Thursday, September 9, 2010

Tax Credits Still Available for Energy Efficient Windows

A recent article published online by Fox News offers a reminder that The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 offers a tax credit to homeowners who improve the energy efficiency of their homes by installing new windows.

The tax credit is available through the end of 2010.

In order to meet the requirement to earn the tax credit, windows must meet certain criteria. Both the U-factor and the Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) must be 0.30 or below.

The U-Factor is a measurement of how well a window prevents heat from escaping from a home or building. The lower the U-factor, the better the window is at retaining heat. The SHGC, on the other hand, measures how well a window blocks heat from the sun.

The Fox News article adds that eligible windows should have an energy efficiency performance label supplied by the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC). The article also says NFRC is the only rating council recognized by the federal government when issuing tax credits.


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