hiles8500

Thanks for promoting these credits. Unfortunately, they don't do enough to push the envelope. I gutted an old house in 2008 and put in icynene foam, better systems, energy star white roof, etc. 2008 happens to be the gap year in which these credits did not apply. My state, Maryland, has anemic state credits.

But the real problem is with the linked cap that is applied to the rehab credits. If you do one thing, then you get the credit. If you do more than one thing, once you qualify for $500 in credits then you are done. People need more of a push to get things like icynene competitive with fiberglass. Updatng our existing housing stock is much more energy-efficient than building new efficient housing. Rehabbers should be eligible for at least the $2000 that new home builders can get. I guess NAHB isn't looking out for the remodelling industry...

I'd like to see Taunton Press sponsor a Practical Green Building event at the National Building Museum in Washington DC. It should feature Amory Lovins of the Rocky Mountain Institute. It should happen in February or March.