ACEEE NEWS RELEASE
Tax
Credits and Timely Tips for Winter Energy Bill Relief
For further
information, contact Harvey Sachs
at 202-429-8873, x706, Bill
Prindle at 202-429-8873, x710, or Katie
Ackerly at 202-249-8873, x713
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
October 23, 2006
WASHINGTON,
D.C.: This winter, consumers will experience little relief from
2005 heating costs as prices will remain high for a colder winter
than last year. But instead of panicking, consumers can take simple,
low-cost steps, and can also use federal tax credits for efficiency
investments to improve comfort and save money. The American Council
for an Energy-Efficiency Economy (ACEEE) and other organizations have
created a one-stop-shopping resource for the tax credits at www.energytaxincentives.org.
Homeowners can get up to $500 total in credits for high-efficiency
heating equipment, air conditioners, and water heaters, as well as
replacement windows, insulation, duct sealing, and air leakage reduction.
Since these incentives run out at the end of 2007, now may be a good
time to make these investments.
ACEEE offers several resources to help consumers stay comfortable
while lowering winter energy costs, from no-cost/low-cost measures
to major investments. "Consumers can often get the best 'bang' for
their limited 'bucks' by taking low-cost steps to run their homes
more efficiently before investing in big-ticket items," said Katie
Ackerly of the Buildings Program Research staff. Consumers can cut
their energy use by following the simple, inexpensive tips that
ACEEE offers in the Consumer
Guide: Condensed Online Version. Five practical, low-cost/no-cost
steps are:
- Clean or
replace furnace filters monthly or as specified.
- Get a tune-up
for your heating system: every year for oil, every 2 or 3 years
for other fuels.
- Close your
storm windows or install temporary shrink-wrap storm window kits.
- Set back
your thermostat overnight and when you're away from home; better
yet, install a programmable thermostat to do it for you.
- Seal seams
and gaps in exposed ductwork, and then insulate the ducts.
These and other
tips are all available for free on ACEEE's
Consumer Resources Web site. A paperback edition of the Consumer
Guide to Home Energy Savings is available for purchase online
for consumers who want more extensive information about home energy
use.
"Consumers may want to think about replacing their furnaces and
boilers," suggested Harvey Sachs, Director of the Buildings Program.
If the existing furnace or boiler has a standing pilot light that
burns year-round, or if you live in a cold climate, an ENERGY STAR®
furnace or boiler is likely to be a good investment, particularly
if the system is 20 years old or more. The highest-efficiency units
(95% AFUE or higher) are eligible for $150 in federal tax credits.
Finding a qualified contractor is important; suggestions for choosing
a contractor are given on ACEEE's
Web site.
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About ACEEE: The American Council
for an Energy-Efficient Economy is an independent, nonprofit organization
dedicated to advancing energy efficiency as a means of promoting
both economic prosperity and environmental protection. For information
about ACEEE and its programs and publications, contact ACEEE, 1001
Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 801, Washington, D.C. 20036-5525
or visit http://aceee.org
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