Today’s links
§ § § § § § § § § §
From the National Association of REALTORS
Promoting Energy Efficiency in the Nation’s Buildings
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 does much to promote energy efficiency in the nation’s buildings. And tax incentives are among the engines driving the shift. That’s great news for you [...]
Today’s links
§ § § § § § § § § §
From the National Association of REALTORS
Promoting Energy Efficiency in the Nation’s Buildings
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 does much to promote energy efficiency in the nation’s buildings. And tax incentives are among the engines driving the shift. That’s great news for you and your clients.
Here is a sampling of the new federal incentives as reported by the Tax Incentives Assistance Project.
Residential Buildings
- Energy efficiency incentives for upgrades to existing homes, which cover improvements to building envelope and heating, cooling and water heating equipment, are now available through 2010. The cap has increased to $1,500.
- The existing home incentives are now calculated at 30% of the cost of installation, up to the $1,500 cap. Until further clarification on the legislation, it appears that labor is not included.
- On-site renewable energy systems, including solar photovoltaic and hot water systems, small wind systems and geothermal heat pumps, are eligible for a tax incentive worth 30% of the total cost of the system. There is no cap on the amount.
Commercial Buildings
- A tax deduction of up to $1.80 per square foot is available to owners or tenants of new or existing commercial buildings that are built or reconstructed to save at least 50% of the heating, cooling, ventilation, water heating and interior lighting energy cost of a building that meets ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2001. (The standard provides minimum requirements for the energy-efficient design of buildings).
- Partial deductions of $.60 per square foot are available for improvements to one of three building systems – building envelope, lighting or heating and cooling – that reduces total heating, cooling, ventilation, water heating and interior lighting energy use by 16 2/3% (totaling 50% when applied to all three systems).
- Buildings placed in service between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2013, and covered by the scope of ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2001 are eligible.
Learn more about the incentives stemming from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and download a matrix of energy efficiency incentives.
Individual states offer additional energy efficiency and renewable energy tax incentives. The Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency is a central clearinghouse for them.
§ § § § § § § § § §
Green Statistics from Mcgraw Hill
 |
|
Global: Early adopters are deeply involved in green, with 30% building green on over 60% of their projects in 2008. Over the next five years, more than half (53%) expect to reach this level of involvement. |
 |
|
Nonresidential Building: Industry Players in commercial and institutional buildings are getting increasingly active in green building, with those largely dedicated to green building (30% or more of their projects built green) reporting a 50% increase(10 percentage points) from 20% in 2008 to 30% in 2009. |
 |
|
Residential Home Builder: Builders heavily involved in green building (60% or more projects green) is expected to also increase from 26% in 2008 to 36% in 2009. |
Statistics taken from McGraw – Hill Construction’s Green Outlook 2009
§ § § § § § § § § §
The Department of Energy (DOE) and Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) have been both creative and enthusiastic in their efforts to educate, accelerate, and motivate the population at large about the enduring benefits that come when we reduce the impact on the environment that is generated from fossil fuels, nuclear energy and natural gas.
To [...]
The Department of Energy (DOE) and Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) have been both creative and enthusiastic in their efforts to educate, accelerate, and motivate the population at large about the enduring benefits that come when we reduce the impact on the environment that is generated from fossil fuels, nuclear energy and natural gas.
To motivate our future engineers, architects, researchers, and homeowners to connect with nature’s natural resources, namely solar energy, the DOE challenged college student to design, build, and operate an energy efficient solar powered house. The expectation of the award winning model is to inspire consumers, builders, and end users to incorporate an innovative way of building or redesigning homes that reduce the carbon footprint to the environment.
That avant-garde by the DOE and EERE gave rise to the introduction of the Solar Decathlon event. The competition began in 2001 when organizers selected14 teams from colleges or university students. The event took place at the “Solar Village” on the grounds of the National Mall in Washington D.C. In the fall of 2002, the University of Colorado was the overall winner.
The judges for this competition were selected from the top professionals from their fields of expertise that would address each category of the competition.
The ten categories of the 2002 competition were:
• Design and Livability
• Presentation and Simulation
• Graphics and Communication
• Comfort Zone
• Refrigeration
• Hot Water
• Energy Balance
• Lighting
• Home Business
• Getting Around
The Solar Decathlon is gearing up for its third event and 20 teams have been selected to compete for the $100,000 award. This decathlon will be an international collegiate competition that will incorporate integrated photovoltaic (BIPV). The event is scheduled to take place at the National Mall in Washington D.C., in the fall of 2009.
The categories for the 2009 contest are:
• Architecture – 200 points
• Engineering – 150 points
• Marketing Viability – 150 points
• Communications – 100 points
• Comfort Zone – 100 points
• Appliances – 100 points
• Hot Water – 100 points
• Energy Balance- 100 points
• Getting Around – 100 points
For more information visit: www.solardecathlon.org/contests_scoring.html
