Tax Cuts

[alevin]

Way to go, people. I spent my home improvement funds this year on bringing attic insulation up to code (R-30), getting walls insulated for first time ever, using heat-reflective shingles (deflect heat away from roof), adding under-eave vents front and back to bring cool air into the attice (had no intake vents previous except a couple very small gable-end vents), added one more rooftop vent (air outflow), and some solartubes for passive daytime lighting in dark parts of the house. My winter heating bill is already gone down about 43% per temperature degree from a year ago.

Utility employee inspected the attic this week to verify that work was done-I should get about 50% of that cost back as rebate from utility. the rest of the work qualifies for federal credits this year, I should get the max credit-the extra cost on the shingles will get paid back with the credit.

good to know program extended into next year-I may get some of those new screens Ann talked about-would like to improve more on the cooling side too in passive ways as much as possible. the insulation did make things not as hot this summer but it was cooler summer too, so not a good test.

 

[Birchtree]

Don't forget to plant trees and eventually you get to keep the leaves for compost.

 

[CountryBoy]

I didn't realize the program extends into next year. I'm going to check out the attic insulation and see if would worthwhile to add more, especially if I can get the savings Ann is getting. Currently have 6+ inches.

Did roof last year, new furnace/AC this year and maybe attic next year. The new roof was a double edged sword though. It reduced our usage of propane last year, to the bare minimum needed to get the reduced cost. Worried that the new, much more efficient furnace will push us below the minimum required and we'll have to pay the higher price for propane. I might have to turn up the heat to get the minimum propane cost.

Now ain't that a hoot. :blink: But I've read that'll happen.

 

[alevin]

I didn't realize the program extends into next year. I'm going to check out the attic insulation and see if would worthwhile to add more, especially if I can get the savings Alevin is getting. Currently have 6+ inches.

Worried that the new, much more efficient furnace will push us below the minimum required and we'll have to pay the higher price for propane. I might have to turn up the heat to get the minimum propane cost.

Now ain't that a hoot. :blink: But I've read that'll happen.

I read that too somewhere last year about utilities being guaranteed minimum profits and bumping prices up if use goes down due to energy efficiency improvemnts. :suspicious:Not sure if that's true for a rural coop electric utility.

bottom line for me is will the net energy bills combined (electric and ng) go down relative to outside temperatures on annual basis. NG only heats part of my house, the rest is electric only-yearround. If credits/rebates cover much of the work, the cost efficiencies should recoup the rest reasonably quickly, I'm hoping.

 

[CountryBoy]

Hi Alevin,

I think it's a federal law that allows utilites to reap a certain profit and believe it goes back to the olden days as an incentive for the utilities to extend out into the country so as everyone could have lights and stuff. But I could be wrong on the reason, but I remmeber when I worked for AEP, that they were, by law, guaranteed a profit.

I'm not sure about our rural Co-op either. They only supply our electric, the propane is supplied by a separate company and they don't have the regs that a utility have, plus there are about 3 propane dealers in our area, so they must compete against each other.

I'm hoping the same thing, between the rebates and higher effeciencies will help us recoup quickly also. AC wise, we should have a quicker recoup as our old AC was 23 years old, so it had to be pretty ineffecient compared to the new one. Our electric bills in the cold weather are pretty low since the furnace uses electricity for the fan only.

 

[Buster]

I didn't realize the program extends into next year.

It still may not Rus..As I understand it, the energy conservation tax credit was suppose to end April 15th of 2011 and then end forever..But if the TAX extension package is approved..this is one of things that will be extended until the end of 2011.

 

[James48843]

Bernie Sanders is actually speaking and doing his filibuster now.


http://cspan.org/Watch/C-SPAN2.aspx

While the republicans CALL for filibusters all the time these days, they don't actually DO the fillibustering. Yet here Bernine is, actually DOING it.

Go Bernie Go. Tell them what you really think.

 

[PessOptimist]

That's how I understand it too, if the extension is approved with the energy tax credits still included.

There is a lot of hype out there about this subject. A lot of HVAC installers are running ads that say you still have time to buy a new AC unit and get the tax credit. You will feel stupid if you miss out on the savings and chance to be green. There are some other incentives here from the state and utility companies.

My spouse has brought this subject up several times lately. Our AC unt is 12 years old. The person who did the yearly checkup last spring said it was in fine shape. The contractors my wife contacted about replacement say it is likely to fail catastrophically any second. When she tells them it is 12 SEER they say it can't be, when she tells them our 12 year old home was Energy Star compliant they say not possible.

Just saying, these people are looking to make a sale.

It will be good if the credits are extended through next year. I will need them when that old AC unit detonates next year, taking out half the neighborhood.:cheesy: My wife's fear is actually having to go without AC for several days when the temperature is 110F. I have promised that if I am wrong she will immediately be moved to the Hilton until the house is cool once more.

I am still thinking about a rooftop PV system and a solar water heater to supplement the ng unit. I have reasons for procrastinating, none of them very good. Based on the experiences of people I know who installed PV, the payback time is a little slower than the predicted estimates but the electric bills are lower and they feel very good about greenieness.

The sun screens mentioned do a very good job. They do make it a little darker inside. One thing to think about is if they are really needed on a particular window. Some of the windows we installed them on are shaded year round by the patio roof. The house does look better with all the windows screened the same and the extra cost wasn't that much for three more. We did not screen the north side.

YMMV but more energy efficiency=more gooder!

This is all a little off topic, no? Maybe we should start a thread on home improvements.

regards

PO

 

[CountryBoy]

It still may not Rus..As I understand it, the energy conservation tax credit was suppose to end April 15th of 2011 and then end forever..But if the TAX extension package is approved..this is one of things that will be extended until the end of 2011.

Boy Dennis,

I'd have to hustle if it ended in April and really have to cut back, cause putting in more insulation will be all cash deal, no loan or debt. I haven't got any estimates. I guess I'll have to check around. My attic is such a hassle to get into. The opening is just big enough for a person to squeeze into.

 

[CountryBoy]

That's how I understand it too, if the extension is approved with the energy tax credits still included.

There is a lot of hype out there about this subject. A lot of HVAC installers are running ads that say you still have time to buy a new AC unit and get the tax credit. You will feel stupid if you miss out on the savings and chance to be green. There are some other incentives here from the state and utility companies.

My spouse has brought this subject up several times lately. Our AC unt is 12 years old. The person who did the yearly checkup last spring said it was in fine shape. The contractors my wife contacted about replacement say it is likely to fail catastrophically any second. When she tells them it is 12 SEER they say it can't be, when she tells them our 12 year old home was Energy Star compliant they say not possible.

Just saying, these people are looking to make a sale.

It will be good if the credits are extended through next year. I will need them when that old AC unit detonates next year, taking out half the neighborhood.:cheesy: My wife's fear is actually having to go without AC for several days when the temperature is 110F. I have promised that if I am wrong she will immediately be moved to the Hilton until the house is cool once more.

I am still thinking about a rooftop PV system and a solar water heater to supplement the ng unit. I have reasons for procrastinating, none of them very good. Based on the experiences of people I know who installed PV, the payback time is a little slower than the predicted estimates but the electric bills are lower and they feel very good about greenieness.

The sun screens mentioned do a very good job. They do make it a little darker inside. One thing to think about is if they are really needed on a particular window. Some of the windows we installed them on are shaded year round by the patio roof. The house does look better with all the windows screened the same and the extra cost wasn't that much for three more. We did not screen the north side.

YMMV but more energy efficiency=more gooder!

This is all a little off topic, no? Maybe we should start a thread on home improvements.

regards

PO

Luckily for me PO,

Living in a small town does have it's advantages. The guy who put in my new furnace and AC and the guy I bought both units from had daughters that I coached for years on my girls fastpitch softball team. So I got contractors cost on the units and the contractor didn't charge me for his time. That saved me over $1000 over the other 2 bids.

My furnace was only 12 years old, but to meet the seer requirement they'd have to pull my furnace out anyway for the coils or whatever necessary and then reinstall it. Very labor intensive, so it was better to just go ahead and buy a new unit and I just donated the furnace to some people my furnace man knew that needed a furnace but couldn't afford a new one.

Now if I could get as lucky with my attic.

CB

 

[Silverbird]

Bernie Sanders is actually speaking and doing his filibuster now.


http://cspan.org/Watch/C-SPAN2.aspx

While the republicans CALL for filibusters all the time these days, they don't actually DO the fillibustering. Yet here Bernine is, actually DOING it.

Go Bernie Go. Tell them what you really think.

That's how it should be done, not some quasi-fillibuster where you aren't on C-Span actually taking up the time. This way we can all see who you are, and if you can keep talkiing on the subject (Bernie), have the chuzpah to spend hours reading from a cookbook (a famous fillibuster), or you are just a poser that says they are fillibustering, but don't even bother to expend hot air.

 

[Birchtree]

The poor pinky is going to end up with a bladder problem.

 

[Viva_La_Migra]

That's how it should be done, not some quasi-fillibuster where you aren't on C-Span actually taking up the time. This way we can all see who you are, and if you can keep talkiing on the subject (Bernie), have the chuzpah to spend hours reading from a cookbook (a famous fillibuster), or you are just a poser that says they are fillibustering, but don't even bother to expend hot air.

Yes, do filibuster, and show it on CSPAN, so that when EVERYONE'S taxes go up, the people will know just who is responsible.

 

[James48843]

Yes, do filibuster, and show it on CSPAN, so that when EVERYONE'S taxes go up, the people will know just who is responsible.

Question #1: Who wrote the law that made the tax cuts expire at midnight, December 31, 2010?
Answer: Republicans. (Public Law 108-27, Dick Cheney broke the 50/50 tie back in 2003).


Question #2: Who voted AGAINST renewing the tax cuts for the middle class Americans, in vote number 259 (Tax rates continued for everyone below ONE MILLION DOLLARS in earned income)
Answer: Republicans.

AND

Question #3 Who voted AGAINST renewing the tax cuts for the middle class Americans in vote number 258 (Tax rates continues for everyone below $250,000 per year in earned income)?

Answer: Republicans.


Look no further than the elephants for your criminal behavior against the American people.

Yes= the people will know who is responsible for allowing the tax rates for the middle class to go up. It's those people who refused to compromise on the richest 1% of Americans who is responsible for ALL taxes going up.

 

[Silverbird]

Actually, I do want to see who's responsible -- for trying to take care of this fiscal hole we are now in. And the point of view of paying as you go is usually known as a fiscal conservative point of view.

This IS how the taxes breaks were supposed to work. They were supposed to end here.

Communists don't bother with taxes, they control the entire input, output and pricing of goods, and also control wages. That's a whole different point of view than you see here. They also like unfunded earmarks, for them it's known as the 10 Year Plan.

 

[Buster]

Let me understand this..A 50/50 tie means Republicans are responsible?:laugh:..Okay I'm good with that..

 

[James48843]

Let me understand this..A 50/50 tie means Republicans are responsible?:laugh:..Okay I'm good with that..

YES - A 50/50 tie, which THEN HAS THE TIE BROKEN BY THE REPUBLICAN VICE PRESIDENT CASTING THE 101st vote, is a republican responsibility.

 

[Buster]

YES - A 50/50 tie, which THEN HAS THE TIE BROKEN BY THE REPUBLICAN VICE PRESIDENT CASTING THE 101st vote, is a republican responsibility.

Yesiree..that's a landslide for sure..LOL:laugh:


Wonder which way it would have went if AlGore was VP or Joe Biden at the time this was being voted on?

DUH!..I wonder

 

[tsptalk]

Bernie Sanders is actually speaking and doing his filibuster now.

http://cspan.org/Watch/C-SPAN2.aspx

While the republicans CALL for filibusters all the time these days, they don't actually DO the fillibustering. Yet here Bernine is, actually DOING it.

Go Bernie Go. Tell them what you really think.

So the only one filibustering is the lone, self-proclaimed socialist in congress? Go Bernie go, is right! ... All the way back to Vermont.

(OK, that was a cheap shot)

How about we finish this over here (Beltway Talk) before everyone finds out how ideological we are?

 

[burrocrat]

you guys are missing a goldmine in your own back yards.

with the whole PII thing every office should have one of those cross-cut shredders by now, you know the kind that shave it into tiny unrecognizable bits?

so save the custodial crew a bit of work and take a bag or two home with you, big cost savings for the gubmint on landfill fees. then do it again.

dump it in your attic, it is the same as blown-in paper insulation, c'mon get green, reduce reuse recycle.