‘Tis the season of year-end lists. However, instead of listing the best products of the year or top gifts for contractors, remodelers or clients, Tony Maull, president and co-founder of Savebigbread.com, a consumer home improvement rebate and tax website, offers up a list that may help put money in home owners pockets for energy efficient remodels:
For contractors and builders that have clients who are sitting on the fence about installing energy-efficient equipment, or those who have already done so over the past 12 months, here are 14 tax credits to put in their stockings. But you need to act before Dec. 31.
Item | Requirements | Tax Credit Amount |
| Advance main air circulating fan | No more than 2% of furnace total energy | $50 |
| Air source heat pump | Split system. Efficiency of the unit has to be equal to or greater than the following measures. HSPF 8.5, EER 12.5, SEER 15. | $300 |
| Air source heat pump | Package system. Efficiency of the unit has to be equal to or greater than the following measures. HSPF 8, EER 12, SEER 14. | $300 |
| Biomass Stoves | Minimum thermal efficiency of 75% | $300 |
| Central Air Conditioning | Split system. Efficiency of the unit has to be equal to or greater than the following measures. SEER 16, EER 13. | $300 |
| Central Air Conditioning | Package system. Efficiency of the unit has to be equal to or greater than the following measures. SEER 14, EER 12. | $300 |
| Boiler – Gas or propane | AFUE of greater than or equal to 95. | $150 |
| Furnace – Gas or propane | AFUE of greater than or equal to 95. | $150 |
| Insulation – Weather stripping, spray foam, air sealing, house wrap | Typical bulk insulation and products that reduce air leaks in the home. | 10% of the cost, up to $500. |
| Roofing – Metal and asphalt | “Metal roofs with appropriate pigmented coatings” and “asphalt roofs with appropriate cooling granules” that also meet ENERGY STAR requirements. | 10% of the cost, up to $500. |
| Water heaters – Gas, oil or propane | Energy factor greater than 0.82 OR a thermal efficiency of at least 90%. | $300 |
| Water heater – Electric heat pump | Energy factor greater than or equal to 2.0. | $300 |
| Doors and skylights | Must be ENERGY STAR qualified. | 10% of the cost, up to $500. |
| Windows (includes storm windows) | Must be ENERGY STAR qualified. | 10% of the cost, up to $200. |
Now, the fine print: To qualify for the tax credits, clients need to have purchased qualifying products between Jan. 1, 2013 and Dec. 31, 2013. They must also complete IRS Form 5695 and include the credit on line 52 of their 1040 form. While substantiating documents don’t need to be submitted with the tax return next year, they should be kept for the homeowner’s records. These documents include a manufacturer’s certification statement, a product performance sheet, and a sales receipt.
