With summer in full swing, you may discover that your home seems to be hotter in certain areas of your home than others. That’s because most homes in the United States have significant energy difficiencies, which are very noticeable when the weather turns hot. According to Consumer Reports, only 12% of Americans have upgraded their home’s insulation and only 5% have insulated their heating and cooling ductwork. That means big $$$ spent on heating and cooling costs are literally leaking right out of your home!
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Homes which are not optimized for peak efficiency are more expensive and more difficult to heat and cool. This leads to inflated utility bills and potentially expensive repairs. Of the many improvements a homeowner can make to boost energy efficiency, air sealing and insulation are two of the most important with the highest return on investment. |
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Now is a perfect time to upgrade your insulation and to seal your home from air leakage. With the extention of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, you can recieve a federal energy tax credit that benefits homeowners seeking energy efficient improvements. Under section 25C, homeowners can claim up to a $500 maximum tax credit to cover material costs of energy-efficient upgrades to existing homes for all taxable years. The credit is only redeemable if the upgrades are in place by the end of 2013, so don’t delay! Here is a list of projects that Windows on Washington offers that are currently eligible for the tax credit:
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Insulation – Additional insulation to walls, ceilings, or other part of your home that meet standards set in 2009 IECC.
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Air Sealing – Sealing cracks around your home and ducts to reduce infiltration and heat loss in a manner consistent with the 2009 IECC.
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Replacement Windows and Exterior Doors – 10% of material cost, up to $200 for replacement windows and exterior doors that meet Energy Star requirements. The replacement windows must have performance values equal to or below a 0.30 U factor and a Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) of 0.30, and ALL of the windows we carry qualify.
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Skylights – 10% of material cost up to $200 and must meet Energy Star requirements.
For more information about air sealing and insulation, please download “The Windows on Washington Guide to Air Sealing and Insulation.” It will provide you with comprehensive information on air sealing and insulation by detailing strategies for locating and sealing leaks, identifying areas which need insulation upgrades and choosing the right insulation for the Washington, DC-area climate. Contact the experts at Windows on Washington for all of your Air Sealing and Insulation needs.
