Incentives for home energy efficiency
In 2010, many home energy-efficiency upgrades qualified for a tax credit of 30 percent of the cost of the project up to $1,500.
Insulating the attic Insulating your home is just one of the many energy-efficient retrofits eligible for tax credits.
“A tax credit is generally more valuable than an equivalent tax deduction because a tax credit reduces tax dollar-for-dollar, while a deduction only removes a percentage of the tax that is owed,” according to the Department of Energy’s (DOE) website.
Retrofits that seal your home to prevent heat loss or gain are eligible for tax credits. Certain types of metal and asphalt roofs also qualify for the tax credit. The tax credit for home-sealing projects applies to the cost of the equipment only – not the installation or labor costs.
- Eligible write-offs: insulation, weather stripping and installing energy-efficient windows, window film, skylights and doors
Purchasing efficient heating and cooling equipment for your home may also qualify you for tax credits, and this tax credit covers both the product and labor costs.
- Eligible write-offs: high-efficiency furnaces, boilers, air conditioners and water heaters, as well as fans for heating and cooling systems, biomass stoves and geothermal heat pumps
For both types of retrofits – home sealing and heating and cooling equipment, you’ll receive tax credits for projects carried out at only your primary residence that you own – not a new home or a rental (there are separate energy-efficiency tax credits for new homes). The new efficient equipment must be installed by Dec. 31, 2010. If you made any home energy improvements in 2009, your tax credit is capped at $1,500 for both 2009 and 2010.
Make sure to hold on to your receipts: You won’t need to submit them with your taxes, but keep them in your records in case of an audit. Visit Energy Star’s website to find eligible products and tax filing instructions.
Planning for 2011
There will be tax credits for energy-efficiency improvements you make on your home in 2011, but at lower levels.
“If you’re planning on making any energy-efficiency upgrades, we recommend you act now,” said Ronnie Kweller, spokesperson for the Alliance to Save Energy, a non-profit coalition of businesses, government and environmental groups that promotes energy efficiency. “Given the current federal budget situation, it’s unclear if tax credits are going to be extended next year, so don’t count on them. The 2011 tax credits are already a third of the value they were in the past years.”
Other Rebates and Rewards
Even if you didn’t purchase a product that qualifies for a federal tax credit, you may still be able to receive rebates and other incentives from your city, state or local utility. Call your local agencies for more information, and visit the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency.
Money for renewables
Did you install a renewable energy system on your home last year? Tax credits are not just available for the expensive and glamorous solar photovoltaic arrays and small wind energy systems. You can also receive tax credits for installing a solar hot water heater.
The tax credit for renewables is quite lucrative: 30 percent of the cost of the system with no cap. This credit applies to any home you may own – not just your primary residence – but does not apply to rentals. Visit theEnergy Star website to learn about system requirements and tax filing instructions.
Planning for 2011
The current tax credit for renewables expires on Dec. 31, 2016, so you have plenty of time to decide if one of these systems works for your home and budget.
Credits for green cars
2010 was your last chance to receive tax credits for hybrid vehicles: You had to buy or lease your hybrid by Dec. 31 to qualify. Only certain hybrids still qualified for tax credits last year, as tax credits were phased out once a car manufacturer sold 60,000 models. The popular Prius, for example, has not been eligible for a tax credit since 2008.
Certain hybrid cars, like Nissan’s 2011 Altima Hybrid, still qualified for tax credits in 2010. Photo: Nissan
To receive the tax credit for Ford’s hybrids – $850 for the Fusion and Mercury Milan hybrids, for example – you had to make your purchase by March 31, 2010, before the company hit its 60,000-car threshold. GM and Nissan hybrids were eligible for tax credits at any date in 2010, such as $1,550 for the Chevy Malibu and $2,350 for Nissan’s Altima hybrid.
If you bought an electric vehicle (EV) in 2010 – either a plug-in hybrid or electric-battery car – you can receive a tax credit of up to $7,500, depending on the vehicle’s battery capacity.
Great news if you’re thinking of purchasing the new Nissan LEAF or Chevy Volt: The tax credit for EVs is available into 2011; the incentive will be phased out once a car company sells 200,000 of the vehicles.
Visit the DOE’s Fuel Economy website to search for your alternative-fuel vehicle by make, model and year, and see if your car is eligible for a tax credit. You’ll also be able to find tax filing instructions on this website. To learn about local and state incentives for alternative-fuel cars, check out the DOE’s Alternatives Fuels Data Center.
Deductions for donating
If you dropped off a bag of clothes at Goodwill or gave a set of dishes to St. Vincent de Paul last year, you can receive tax deductions for donating these used items in good condition to a charitable organization. Remember to request a donation receipt to keep in your files. Many organizations that operate secondhand stores allow you to determine the price of your donated goods.
For requirements and tax filing instructions, browse the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) guide to Charitable Contributions.
Other Savings from your state
Arizona gives residents up to $1,000 in tax credits for installing home rainwater and greywater collection systems to conserve water. Check with your state’s tax office to see if they offer any other green tax credits or deductions not listed in the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency or the DOE’sAlternatives Fuels Data Center. If installing a rainwater harvesting system sounds daunting, we’ve got you covered – check out our Budgeter’s Guide to Rainwater Harvesting.
* excerpt from: Article by Alexis Petru Published on March 14th, 2011. See: http://earth911.com/news/2011/03/14/green-tax-credits-youre-missing/
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