Because negativity, whining and otherwise just Chicken Little type complaining makes me tired I always try to find the positive side to things. Since the Big News has been the Stimulus Package the past couple days, that's where I was trying to find something positive.
It should be no surprise that Energy Efficiency and Green Collar Jobs have a potential WIN with the Bill. I ran across an article on CNET that laid out much of this information and MORE
- Tax Credits for projects that have Electricity derived from Biomass, Landfills, etc. were extended through 2013.
Which we will Desperately NEED because they are now offering a $7500 Tax Credit for Plug In Electric Vehicles. That should put a nice little strain on some already Taxed Grids throughout the US.
- The $2000 Cap on the 30 percent Tax Credit for Solar Hot Water was lifted and now matches the 30% on Solar from the October Bailout.
Which Homeowners in Houston TOTALLY wish they had during Hurricane Ike last year when we had no power for weeks on end!
- $30B to spend on Smart Grid, Advanced Batteries and Energy Efficiency
Although much of the Energy Efficiency will go toward Federal Buildings - Advanced Batteries for Solar Systems is Fantastic!
All of that is great, but probably the ONE thing that I am personally the MOST excited about is this- According to the article that I read on CNET:
"To retrofit existing homes to be more efficient, the bill extends and expands tax credits for purchase "such as new furnaces, energy-efficient windows and doors, or insulation," according to the committee report. The House and Senate versions extended these credits to 2010 and increased the level to 30 percent with a cap of $1,500 on combined purchases, according to Environment and Energy Daily (subscription required)."
These credits were set to expire at the end of 2009. With much education still in order for Homeowners on how to Make the Homes more Energy Efficient, I am THRILLED that this was in there.
So, you have another year to replace your Furnace, get new insulation and all that other SEXY GREEN stuff that makes your electric bill lower!
This should help some of our home owners with aging homes upgrade their systems. Tax credit worked very well back in the 1980s for solar instalations and a few other things.
We have some 40-60 year old communities in my market area that will benefit greatly by upgrading because electricity and gas has become very expensive.
If I could figure out how to do it, I'd intall windmills in my back yard.
I'm ONE OF THE WHINNERS!
I'd like to think the guys in DC did some good with this bill. Tax credits for energy upgrades are a good thing. It will be interesting to see just exactly what's in the bill.
Hi Lenn, The Tax Credit for Wind Systems was extended also and improved also. Houston also has a bunch of homes built in the 20's -40's still and it's a GREAT thing down here.
They also put in some grant money for the States to use for Energy Efficiency and since that is a HOT topic for our '09 Legislative Session, I'm hoping we can get some of that down here. They are discussing an improvement on the FREE weatherization programs mandated by the State along with some other pretty neat things...
Also, a lot of the research fund should help to open up a lot of jobs....as long as the money ends up in the right place. :)
Hi Kat, no point in whining. Nothing can change it or turn back time.
Hi John, I was pretty perturbed when I read that most of the efficiency money is going toward Federal Cars and stuff...but it will create jobs. You win some, you lose some.
Just hoping this Bill is more of a WIN than a FAIL in the long run.
And we get a high speed train from Las Vegas to Disneyland!
Paul, LOL. We are getting one from Houston to Dallas...but that wasn't part of the Bill. Too bad it won't be ready in May when I will be going to there.
Stephanie: programs like this (money spent on them) are a GOOD thing. STILL way too much OINK in that bill... my children and grandchildren, and yours, will have to deal that debt LATER.
Hi Stephanie -- Thanks for illustrating to specific examples. I'm glad to hear energy efficiency is now a priority.
Hi Stephanie, Why is when some one disagrees with someone, they are called whiners or complainers. I disagree with your analogy here but I wouldn't call you a whiner. I always give people the benefit, I always look at the other side. This is why I was a fairly good debater in School because the instructor always made you take one side one day and the other the next week.
Hi Chris O. - Absolutely. Some of it is junk...but there is some good stuff in there.
Charles, sorry that you felt offended by that. It's just that I'm the kind of person that does not like Negative commotion. It's a waste of energy and counter productive.
Also sorry that my analogy is the only thing you have to comment on. The time to debate about it was 2 weeks ago. It's not like they will start next week with 'Just kidding. We didn't mean to pass that Bill.' Now, to talk about how it's wrong and this n that...it's just complaining. It won't change.
I was trying to find a positive side to it all that could benefit everyone if they choose to. Thanks.
I bet some people are updating their homes with energy effecient homes and don't even know about the tax credit!
Hi Kristi, That's why they didn't extend it to begin with last year. Not enough people are taking the Tax Credit. That's some Bass Ackwards thinking huh! You would think because it is a credit NOT being used to its full potential that they would keep it.
The Stimulus bill was just a huge Union pay off for federal pork projects. Google privaling wage. It adds 5 to 20 % to each one of these Fed pork jobs, inflation will soon go through the roof so you better tell your buyers we are at the bottom NOW. intrest rates will soon be , God forbid , back to the Jimmy Carter days...... If you voted for BHO..... YES YOU DID !!!!
After my latest gas and electric bill, any additional help is very welcome!!!
If any part of the stimulus package creates jobs, that is a huge positive in my book. Restore the employment sector and the rest will follow.
I am glad that someone can see the positive.... I don't have time to read over a thousand pages of pork spending
Guess I'm a Whiner too - Just wanted to read the COMPLETE bill before they passed it! (Wish they would have read it too!)
Hi Steph, Bring on the green credits! I wish that we had enough wind around Ann Arbor to install a windmill on my horse farm. U of M will soon put wind testing instruments on a few of the highest hills in the county. It's good to see people taking responsibility for the amount of energy that they use or save. Make the smart changes now to help our children inthe future.
I don't think somebody read the bill at all.If they can read 640 words per minute maybe so.
Seems like my electric bill keeps going up.. my unit is only 5 years old... I need something.. :)
Hi Stephanie--
Thanks for bringing the green elements to light! I've been getting a lot of questions and have only had partial answers. I'll check out the cnet article.
Hi Stephanie - Thanks for the insight. I didn't know the specifics.
my thought is only time will tell if any of this does any good - thanks for the green info
Stephanie, thanks for the good information. My guess is that alternative energy and efficiency standards may be one of the catalysts to get us out of this economic mess if handled well by the government and industry.
Stephanie,
Great post! It is always nice to see the silver lining.
I'm so gald that they've extended these credits! I want to get solar panel(s) for our roof so badly, but the initial cost os so expensive! Upping the tax credits and extenting the time to claim them gives me more time to get them installed :)
I'm not being a whiner when I say the bill should have been read in it's entirety and reviewed for needed items in the bill. All the pork that is certainly in the bill should have been removed as well as other stimulative items added. But of course this could only happen if SOMEONE has time to read and critique the bill, which is the normal process. However not the case here.
Good Mind set. We will get throught this. Makes sense to make lemonade. I am happy about the tax credits.
I am hoping that once the dust settles, we will be able to find a silver ("green") lining to the recovery act -- I think the creation of green projects will be great!
Great post! This is the kind of positive and beneficial info we should be passing on to our clients in our newsletters and web sites.
Good Info, but the stimulus package should have done more.
Stephanie:
It's good of you to look on the bright side and also to point out the specifics of energy tax credits. However, I do think the housing situation deserved more attention from the stimulus bill than it got. (Put me in with the whiners.)
Thanks for the post!
I think the Real Estate Companies should ask for about 20 billion. Maybe they will get lucky and get 10 billion. I doesn't hurt to ask. Ha ha ha.
Stephanie - Thank you for putting out the "other side" of things. Despite being a cynic, I didn't really think the "other side" would be the good things about something. While I can't say I'm passionate about the subject, energy efficiency is certainly a crucial topic in today's and tomorrow's world we live in. I'm all for it! Good article.
Nice Blog, It is good to look at the positive. I am still not convinced it was good thing to pass.
Stephaine -
These green initiatives are far more important than those on the far right side of the aisle would be would concede.
This is, truly, a break with the recent past of ignoring the environmental consequences of what we do, and the financial consequences of relying on imported fossil fuel. An important step in the right (or, left, sorry) direction.
Thanks for sharing!
DEAN & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO
Hi Stephanie, Great article. After spending this past winter in a drafty old 250 plus year old home, I am all for this.
This is a big help to spread the word on retrofits.
Steph...
I'm avoiding this topic for now. I keep getting in trouble. My foot is water logged from being inside of my mouth :)
I stopped in to tell you I love your new pic. You look Great and man...Love that smile :)
Happy Valentines Day my friend :)
TLW...ROAR!
One of the good things to come out of the bill. Should be nice for homeowners.
Hey Everyone, Sorry- I've had a really busy last couple of days and haven't been able to keep up with the comments. YES! :) To everyone that thinks this is amazing for current homeowners wanting to make changes.
For those that think I'm calling everyone whiners or whatever, I assure you that is not the case. You can read a previous post that I wrote on the Stimulus Bill Here
TLW - Hope you and BB had a great Valentines Day also. I have not given my opinion either on the Stimulus Package. Many people that read this post think I have, but that is totally not the case. :) I just like the find the positive side of things.
Hi Stephanie,
Good article. Sure wish they had taken the time to read it and remove the pork. Sure hope it stimulates something! Time will tell. Just wanted to say hello. My son and his family live in Spring. I keep the Woodland's mall busy when I'm in your area! Let me know if you need any help in MI.
Best, Shari
Good info we were just talking about the plan and wondered if they had any credits for energy savings on existing homes.