This week Pella summarized some of the new tax credits for energy improvements.  The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) signed into law Feb. 17, 2009 includes tax credits for qualifying energy-saving home improvements. Immediately replacing the previous Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 tax credit for ENERGY STAR® windows and doors, the new stimulus bill significantly raises performance requirements for windows and doors qualifying for credits.

• Eligible window and door products now have to be equal to or below a 0.30 U-Factor and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) of 0.30 for all U.S. climate zones.
  • The U-Factor measures heat transmission through a window or door — a lower U-Factor equals better insulation.
  • SHGC measures how well a window or door blocks heat from sunlight.  The lower the value the better the unit keeps out solar heat.
  • We have some good information on decoding window specifications on GetWithGreen.com
• Between Jan. 1, 2009 and Dec. 31, 2010, U.S. homeowners may claim a tax credit up to 30 percent of the cost of qualifying replacement windows and doors installed in their principal residence, not exceeding $1,500.
• The tax credit applies to the price of qualifying windows and doors, but does not cover installation, on-site preparation, assembly or sales tax.
• You can find the qualifying Pella products at Window Tax Credit.   (How bummed am I that I bought my Pella Designer windows in November of last year!?)

*Please be sure to consult your tax professional to determine if the windows you purchase are eligible for the U.S. tax credit.

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One of the newest trends in home renovation, restoration and building isn?t actually new.  Just an old idea whose time has come back around. 

The salvage and junk yards of our grandparents have become slicker and hipper for the eco conscious and the thrifty alike.  Reclaimed building supply and deconstruction companies now use words like architectural, sustainable, reclaimed and even reincarnation to describe the junkyards of yesteryear.

You can find reclaimed building supply companies in every state and almost every larger city.  Some specialize in period antiques, others in just bathroom fixtures, some carry everything including kitchen sinks.  All it took was a two minute internet search for me to find my nearest reclaimed building supply store.  Who knew one of these gems was hiding in the next town over?

The ReCONNstruction Center of New Britain, Connecticut is different from the rest of the pack.  It is a non-profit group whose mission includes not only salvaging building materials in the name of mother earth, but it also aims to support the local area by providing reasonable prices for the residents and providing a livable wage for it?s employees. 

Driving into the parking lot of the ReCONNstruction Center I spied a neighbor.  Coincidence or a sign of a real tend?  This neighbor has been slowly renovating his 1885 Victorian home with mostly reclaimed fixtures.  My unnamed neighbor allegedly plays hookey from work every couple of weeks to check out what is new in the store.  And it is always changing.

On the day I visited the store, an antique door from the 1700?s ($300) was prominently displayed alongside a new and modern glass sink ($350).   Antique fireplace tiles (25 cents) caught my eye and made me wish for a fireplace of my own.  Full paint cans stacked to the ceiling and priced for pennies almost made me want to repaint the house.  Kerry Ann Kowar, The ReCONNstruction Center?s friendly volunteer coordinator with the displaying skills of one of the Barker?s Beauties in jeans, eloquently described the store?s endless tile samples, bathroom vanities, doorknobs, kitchen cabinets, windows, doors and bins of hardware.

Kerry Ann explained that all of their materials are donated by homeowners, builders and companies going out of business.  Since The ReCONNstruction Center is a non-profit, each donation is completely tax-deductable.

When deciding to make a purchase at a home restoration store, there are a few dangers to consider.  For example, the paint on those beautiful wooden pieces made prior to 1978 can contain lead.  Light fixtures should also to be purchased with caution.  Old wiring may not be up to code and can pose a dangerous fire risk.  Unless you are an electrical whiz, factor in the price of an electrician to bring your new find up to code. 

Whether you are looking to save a few dollars, want to find period fixtures or are looking to save building materials from the landfill, a field trip to your local building materials salvage store is a worthwhile trip.

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Whether you select Pella, Andersen, Marvin, JELD-WEN, or another brand, windows are almost a certainty in your home remodel project.  Did you know there are rebates and incentive plans in many areas of the country?

Window rebates are most often paid out based on the U-factor or Solar Heat Gain Coefficient by your power or Utility company.  Many times these rebates have a budget, and once they are used up they are gone – so submit yours as soon as you can if there is a program in your area.

GetWithGreen searched the web and found you a fairly comprehensive list of rebates.  Click here for the .pdf list of Utility Programs that Offer Incentives and Rebates for Energy Efficient Windows

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