes built throughout the last century is asbestos which has been shown to cause Pleural mesothelioma. With these new tax incentives, you may be able to remove this material once and for all from the place in which you live.
From Asbestos.com (via Mesothelioma symptoms):
Mesothelioma has earned a reputation as a cancer that is very difficult to treat effectively. This reputation is partly due to the fact that in early stages, mesothelioma symptoms are quite non-specific, making early diagnosis very difficult. In addition, the disease usually lays dormant for 15 to 50 years and symptoms do not appear until the cancer has reached its late stages.
Check out the United States Department of Energy for some insulation tips...
So with tax incentives that can save you money in the long term and potentially even improve your health, you have to wonder what exactly people are up in arms about.
