Replacing windows and doors
Before, tax credits for windows and doors were capped at $200. Now you can get up to $1,500. But that's only if those doors and windows meet certain criteria.Windows, doors and skylights need a label from the National Fenestration Rating Council that says their U-factor -- a measure of how well they'd keep heat from escaping -- is no more than 0.30. The label also needs to list a solar heat gain coefficient, or SHGC, which measures how much of the sun's heat penetrates into the home, of no more than 0.30.
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Still, qualifying windows are expensive, with most ranging from $270 to $1,100, says Susan Roeder, a spokeswoman for Andersen Windows and Doors, a manufacturer based in Bayport, Minn. Doors can start around $840 and cost as much as $2,500.
Storm windows and storm doors can also qualify. The storm window's manufacturer certification statement lists the type of exterior windows, including single pane or clear glass, which it can be combined with to be eligible for the credit. Storm doors need to accompany a tax-credit-eligible wooden door without exceeding a combined U-factor of 0.30.
Installing air conditioners
Energy Star estimates the retail price and installation of a 5-ton central air conditioner at more than $1,700. That's hardly cheap, but these systems need to be replaced only once every 10 to 12 years, Schneider says.To qualify, central air conditioners need a seasonal energy efficiency ratio, or SEER, which measures the efficiency of central air, of at least 16 and an energy efficiency rating, or EER, which tracks how it operates once the outdoor temperature reaches 95 degrees, of at least 13.
For a list of qualified air conditioners, click here.
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Putting on a new roof
Assuming your roof is around 15 years old, replacing it with a metal or asphalt roof that meets Energy Star requirements will help keep your home cool by reflecting the sun's heat, especially if you live in a warm location, Schneider says.This is a pricey project, however, running around $200 to $300 per square, says John New, a salesman at American Building Components, a manufacturer of metal roofing in Nicholasville, Ky. For a 25-square roof -- a common roof size of 2,500 square feet -- it would cost $5,000 to $7,500.
But once you hit $5,000, you'd be eligible for the full $1,500 tax credit, says Schneider.
This article was reported by AnnaMaria Andriotis for SmartMoney.com.
Published May 13, 2009
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