| Disclaimer: Dream Town Real Estate provides this | | | | The credit applies to energy efficiency |
| information for informative purposes only. We | | | | improvements in the building envelope of existing |
| highly encourage you to speak to a tax | | | | homes and for the purchase of high-efficiency |
| professional about the particulars of any incentive | | | | heating, cooling and water-heating equipment. |
| you feel you may qualify for. | | | | Efficiency improvements or equipment must |
| Here at Dream Town we realize the value of all | | | | serve a dwelling in the United States that is |
| things Green and as such are always on the | | | | owned and used by the taxpayer as a primary |
| lookout for Green incentives and tips that we can | | | | residence. The maximum amount of homeowner |
| pass along to help further the cause. An | | | | credit for all improvements combined is $1,500 for |
| excellent place to start is the Database of State | | | | equipment purchased during the two-year period |
| Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency | | | | of 2009 and 2010. |
| (DSIRE)'s website They have a complete | | | | ComEd Smart Ideas for Your Home Efficiency |
| database of all state incentives and policies for | | | | Program |
| renewables and efficiency as well as provide links | | | | Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) offers residential |
| to Federal incentives. These incentives come in | | | | customers and building owners (or managers) |
| the form of tax breaks/credits, grants, and loan | | | | incentives for certain energy efficiency upgrades |
| guarantees and utility company rebates, depending | | | | and improvements. Incentives are available to |
| on any number of variables. This site is quite | | | | residential homeowners for lighting and |
| verbose and we recommend browsing it on your | | | | refrigerator/freezer recycling. Building owners and |
| own, however here are a few highlights we found | | | | property managers are eligible to receive |
| interesting: | | | | incentives for certain efficiency upgrades in |
| Energy-Efficient Mortgages: | | | | residential buildings where electricity is used for |
| Homeowners can take advantage of energy | | | | both water heating and space heating. |
| efficient mortgages (EEM) to finance a variety of | | | | Peoples Gas - Chicagoland Natural Gas Savings |
| energy efficiency measures, including renewable | | | | Program |
| energy technologies, in a new or existing home. | | | | Peoples Gas offers the Chicagoland Natural Gas |
| The U.S. federal government supports these loans | | | | Savings Program to help their customers to |
| by insuring them through Federal Housing | | | | purchase energy efficient equipment. |
| Authority (FHA) or Veterans Affairs (VA) | | | | Homeowners, landlords and small business owners |
| programs. This allows borrowers who might | | | | are eligible for rebates on energy efficient |
| otherwise be denied loans to pursue energy | | | | furnaces, boilers, water heaters, insulation, and |
| efficiency improvements, and it secures lenders | | | | clothes washers. To qualify, gas furnaces, boilers, |
| against loan default. | | | | and water heaters must be installed by |
| Residential Energy Conservation Subsidy Exclusion | | | | professional contractors. Property owners may |
| "Utility rebates. If you are a customer of an | | | | opt to self-install insulation or hire a professional |
| electric utility company and you participate in the | | | | contractor. A full list of eligible models and |
| utility’s energy conservation program, you | | | | insulation and instructions on how to apply for the |
| may receive on your monthly electric bill either: a | | | | rebates can be found on the Chicagoland Natural |
| reduction in the purchase price of electricity | | | | Gas Savings Program website. Applications must |
| furnished to you (rate reduction), or a | | | | be made no later than 60 days after the |
| nonrefundable credit against the purchase price of | | | | equipment purchase date. |
| the electricity. The amount of the rate reduction | | | | There are quite a few more for those willing to |
| or nonrefundable credit is not included in your | | | | outfit their home with renewable energy sources |
| income." | | | | such as solar power, etc. |
| Residential Energy Efficiency Tax Credit | | | | |