Grants, Incentives & Other Assistance Available Update Your Home to Conserve Energy

Written on October 15, 2007 by Amanda M. Gladden

In keeping with Woman Start Your Business Now’s theme of helping you locate money to get things done, here are 3 places to search for tax credits and state assistance programs available to encourage you to institute some home improvements to conserve energy.

I.

Research and take advantage of available tax credits and grants in your locale

In the United State, the IRS currently offers tax credits (a credit reduces the amount of taxes owed to the government) to consumers, home builders and commercial buildings to encourage energy conservation.

Tax credits are possible for home improvements such as adding insulation, replacing old leaky windows with more energy efficient ones as well as replacing heating and cooling systems. This tax credit applies to improvements made to your primary residence from January 1, 2006 through December 31, 2007.

Tax credits for 30 percent of the cost of setting up a solar energy system, up to $2,000, is also available for qualified solar and photovoltaic systems for systems “placed in service” from January 1, 2006 through December 31, 2008.

Read the following IRS Forms for additional information and specifics

• Residential Energy Efficient Property: Form 5695
• New Homes: Form 8908
• Commercial Solar Incentives: Form 3468 (Investment Credit)

II.

Contact your state government and get information about the incentives being offered.

States like California, Connecticut and New York offer sizeable rebates, grants and other incentives
independent of the IRS incentives, to homeowners installing solar energy systems, buying energy start appliances, and for using other conservation methods

Additional Resources:

Search the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency

Consumer Tax Incentives
http://www.energytaxincentives.org/consumers/heating-cooling.php

III.

Check with your local utility provider. Ask them whether they offer any incentives to promote energy conservation.

Some utility companies offer such programs. For example, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Cedar Falls Utilities offers Energy Conservation Grants for extensive tree planting projects on property served by the Cedar Falls Municipal Electric Utility. These grants are available to individuals, non-profit organizations, businesses, city agencies, schools and civic groups.

Additional Links:

Search the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency

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Other Useful Links:

World Green Building Council

Tax Incentives Assistance Project

Please see the RELATED POST-Blog Action Day: Conserve Energy at Home

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Posted in Blogging Fun, Grants

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