Austin Texas Real Estate Blog

There’s no question that most states, particularly Texas, want their residents to build and reside in environmentally friendly homes. Statewide incentives are heavily advertised, and local builders are openly praised. Thus you are well aware of the regional benefits of building green. But are you also aware of the incentives outside of the state for eco-conscious construction? Have you, for example, looked into what the federal government is offering you?

There are numerous federal incentives for building and living in a “green home.” For instance, installing energy conservation measures to reduce the electricity or gas that you use daily warrants a tax break. Your gross income, come next April, will not include the value of the solar paneling or whichever device you chose to use. And if you think you can’t afford this step, think again. The federal government offers loans and grants to a variety of individuals and businesses for installing environmentally safe devices.

If you are starting from scratch, building a completely new home rather than simply installing an energy saving device, you have even more to gain. Depending on the methods you employ and materials you use, you could garner a $2,000 tax credit. At the very least, you’ll get a $1,000 credit; as far as minimums are concerned, that’s not bad at all.

So you see, it’s not just the state providing you with reasons to build green; it’s the country, too. There are numerous federal incentives waiting to be taken advantage of by you and your eco-conscious plans. All you have to do is know that they exist. To do that, visit the Green Building Initiative at thegbi.org. It has a database of benefits just waiting to be acknowledged by you.