subject: The Tax Rebate For Efficient Windows Saved Me $1500 [print this page] When I decided to install new windows into my fifty year old home this spring, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that I was able to save an additional thirty percent off the cost in addition to the sale price from the company that was going to install them. Since the company I had chosen, was offering a twenty percent discount, I was set to save fifty percent of what they would have cost me last year.
On February 17, 2009 the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was signed into law. This law allows significant tax cuts and credits if you make energy efficient improvements to your home. You can qualify for an amount up to fifteen hundred dollars. It could be windows, doors, skylights, insulation and so on. The biggest thing you should know before making your final decisions is that you need to make sure that all of your improvements meet the requirements.
When my contractor came out, he explained that the windows I chose needed to have a U-factor of .30 or less and a solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) of .30 or less to qualify for the windows tax rebate. Not all windows meet the requirements so I knew that I needed to choose wisely. I was not having doors or skylights put in, so I am not sure what their requirements are, you should check with your contractor on those details if you are looking to apply for the credit.
In addition to the windows tax rebate savings of $1500 that I was about to qualify for, my contractor was offering another twenty percent discount since the economy had hit his business really hard and work was difficult to find. I felt badly for the reason of getting the extra percentage off, but not bad enough to not take advantage of it. The economy was tough for everyone, including me.
After choosing a window that would meet all the requirements, and the contractor taking all of the proper measurements that were needed, I signed an agreement to move forward and have the work completed. My new energy efficient windows were installed about two weeks later and I am noticing some big changes in my heating and cooling bills. I am no longer tossing money out the window when it is hot or cold outside.
The fact that I saved the money through the tax rebate, the discount through the contractor, and now with my heating and cooling bills makes me think that I should have done this a long time ago. Of course by doing it after the law was put into effect has saved me so much money. I have since had my house appraised and found that I have also put substantial equity into the worth of my home.
I now tell everyone I can about the law that can help them save money in numerous ways. Two of my neighbors have since put in new windows and another had all new exterior doors put in and they all took advantage of the tax rebate, I am not sure if they qualified for the full amount like I did, but I know they qualified for something.
