To read information regarding Home Energy Efficiency Improvement Tax Credits, click on image to the left. Consumers who purchase and install specific products, such as energy-efficient windows, insulation, doors, roofs, and heating and cooling equipment in the home can receive a tax credit of up to $500 beginning in January 2006.
Businesses are eligible for tax credits for buying hybrid vehicles, for building energy- efficient buildings, and for improving the energy efficiency of commercial buildings (as outlined in the Energy Policy Act of 2005).
A tax credit can provide significant savings. It reduces the amount of income tax you have to pay. Unlike a deduction, which reduces the amount of income subject to tax, a tax credit directly reduces the tax itself. The final rules and forms to clarify which products and services qualify for the tax credits will be developed by The Internal Revenue Service (IRS). You must refer to the final IRS rules to determine what qualifies for the tax credit.
Click on image to view tax credit chart & form.
Currently the market place is not fully accounting for the thermal shorts that exist in building walls. This results in the consumer not realizing the full energy cost savings anticipated by complying with energy codes and standards or meeting requirements of home energy rating systems. With the improvement in window efficiency, the potential exists for residential structures to have more windows. When more windows are installed in a building, more framing is needed. The greater the framing factor, the higher the overall thermal transmittance of the opaque wall. With metal-frame construction gaining popularity in residential construction, the thermal shorts potentially resulting from the relatively higher thermal conductivity of metal compared to wood can mean much more severe heat loss than can be accounted for by traditional simplified calculations.Why are the effects of interface details important?
Click on image for more info on Thermal Performance & Wall Ratings
Click on image to read more on CCF Insulation
GACO 173, 1.7 lb. closed-cell spray foam utilizes Innovate 245 as its blowing agent. In 2005, Federal mandate eliminated the use of CFC's from use and a new product 245 was substituted and validated as a non-depleting ozone agent. The initial foam systems were difficult to engineer and provide cost value systems which maintained the physical properties desireable and the yield/cost of these systems. The GACO 173 system offers even better charactaristics for storage, spraying, visual appearance, odor emmissions, adhesion and wider range of temperature for application.
All steel containers should be closed after filling and before transportation in accordance with the tightening torques as seen in Appendix 1. Click on link to view Appendix 1.
Spray polyurethane foam roofing can last 30 years or more with proper maintenance, saving you money over your building’s lifespan.
Building owners wanting to save energy have used spray polyurethane foam (SPF)roofing systems for over 30 years. What they may not have known then is the high degree of sustainable or green characteristics that these building materials exhibit.
Click on image to read more on sustainability of foam roofing.
Click on above image to view the report available through NEMA based on encapsulating Romex wire in spray foam insulation. Bulletin #95 dated October, 2006. Thermal effects of Type NM-B Cable installed in a residence, encased in spray-foam insulation. This report summizes that for code compliance, type NM-B cable is routinely installed within heavily insulated walls, ceilings and floors with no reported detrimental effects.
Click on image to read more on Performance of Thermal Insulation on the Exterior of Basement Walls
Basement problems are a frequent source of claims made under new home warranty programs. This Update presents the results of an IRC/industry research project on the performance of insulation systems applied to the exterior of basement walls.
Electricity bills, oil bills, gas bills--all homeowners pay for one or more of these utilities, and wish they paid less. Often many of us do not really know how to control or reduce our utility bills. We resign ourselves to high bills because we think that is the price we have to pay for a comfortable home. Unless your home was constructed with special attention to energy efficiency, adding insulation will probably reduce your utility bills. The effectiveness of an insulated wall or ceiling also depends on how and where the insulation is installed. Insulation is rated in terms of thermal resistance, called R-value, which indicates the resistance to heat flow. The higher the R-value, the greater the insulating effectiveness.
Click on image to read helpful facts on insulation.
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ORNL research in buildings technologies focuses on advanced space conditioning, refrigeration, thermal distribution, appliances, and building thermal envelope and materials for improved energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality for end-use in residential and commercial markets. ORNL evaluates advanced energy-efficient and renewable energy (EERE) technologies and alternative financing to support the transfer of EERE technologies to federal agencies for use in their buildings, industrial facilities, and transportation systems.
Architects, builders & homeowners finally realize that unwanted noise affects comfort, concentration and behavior.Quality of the composition of the structure and products applied is crucial to insulate the ceilings, walls and floors with a material that effectively reduces heat loss & vapor transmission, but isolates noise transmission.Since noise from within the home can be equally disagreeable, it is a good idea to isolate interior walls and floors so that several people or groups can simultaneously enjoy different activities, such as watching TV, reading and using the computer.Controlling noise is an essential consideration when constructing dwellings.Insulation or a combination of materials is best to provide these qualities.
