Energy Saving

[dancerjodi]

As we consider insulating our attic floor and potentially getting new front doors (storm and regular) this http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_tax_credits is an interesting thing to keep in mind.

Of course, the Energy Star stuff costs more $, so I wonder just how much savings would come from the extra cost initially?

Some things to consider. In other (related) news, our plumber still hasn't called us back about our annual checkup of the furnace/system and a couple of other issues we want to ask about.

Comments

[tiamatlady]

Up to $500 is nothing to sneeze at.
it comes into play as if it's money you've paid into taxes.
So it might be extra you get back - almost like a rebate.
There may be a state benefit as well.

I'd say don't let it be a deciding factor, the credit, but over the life of your house I'd say you'd see more in savings from lower heat bills than you anticipate.

[rojagato.livejournal.com]

Second that.

Also, gas and electric utility companies generally have some sort of rebate or subsidy program for capital purchases as well.

Utiligy companies

[dancer.livejournal.com]

"Also, gas and electric utility companies generally have some sort of rebate or subsidy program for capital purchases as well."

I think though those are usually for improvements on your heating system (which we won't be making, since ours is as updated as it can be without massively changing from steam heat to some other method).

Re: Utiligy companies

[rojagato.livejournal.com]

Keyspan offers rebates $750 rebate for insulation under its Residential Weatherization program, which is open to all homeowners, not just low-income. Just saying that it could pay to check with your utility as well as into government programs.

Re: Utiligy companies

[dancer.livejournal.com]

"Keyspan offers rebates $750 rebate for insulation under its Residential Weatherization program, which is open to all homeowners, not just low-income. Just saying that it could pay to check with your utility as well as into government programs. "

Per their website, they offer a 20% discount off of services up to $750. Since we're doing this ourselves (rather than paying someone else to do it), it can't really help us.

I am going to look into discounts and such, but in the grand scheme of home repairs, this is a teeny one cost-wise, so I'm not going to kill myself about it. Now, if we could save 20% on our roof job, that would be cool! :)

[jhimm.livejournal.com]

might you not see more of a re-coup of expense on the better insulation
when you sell the house
and you can indicate you've used top-shelf, energy-star insulation?

[devina.livejournal.com]

Not really. Things like insulation aren't sexy the way a new kitchen or updated bath would be, and people don't pay extra for it.

insulation

[dancer.livejournal.com]

What she said - our attic already *should* be insulated, but its not. We're doing it . . . I just don't know if I want to swing the $ for the uber cool, you get a tax break insulation or not.

And we're not selling the house ever, so the resale value is kind of a moot point anyway :)