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2011 Tax Credit Summary

On December 17, 2010, President Obama signed the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010. This law extends the tax credits for energy efficiency into 2011, BUT at lower levels. The levels revert back to those in effect in 2006 and 2007, which were 10% of the cost of the improvement, up to $500, with a $200 max for windows, and several other set maximums.

• 10% up to $500 for insulation, roofs, and doors.
• Windows capped at $200, but qualification now ENERGY STAR
• Furnace and boilers capped at $150, and all furnaces and boilers must meet 95 AFUE
• $50 for advanced main air circulating fan
• $300 for air conditioners, air source heat pumps, water heaters, and biomass stoves 
• $500 lifetime limit. If you got over $500 in these tax credits from 2006-2010, you are not eligible for anything more.

Furnaces:

• Natural Gas – Requires an AFUE >= 95
• Propane Gas – Requires an AFUE >= 95

HVAC: Central Air Conditioning

• Split Systems Require an EER >=13 and SEER >=16
• Package Systems Require an EER >=12 and SEER >=14

Air Source Heat Pumps

• Split Systems: HSPF >=8.5, EER >= 12.5, SEER >= 15
• Package Systems: >=8, EER >= 12, SEER >= 15
• 30% of cost, up to $1,500.00

Insulation: Owens Corning Blown-In Attic Insulation

• Must meets 2009 IECC Requirements & Amendments
• Must be expected to last 5 years OR have a 2 year warranty
• Its purpose must be to insulate (i.e. insulated siding would not qualify)

Water Heaters: Rinnai Tankless Gas Water Heaters

• Requires an Energy Factor >= 0.82 or a Thermal Efficiency of at least 90%
• All ENERGY STAR gas tankless water heaters will qualify

Glossary For Above Terms

AFUE - This is a percentage measurement of a furnace’s heating efficiency. The U.S. Government’s minimum efficiency level is 78%. The higher the AFUE value, the more efficient the furnace. The initials stand for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency.

EER Rating- This term refers to the energy efficiency ratio. The EER measures cooling system performance at 95ºF. It measures performance on “peak days”—the hottest days, when your air conditioner is working hardest. A higher EER means you’ll get more cooling output for every unit of power input.

SEER Rating- This term refers to the season energy efficiency ratio. A higher SEER means better efficiency and lower energy bills. SEER is calculated by dividing the amount of cooling supplied by the air conditioner or heat pump (Btu’s per hour) by the power (watts) used by the cooling equipment under a specific set of seasonal conditions.

IECC - International Energy Conservation Code (IECC for short). The IECC includes insulation levels for attics, walls, floors, and basements. However, to qualify for the Federal tax credit, homeowners must only meet the level of insulation required for the area they are insulating. For example, a homeowner can choose only to insulate their attic to the levels required in the IECC and still be eligible for the tax credit. For most homeowners, this will mean adding an additional R-19 to R-30 insulation to their attic. If a homeowner insulates part of their home to a level below the IECC, this would not qualify.