Energy Efficient Home Plans -  Extensive Tax Credits Available

The new USA federal stimulus package passed in January, 2009 and extended makes residential solar, wind and geothermal systems more affordable than ever for your Energy Efficient Home Plans.  You can now get a 30% federal tax credit for the cost of materials and installation of such systems with no cap.  This applies to all regardless of income level.  Go to www.energystar.gov for more information.  Even more tax incentives are available at the local and state level which can bring your total credit to as much as 40-45% of the total installed cost.   Here is a summary of federal tax credits currently available:

Tax Credit:     30% of cost with no upper limit
Expires: December 31, 2016
Details: Existing homes & new construction qualify. Both principal residences and second homes qualify. Rentals do not qualify.

• Geothermal Heat Pumps
• Small Wind Turbines (Residential)
• Solar Energy Systems

Tax Credit:     30% of cost up to $1,500
Expires: December 31, 2010
Details: Must be an existing home & your principal residence. New construction and rentals do not qualify.

• Biomass Stoves
• Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning (HVAC)
• Insulation
• Roofs (Metal & Asphalt)
• Water Heaters (non-solar)
• Windows & Doors

Home Energy Prices Rise

Electricity and home heating fuel prices are very likely to continue to rise, even in the face of deepening worldwide recession.  The cost of energy to heat and light your home and run you many electrical home appliances is becoming more and more unaffordable.

Americans spend more than $160 billion a year to heat, cool, light and live in our homes. That is why lots of people in America  and around the world have been searching for ways to cut down electricity, oil and gas bills by making their homes more energy efficient.  There are a number of options to deal with this problem

Option 1:  Build a More Energy Efficient Home

Click Here for Energy Efficient House Plans

Energy effecient homes are less costly to own, operate and maintain, and they are more comfortable.  They are designed to reduce uncomfortable drafts and reduce sources of internal contaminants. Energy saving home designs are not overly expensive.  Extra costs for upgraded construction, insulation and airtightness should only add 5 to 8% to the total building cost.

In addition you could also add passive solar energy generation, wind power, and certainly a geothermal assisted heat pump system for heating and cooling.

Click Here to Estimate the Cost and Benefits of Passive Solar Electricity Generation

Home buyers or those who are building new homes who choose the Most Energy Efficient Home Plans can afford to spend more on their housing expenses because they will likely spend less on their energy costs. In addition, the “Energy Efficient Mortgage” program sponsored by the federal government allows borrowers with ENERGY STAR certified homes to qualify for a larger mortgage as a result of the energy savings.

Option 2:  Make Your Existing Home More Energy Efficient

One of the most cost effective ways to make your current home more energy efficient is to put optimum insulation in the attic. Thermal insulation is assigned an R-value based on its ability to resist heat transfer — the higher the number, the greater the material’s ability to keep homes cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.

Most homes need to have window systems replaced every 15-20 years or so, particularly when the double pane seal fails, or wooden frames rot.   Replacing them with newer more energy-efficient windows with  increased insulation levels can retain heat during the winter and reflect heat during the summer. Increasing your home’s airtightness will lower its space heating and cooling requirements, allowing you to install a smaller, less expensive heating or cooling system.

Home furnaces and air conditioning systems typically last only 15 years or so before needing replacement. Even though your remodeling efforts can do a lot, it certainly pays these days to pay the extra $400 or so it may cost to get the best high-efficiency furnace you can find when you need to do a replacement.

Option 3:  The Home Made Renewable Energy Alternative

Natural Resources Canada recognizes a rating of 80 as representing the most energy-efficient home on the market today using conventional technology. To move beyond 80 requires looking into the use of renewable energy systems for your home. Natural gas bills would fall by $75 billion, which translates into $96 per year for the average home’s gas bill. Additional savings of $28 billion would occur from lower electricity bills.

Renewable electricity has lots of benefits, but stand-alone (off-grid) systems are more expensive and complex, and require more maintenance than batteryless grid-tied systems. And there are other big advantages to installing systems on the grid, not the least of which can be the abillity to sell electricity back to the power company.   Renewable energy is one of the most important tools we have to combat a changing climate. It is really imperative that we, even as individual homeowners, we make the most of wind, sun and micro-hydro power.

Believe it or not, there are a number of very cost effective ways for the enthusiastic do-it-yourselfer to build his own home based renewable energy system as a substantial part of his energy efficient home plans.   You can build very low cost and high return systems to very effectively and efficiently capture solar and wind power for home use.   Here are a couple of them:

Home Made Energy – Preferred Choice

Home Made Energy is our preferred choice.  It is the more recent and up to date course.  It was developed by Bill Ford, a scientist and researcher who makes claims similar to our second choice which is Earth4Energy, including the ability to reduce your electricity costs by 80% or more. Home Made Energy is a complete Do-It-Yourself( DIY) Home Energy Guide for people who are tired of paying too much for their electricity bills. In my opinion, the details of the Home Made Energy course are superior to what is presented in Earth4Energy. I think you would certainly benefit by giving a hard look at both.  The cost is essentially the same.   If you are really serious, you could buy both to insure that you get the best available information to start your project.  You will be well served by either choice.

Check Out Home Made Energy Here

Earth4Energy – Best Alternative

While Earth4Energy is still the best selling solar/wind power guide on the market today, it is my #2 pick for building your own solar or wind generators for your home because it is not quite as up to date as the newer Home Made Energy guide  Still, it remains an excellent home based renewable energy planning and construction guide that was created by 57 year old Michael Harvey who has been working with renewable energy systems since 1990.  He is very experienced in these technologies, and has developed his concepts, systems and plans to such a point and that he has been able to develop blueprints and videow with with step-by-step instructions that even the most inexperienced can easily follow.

Get Your Copy of Earth4Energy Today Here

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