Federal Tax Credit For Energy Efficiency: Windows and Doors

The requirements for what doors and windows qualify for the tax credit is the most complicated of all the requirements for the tax credit. These requirements are also changing, so it is advisable to check with your tax preparer to make sure you are purchasing the products that qualify at that time and do not rely on the sales person to know the law.

At this time not all Energy Star doors and windows qualify for the tax credit. After January 4, 2010 they will have to meet new performance requirements to be considered an Energy Star product. Products will be better labeled as well.

Improvement on the labeling has already begun. Starting October 1, 2009, windows and doors that qualify are suppose to have a red or black label that has "Qualified Until March 31, 2010" on it. They are supposed to also have the Energy Star label on it as well. These products will qualify for the tax credit until new requirements go into effect April 1, 2010.

You may also see blue and white labels that say "Eligible For Up To $1,500 Federal Tax Credit" on them. It is still a good idea to make sure these products to qualify and have not been mislabeled.

If you purchased your doors or windows before June 1, 2009, then they must meet Energy Star requirements to qualify for the tax credit. It you purchased them after June 1, 2009 then they must meet a stricture requirement.

After June 1, 2009, they must have a U-factor and a SHGC of .30 or below. The U-factor tells you how the window or door allows heat to go through it. The SGGC stands for Solar Heat Gain Coefficient and tells how well the window or door blocks the heat from the sun.

Storm windows and storm doors can qualify for this tax credit. They must meet the U-factor and SHGC requirement of .30 or less when combined with the window or door they are installed over.

By replacing your old windows and doors, you can dramatically decrease your power bills. These are just some of the products that you can claim 30% of their costs up to a cap of $1,500 with the Federal tax credit for energy efficiency. Learn about more of them here.

See how the homeowners benefit from the Federal Tax Credit for efficiently using energy.

Written by Denise Clay
Hickory, NC
Exclusive to HULIQ