After the Bush administration let them lapse in 2008, tax credits for certain energy efficiency upgrades are back for the 2009 tax year.  Though the actual technical qualification criteria can be complicated, don’t be intimidated.  According to the IRS, for purposes of taking the federal tax credit you may rely upon a manufacturer’s written certification that a product is qualified residential energy property.   From our experience, most manufacturers make this information readily available on their websites.  However, should you have any doubts, we recommend getting verification in writing before making any purchases.  Though the vast majority of dealers are honest, we strongly encourage you not to rely on the word of a salesperson alone as their primary interest is in making a sale, not providing free tax advice. 

Following, you'll find a table listing the specific energy efficiency standards required for a given product to qualify for the federal tax credit on.  In addition, a number of publications are available on the IRS website should you have any concerns regarding the details of the tax code itself.

The implementation of LEED in property development has taken off tremendously in recent years due to increasing energy costs and awareness about the environmental problems facing our world. But some now fear that the eco-friendly building trend may turn out to be all hype and little to no substance.

Some feel that buildings may be using LEED and other “green” buzzwords to help sell properties without any real significant benefit in terms of resource and energy efficiency.  This has now changed....