by RESBlog on June 15, 2010
The $2,000 federal tax credit for builders that build energy efficient homes is providing an important boost to mainstreaming high energy performance homes in the market place. In 2009, 37,506 homes were certified as complying with the federal tax credit. This represented 10% of all new homes sold in the U.S. last year. Unfortunately, the credit expired on December 31, 2009. RESNET has joined a coalition of housing industry and energy efficiency advocacy groups (including the National Association of Home Builders and the Natural Resources Defense Council) advocating the extension of the credit.
This advocacy is bearing fruit. The U.S. House of Representatives included the retroactive extension of the credit from January 1 to December 31, 2010 in an omnibus tax extension bill.
The extension of the energy efficient homes credit was part of an omnibus tax extension bill. Since the House version differs in total content it must go through a reconciliation process with the Senate. Since the House and Senate language for the energy efficient homes credit extension it will not be affected by the reconciliation process. Once the House and Senate passes the revised bill, President Obama must sign it.
RESNET efforts will now be directed in extending the credit to homes that meet 50 on the HERS Index and extending the credit to 2014.
