From the New York Times.
These are near net zero energy ... it doesn't say if there are other green features. I wonder how bright they are inside with those foot-thick walls?
The price is right, though!
The times Green Inc. blog also had an article about some legal issues with green building. For example, if the building does not get the tax credits that were hoped for because the builder misses a deadline.
And here's one about the costs of green certification, in particular the LEED program can be expensive.
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Showing posts with label solar hot water. Show all posts
Showing posts with label solar hot water. Show all posts
Stimulus package -- Caps are off!
Updating my post of last week about tax credits as part of the stimulus package:
the caps to the 30% credit for solar hot water, wind power, and geothermal have been removed. Now it is a straight percentage with no limit.
They have also increased the caps for home energy efficiency improvement like efficient furnaces, insulation, windows, and some appliances, and also the fraction from 10% to 30%. This has not been updated at the Energy Star site yet, but I expect they will get to it soon.
There has been an increase in the grants to weatherize the homes of low- and middle-income families (see Weatherization Assistance Program).
the caps to the 30% credit for solar hot water, wind power, and geothermal have been removed. Now it is a straight percentage with no limit.
They have also increased the caps for home energy efficiency improvement like efficient furnaces, insulation, windows, and some appliances, and also the fraction from 10% to 30%. This has not been updated at the Energy Star site yet, but I expect they will get to it soon.
There has been an increase in the grants to weatherize the homes of low- and middle-income families (see Weatherization Assistance Program).
Solar hot water, tax credits
There was an opinion piece, written by a physics professor, in the New York Times last week. It's not earth-shattering, just points out that while solar hot water is less well known than photovoltaic, electricity-generating panels, is more efficient and less expensive.
They are easy to install and do not have the dramatic reduction in production caused by partial shade that plagues the photovoltaic panels.
He also mentions tax credits, and this part is confusing. The Times posted a correction, which does not help that much. I went to energystar.gov and found this:
Solar Water Heating
* At least half of the energy generated by the “qualifying property” must come from the sun. Homeowners may only claim spending on the solar water heating system property, not the entire water heating system of the household.
* The credit is not available for expenses for swimming pools or hot tubs.
* The water must be used in the dwelling.
* The system must be certified by the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC).
Credit is: 30% of cost, up to $2,000
There is a link to IRS form 5695 for this.
For photovoltaic panels, there is a straight 30% credit, with no cap.
Sweet.
The caps were raised and deadlines extended with the 2008 stimulus package. And these postings don't seem to reflect the 2009 stimulus package just passed. The numbers I have seen on that suggest a 30% credit is still in place, but perhaps the $2,000 cap has been removed for hot water. I'll keep my eyes peeled to see if I can confirm this.
They are easy to install and do not have the dramatic reduction in production caused by partial shade that plagues the photovoltaic panels.
He also mentions tax credits, and this part is confusing. The Times posted a correction, which does not help that much. I went to energystar.gov and found this:
Solar Water Heating
* At least half of the energy generated by the “qualifying property” must come from the sun. Homeowners may only claim spending on the solar water heating system property, not the entire water heating system of the household.
* The credit is not available for expenses for swimming pools or hot tubs.
* The water must be used in the dwelling.
* The system must be certified by the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC).
Credit is: 30% of cost, up to $2,000
There is a link to IRS form 5695 for this.
For photovoltaic panels, there is a straight 30% credit, with no cap.
Sweet.
The caps were raised and deadlines extended with the 2008 stimulus package. And these postings don't seem to reflect the 2009 stimulus package just passed. The numbers I have seen on that suggest a 30% credit is still in place, but perhaps the $2,000 cap has been removed for hot water. I'll keep my eyes peeled to see if I can confirm this.
3-D views, June & December
The designer, Eric Hughes, just sent me these cool, beautiful drawings. Actually he sent me a Google Sketchup file that allows you to fly around and look at the house from any angle! These are screenshots showing how it will look at noon in June, when the sun is at the highest angle, and in December, when the sun is at its lowest angle. (Click the images for a bigger view).
June
December
You can see the effect of the awnings and roof overhang on the passive solar heating. The skylights in the sunroom will have shades to block the summer sun. The sun angles were figured using information from Google Earth for the precise site.
June
December
You can see the effect of the awnings and roof overhang on the passive solar heating. The skylights in the sunroom will have shades to block the summer sun. The sun angles were figured using information from Google Earth for the precise site.
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