Northern Virginia Energy Efficient Tax Credits for Home Renovation and Repairs

A “perfect storm” is brewing for all US and Northern Virginia homeowners this spring, interested in saving money on energy costs, saving money on taxes, and promoting a healthy, clean, environmentally-friendly lifestyle for themselves and their families. On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed a stimulus bill (The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009) that made some significant changes to the energy efficiency tax credits. More Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency are available for consumers and home builders, at a much higher percentage of cost (up to 30%), with very few upper limits or exceptions. Tax deductions are available as well for businesses.

The highlights are:

• The tax credits that were previously effective for 2009, have been extended to 2010 as well.
• The tax credit has been raised from 10% to 30%, with no upper limit through 2016 (for existing homes only).
• The tax credits that were for a specific dollar amount have been converted to 30% of the cost.
• The maximum credit has been raised from $500 to $1500 for the two years (2009–2010). However, some improvements such as geothermal heat pumps, solar water heaters, and solar panels are not subject to the $1,500 maximum.
• The $200 cap on windows has been removed.

These tax credits convert into significant savings for consumers interested in Northern Virginia home renovations and remodeling, or consumers simply interested in lowering energy costs through use of new energy-efficient home features like vinyl windows and HVAC units, solar panels and hot water heaters, or simply additional, updated insulation, roofing or caulking projects. This is the absolute best time of year, as well, to begin planning home renovation, repair and remodeling projects that require warmer weather to implement – and require longer lead times from service providers as the spring orders increase.

Here are some very good examples of Virginia home improvement, construction or handyman firms capable of handling your energy-efficiency projects this spring.

For large, custom Northern Virginia home renovation and construction projects that include significant home energy improvements or features, Architectural Construction of McLean, VA offers services that easily provide significant return on investment, via these stimulus bill energy efficiency tax credits. Constructive Solutions of Leesburg VA offers many routine home maintenance, repair, remodeling and handyman services including installation or retrofitting home energy features to take advantage of the tax credits. Vinyl-Lite Window Factory of Lorton, VA already provides the very best and most energy-efficient Northern Virginia windows and replacement vinyl windows – acting now to order and install replacement windows takes full advantage of the tax credits, resulting in significant savings in addition to the reduced energy costs. (Don’t forget to include window security screens or alarm screens for maximum security and privacy). For “Piedmont” area (including Fauquier, Clarke, Culpeper, Frederick, Spotsylvania, Stafford and Prince William counties) handyman, home repair and renovation services, Handyman Matters will quickly and efficiently replace old, energy-inefficient features of your home with new ones that take complete advantage of the new tax credits.

Contact Ingrid Myers, Prince William realtor, as well to discuss spring home renovation and remodeling plans, especially if the goal is to get a head start on the spring real estate season, fix your home up for resell, or simply find an easy and now very cost-effective way to improve the value of your home.