Green Building
Outdoor Rooms Add Usable Square Footage
Working with your custom home builder in a part of your home you may not have imagined, you can add useful square footage in the form of an outdoor room. Backyards are too often laid with grass and beyond that, left virtually empty, save a swing set, rusty old grill, or tract of space for your dog to run.
Outdoor Kitchen
Modern outdoor rooms have expanded upon the old backyard favorites in ways that provide function in a luxurious package. Simple grills have been replaced with built-in outdoor kitchens with massive stone and pizza ovens, perfect for entertaining year round. Warm summer nights can be enjoyed outdoors with friends over a fresh baked pizza. Cold winter nights are made warm by gathering around massive stone ovens, while piping hot soups boil up atop an outdoor stove.
Outdoor Living Space
Tattered patio furniture has been become a thing of the past. Replacement options include built-in seating units with removable cushions, tall stools seated before an outdoor bar and rustic wooden dining tables and chairs. Built-in furniture, like benches and sofas can add a natural appeal to your outdoor space at a minimal carbon footprint by using indigenous materials.
Indigenous Landscaping
No room is complete without the right decor. And for outdoor rooms, that means landscaping. Working with your HealthyBuilt Certified Home Builder, you can incorporate native plants into your outdoor space, which will require little to no maintenance. Eradicating plants that are exotic to Western North Carolina in favor of native species will create harmony in the ecosystem of your outdoor space to ensure the health and well being of forces who also appreciate your outdoor space, such as migrating birds.
Since recent studies suspect perfectly manicured lawns as one of a home’s largest carbon producers, transforming your dull, grassy space to a luxurious outdoor room can even be beneficial for the planet.
Whether you’re looking to add life to your existing home in the form of an outdoor room, or you want to create a special entertaining space in your new custom build, speak with your home builder to make use of this valuable space.
Window Labeling for Tax Credit Eligibility
Will your Energy Star windows, doors and skylights meet this year’s newer, more stringent requirements? Your green home builder will be able to help you select the most energy efficient products for your home, but it’s not a bad idea to familiarize yourself with these important new labels.
Earlier this year, new performance requirements went into effect on all ENERGY STAR windows, doors and skylights. Knowing how to identify these labels when purchasing your new energy efficient products is vital to making good investments and ensuring eligibility for tax credits.
Red and Black Labels
ENERGY STAR Red Label
There are two new ENERGY STAR labels to watch for. The label shown at right was rolled out in October of 2009. Appearing in either red or black, this label identifies window, skylight and door products which will no longer meet the high-efficiency ENERGY STAR standards effective April 1, 2010.
Blue Label
ENERGY STAR Blue Label
The new, blue label will help you identify ENERGY STAR products that are eligible for tax credits up to $1,500 when installed in 2010.
To ensure the highest level of energy efficiency and tax credit eligibility in your ENERGY STAR purchases, it is always important to consult your green home builder.
Get Tax Credits for Solar Hot Water Heaters
Tax Credits for Solar Hot Water Heaters
Long, hot baths don’t have to be a waste of energy. Solar hot water systems can heat the water for your kitchen or bath without running up your electric or gas bill.
In fact, many homeowners are now replacing traditional hot water heaters with solar powered systems, proving to be a revolution in green building. Solar water heaters use collection plates and highly insulated storage tanks to harness the power of the sun, thereby reducing carbon footprints and saving money on energy bills.
Systems are categorized as either active or passive. Active systems circulate the water within the tank using pumps or coils. While passive systems rely on gravity and the water’s natural temperature based circulation. An experienced green builder can advise you as to which system fits with your solar water heating needs. Some factors to be considered include your home site, local building codes, and the size of your family.
Whichever system you choose, the benefits can be astounding. According to some statistics, solar water heating systems can reduce your monthly utility bill, essentially paying for itself in less than five years. Your home builder can also help you to comply with federal tax credit regulations regarding a new solar hot water heating system to further help in covering the costs of the unit and installation. Federal tax credits will pay for up to 30% of the cost of installation of an energy star solar water heating system, but only if the system is installed before the deadline of December 31, 2016.
It’s important to contact your green building specialist as soon as possible to discuss the solar heating options for your home to start saving money and energy. Whether you’re building a new construction or updating the system in your existing homes, it’s a win-win situation for all homeowners.
Home Remodeling and Energy Tax Credits
Energy efficient replacement windows in a home remodel can earn energy tax credits.
Conserving energy through the use of “green” products might not have been at the top of your list a few years ago, but thanks to the 2009 economic stimulus bill the government has made it financially beneficial to homeowners to work toward energy efficiency. Tax credits are available unlike ever before to homeowners who are planning a home remodel with green appliances and practices.
The 2009 economic stimulus bill improves upon pre-existing credits in a big way:
- 2009 tax credits are now in effect until 2010
- The 10% tax credit is now 30%
- Tax credits that were once a specific amount are now converted to 30% of the cost of materials
- The maximum credit is now $1500 instead of $500 and is for all improvements combined for the 2009-2010 period
- Certain home improvements, including geothermal heat pumps, solar water heaters, and panels are not subject to the $1500 maximum
Asheville remodeling contractors such as Brock Builders can perform a home energy audit to outline the areas that will benefit most from installing energy-efficient appliances and insulation systems. By installing a variety of energy-efficient items from the following categories, you may be eligible to claim a tax credit of 30 percent:
- Biomass stoves
- Exterior doors, skylights and windows
- HVAC
- Roofing (metal and asphalt)
- Storm doors and windows
- Water heaters (nonsolar)
Tax credits are also available at 30% of the cost, with no upper limit through 2016 (for existing homes and new construction) for the following categories:
- Fuel cells
- Geothermal heat pumps
- Solar panels
- Solar water heaters
- Small wind energy systems
The new tax credit does have a discrepancy, however, when it comes to windows. Energy Star windows purchased before June 1, 2009 are eligible for the tax credit of 30%, but not all Energy Star windows purchased after June 1 will qualify. To meet the requirements for the tax credit after June 1, the windows in your remodel must be super-efficient windows with a U-factor and solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) less than or equal to .30. According to Energy Star’s website, most of their windows will not meet the requirements for the tax credit. These confusing standards are being reviewed by the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA), who are urging Congress to reconcile the stimulus bill standards with Energy Star criteria.
In order to qualify for the tax credit, all products must have a signed statement from the manufacturer certifying the product meets the standards for the tax credit. The Manufacturer Certification Statement isn’t required to send in with your tax return but must accompany your receipts and records. It is recommended by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) to save all receipts with the contact information of each manufacturer, the make and model of the product, and the manufacturer’s statement that the product meets the tax credit standards.
Whether you plan to do a basement, bath or kitchen remodel, hiring a general contractor familiar with these tax credits ensures your home remodel is earning the highest credits possible, the proper appliances and products are purchased and installed, and the specific records you need are organized. When helping the environment while saving money, everybody wins.
Green Building and the HealthyBuilt Homes Program
Custom home by general contractor Brock Builders - Certified HealthyBuilt Home
While many homeowners strive to conserve energy with efficient light bulbs or low-flow shower heads, the real opportunities to make a home truly energy and cost efficient start with the design, planning and construction processes.
Asheville-area home builder Brock Builders is currently constructing HealthyBuilt Homes, the newest example of “green building” and sustainable living in North Carolina. Learn more about exciting new opportunities available to conserve energy and materials in your next home in our full-length article on green building and the HealthyBuilt Homes process.
Follow Me
Recent Posts
Categories
Links
Photos of Our Work
