Tax credit for home energy upgrades gets reduced Credits are extended into 2011, but aren’t as much of an incentive

By Amy Hoak, MarketWatch

CHICAGO (MarketWatch) — Forget holiday door-buster sales. For big savings, some homeowners are actually buying themselves new doors for Christmas this year, in time to claim the government’s tax credit for home energy efficiency on their income taxes.

The credit covers energy-efficient doors and windows, insulation, roofs, water heaters, biomass stoves, and heating and air-conditioning systems. And the savings can be big: It covers 30% of the cost of improvements, and taxpayers can get a credit of up to a total $1,500 for all qualifying improvements they’ve made to their principal residences during 2009 and 2010.
Billionaire's holiday gift to neighbors

Holiday light show at the home of hedge fund billionaire Paul Tudor Jones II in Greenwich, Conn.

The credit expires on Dec. 31. But buried in the legislation that extends tax cuts made while President Bush was in office is also an extension of the home-energy tax credit.

The catch: Next year, that tax credit will be reduced significantly. Read more on what the new tax bill means to you.
Not so generous

In the bill, homeowners can claim only up to $500, said John W. Roth, senior tax analyst for CCH, a Riverwoods, Ill., tax publisher. It’s also a lifetime tax credit, meaning that if you’ve claimed the maximum of $500 in past years for home-efficiency upgrades — beginning after Dec. 31, 2005 — you can’t do it again.

Under the new rules, there are also limits for individual projects. For example, homeowners can receive a maximum of only $200 for replacing their windows and $150 for replacing a furnace, Roth said.

That’s why homeowners who have the means and the time to take advantage of the credit that expires at the end of this year might want to get their projects done now.

Because while it still may be possible to get a credit for work done next year, it won’t be nearly as attractive and might not even be much of an incentive: “If you haven’t taken advantage of this credit, I think you’ve lost a real opportunity,” Roth said.
Crunch time

Some homeowners, operating under the assumption that the tax credits wouldn’t get renewed, have been hustling over the past several weeks to get their projects finished on time.

To qualify for the credit in the 2010 tax year, not only do items need to be purchased, but they also have to be put into use by the deadline, said Rial Moulton, a certified financial planner and co-founder of Retirement & Tax Planning Specialists in Spokane, Wash.

The government “didn’t want people to buy this stuff and have it sitting around,” Moulton said. The purpose of the credit is to make homes more energy efficient, and allowing people to buy items and store them in the garage for a couple years until they got around to installing them would defeat that goal, he says.

While the specification isn’t a big issue for do-it-yourself projects, it can throw a wrench into homeowners’ plans when they need a professional for installation. So at crunch time, part of good comparison shopping on these items involves not only price, but also whether someone would be able to install the items in time.

Even earlier this month, Home Depot /quotes/comstock/13*!hd/quotes/nls/hd (HD 35.21, +0.13, +0.36%) had to inform some customers that certain projects wouldn’t be finished before the credit’s expiration, said Bill Phillips, director of program merchandising for Home Depot’s installation business. It’s not only a scheduling hurdle, he adds: Some projects require more lead time, such as custom windows, which can take weeks to get from the manufacturer.

Other projects, such as adding insulation, are doable for an average do-it-yourselfer, Phillips said. But those planning on doing their own installation should also get going, to be in accordance with the law. In the event you’re audited, you’d have to tell the Internal Revenue Service that you installed the items by the end of the year, Moulton said.
The fine print

To ensure the product qualifies for a tax credit, obtain a copy of the manufacturer’s certification letter that says so, Phillips said. You’ll need that for your records, along with all receipts, in the event that you get audited.

Also be aware that installation costs aren’t covered for all projects. For instance, taxpayers get no credit for the cost of having someone install their insulation, doors, windows or roofs. Costs to install water heaters, biomass stoves and heating and air-conditioning systems, however, are covered, according to EnergyStar.gov/taxcredits.

Note that these tax credits are “nonrefundable,” meaning that taxpayers can’t get more back in credits than they pay in federal income tax. That said, for the 2010 tax year, unless you won’t owe anything in taxes, you’d see a benefit, Moulton said.

Also, many taxpayers aren’t aware that a credit gives a “way better benefit than a deduction,” Moulton said. For example, a $1,500 deduction for a married couple in the 15% marginal tax bracket would end up being about a $225 benefit, he says. With a credit, you’d see the benefit of the entire $1,500, he said.

For the more ambitious and green homeowners: A separate 30% credit for other home-efficiency improvements, including solar-energy systems, geothermal heat pumps and wind turbines, is still in effect until 2016. And it doesn’t have a maximum dollar amount.

Amy Hoak is a MarketWatch reporter based in Chicago.

Creatherm STYROPOR & NEOPOR Panel on Display At The 2010 GreenBuild Show

 

Creatherm Radiant Floor Panels On Display At Greenbuild 2010 In the BASF Booth # 201

Creatherm Radiant Floor Panels, manufactured out of BASF Styropor & Neopor EPS, offer a great solution for slab-on-grade snow-melt and retro-fit heating.  The finished floor panel size is 2’x4’ and features a staggered snap-tight grid for optimal tubing spacing.  On-center points exist every 3 inches.  Panels are available in 1.8”, 2.8” and 3.3” thicknesses.

BASF (201)

Creatherm NEOPOR Panel To Be Displayed At CIPHEX WEST EXPO Next Week

Creatherm Radiant Floor Panels

Creatherm Radiant Floor Panels, manufactured out of BASF Neopor EPS, offer a great solution for slab-on-grade snow-melt and retro-fit heating.  The finished floor panel size is 2’x4’ and features a staggered snap-tight grid for optimal tubing spacing.  On-center points exist every 3 inches.  Panels are available in 1.8”, 2.8” and 3.3” thicknesses.

 Creatherm, LLC (430)

Mayor Ballard, Ohio Street Neighbors and Businesses Celebrate Environmentally Friendly Components of RebuildIndy Project

Monday, 18 October 2010 10:29

INDIANAPOLIS – Porous concrete and rain gardens are just some of the environmentally friendly components included in the RebuildIndy project on Ohio Street detailed today by Mayor Greg Ballard at a community event at The Nature Conservancy. The project is one of several infrastructure improvements underway across Marion County as part of the City’s recent $55 million infrastructure investment planned for 2010.  This is in addition to the $88 million the City has invested in infrastructure in 2010 already. “The Ohio Street project is the first of many RebuildIndy projects that will feature environmentally friendly components and emphasizes the priority of my administration on creating a sustainable future for Indianapolis,” said Mayor Ballard. “Through the Office of Sustainability and the RebuildIndy program, I am committed to making Indianapolis one of the most sustainable cities in the Midwest.” Construction underway on Ohio Street includes street resurfacing from West Street to College Avenue and replacement of deteriorated sidewalks and curbs using environmentally friendly porous concrete and installing rain gardens to improve drainage in the area. Ohio Street, particularly from Park Avenue to College Avenue, has suffered continued pavement degradation from poor drainage and subsequent freeze-thaw on the surface. The soil types on the project site were ideal for infiltration, creating a situation well suited for the use of porous concrete sidewalks. This project is the first use by the Department of Public Works (DPW) of porous concrete for sidewalks and monolithic curbs and gutters. “This project is significant because it allows DPW the opportunity to utilize sustainable infrastructure on multiple levels,” said David Sherman, DPW director. “We’re analyzing everything from the interaction of soil types, surface materials, pollutant sources and infiltration rates to broad policy implications on initial cost, maintenance and life cycle. With input from community development corporations and neighborhood groups, we’ve been able to get a better understanding of what will be genuinely sustainable for the long term.” The Ohio Street project has relied on partnerships within the neighborhood, including the Cole Noble District Neighborhood Association, Indianapolis Downtown Inc., and local business owners such as The Nature Conservancy, The Buchanan Group and Easley Winery. “Our neighborhood has been plagued by crumbling sidewalks, deteriorating streets and drainage concerns for decades now,” said Bruce Buchanan, president of the Cole-Noble District Neighborhood Association. “We’re excited about the infrastructure improvements that we’ve seen in our area and the commitment to improve quality of life that Mayor Ballard shares with our association.” The Ohio Street project will remove an estimated 1.3 million gallons of storm water from the combined sewer system annually, which represents more than 90 percent of the annual rainfall volume for the Ohio Street watershed area. “This project illustrates the spirit and vision of The Nature Conservancy,” said Mary McConnell, state director  for The Nature Conservancy. “When we decided to invest in this location and in sustainable elements for our building, we hoped it would inspire sustainable practices throughout the area. We’re glad to see that it has.” Other sustainable DPW projects under way throughout the county now include: Crooked Creek Area Sewer Improvements – DPW will complete construction on a project that will add capacity to infrastructure and eliminate approximately 2,000 septic systems by providing residents with access to the City’s sanitary sewer system. The project also includes construction of porous pavement parking lots and four rain gardens Highland Creek at Troy and Bluff Storm Water Diversion Project – DPW will construct wetlands and divert 80 percent of flood waters from impacted neighborhood streets Springwood Trail Area Channel Improvements – DPW will use natural materials to strengthen channel banks, install erosion control blankets and encourage natural plant growth Mayor Ballard announced RebuildIndy’s initial $55 million investment in infrastructure projects on Sept. 9, kicking off a variety of infrastructure improvement projects in the county. These projects are all scheduled to start construction in late 2010 or early 2011. The entire $55 million has already been released for bid and more than $35 million in infrastructure improvement projects have already been awarded to contractors. Work is underway across the community, including street resurfacing on Guion Road between 38th Street and 56th Street, 10th Street from I-465 to Girls School Road and walkability and accessibility improvements along Michigan Road. For more information about the RebuildIndy program, visit www.indy.gov/RebuildIndy. To request a RebuildIndy project in your area, call the Mayor’s Action Center at (317) 327-4MAC (4622).

We wanted to provide a little background information on a new project that will be using our Creatherm Radiant Floor Panels.

BASF Near-Zero Energy Classroom and Wildlife Habitat

The BASF Near-Zero Energy Classroom and Wildlife Habitat, currently under construction in the city of Rensselaer, New York, is intended to become an international showcase for holistic sustainable development, including best practices in site remediation and high-performance commercial construction
Benefits for participating manufacturers and strategic allies include a comprehensive 2010 marketing campaign including:

• National media relations campaign

• Ribbon cutting and press event in the Fall 2010

• Featured at Greenbuild 2010 in BASF booth

• Virtual and live tours highlighting your product solution on www.BASF.com/construction

• 2010 BASF webinar series on sustainable development

• Platform for AIA continuing education content development

• Regional community and school tours

• Urban Land Institute tours and events

• YouTube™ content

• High-Performance school seminars with New York Department of Education

Hunt Construction Group Delivers First LEED® Gold NHL Arena

Posted on August 12, 2010 by admin

SOURCE: Hunt Construction Group, Inc.
  Aug 12, 2010 07:11 ET

PITTSBURGH, PA–(Marketwire – August 12, 2010) –  Hunt Construction Group along with joint venture partner, P.J. Dick recently completed construction of Consol Energy Center. The new home of the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins just received its LEED® Gold certification on the day of substantial completion. This achievement makes Consol Energy Center the first NHL arena in the U.S. with this distinction.

Designed by architect Populous, the facility was constructed incorporating sustainable features to ensure it has a minimal impact on the environment. Some of these features include the diversion of 93.7% of the arena’s waste from landfills, the use of recycled building materials, sustainably harvested and processed wood, materials that reflect rather than absorb sunlight to reduce heat absorption, lighting control system, low flow plumbing fixtures and use of low emitting materials — paints, coatings, etc.

The 735,000-square-foot Consol Energy Center stands out from the rest with many unique and upscale features. These include a mix of black and gold seats to give that Pittsburgh feel, a four-sided, 70,000-pound scoreboard, 66 suites, 32 loge boxes and a beautiful view of the Golden Triangle visible from the upper concourse.

Other features of the facility include 795 HD IPTVs throughout the facility, two levels of concourses to ease congestion, east and west main concourse clubs, Lexus Club on suite level, an upscale club on the upper concourse, and 386 toilets and urinals. Additionally, there is a team store, seating for 18,000 for hockey, 19,100 for basketball and 20,000 for concerts and over 150 scheduled events per year
 

The first Pittsburgh Penguins game will take place on September 22, 2010 with a preseason game against the Detroit Red Wings. 

Established in 1944, Hunt Construction Group provides construction management, general contracting, design-build services, program management and preconstruction consulting. Hunt employs over 700 salaried personnel, and completes $2 billion of work annually with a portfolio that encompasses nearly every type of construction project. Hunt employs 130 LEED® AP professionals and has completed over 5.2 million sq. ft. of LEED® Certified construction. Hunt’s corporate headquarters are located in Scottsdale and regional offices are located in Indianapolis, Phoenix, Dallas, San Francisco, Irvine, Tampa and Orlando.

More information about the company is available online at http://www.huntconstructiongroup.com.
Click here to see all recent news from this company
Hunt Construction Group Delivers First LEED® Gold NHL Arena

Indy unveils 'green' building incentive progra

By Tom Spalding

Posted: August 2, 2010

 

Indianapolis government leaders have announced a program that provides incentives for property owners and developers to renovate or construct new buildings in a sustainable manner.
The program allows for projects built after Aug. 1 to receive up to a 50 percent rebate on building permit fees associated with the green project. The incentive encourages building owners and developers to integrate sustainable design techniques and practices into building projects.

MORE COVERAGE:The city of Indianapolis' Office of Sustainability website.

Allyson Pumphrey, a city project manager, said in a news release that "green" buildings benefit occupants because they typically use less energy and water and have lower operating costs than traditional buildings. They also reduce storm-water runoff, reduce construction waste, and use renewable materials and energy sources.

“Green buildings are an important component of a more sustainable Indianapolis. With this new green building incentive, our desire is to increase the number of green, or sustainable, buildings in Indianapolis, moving us closer to being one of the most sustainable cities in the Midwest,” said Mayor Greg Ballard, in the news release.

Reach Star reporter Tom Spalding at www.twitter.com/SpaldoBusiness or contact him at (317) 444-6202

BASF launches NEOPOR EPS website for North America

BASF launches Neopor® EPS website in North America
More information, organized for the convenience of customers
FLORHAM PARK, NJ, July 7, 2010 – BASF announced a new website for its Neopor® expandable polystyrene (EPS), a forward-looking solution to improve insulation in newly built and renovated buildings. The result is a more robust Internet resource that makes it easier for customers to learn about Neopor’s ability to improve a building’s insulation performance.  Neopor is silvery grey in color because it contains graphite that considerably increases insulation performance.
The new website has been especially designed for the North American market and its content offers an increased value to BASF’s customers.  The features of the site, www.neopor.basf.us include:
A literature section that contains product specifications and regulatory information, along with downloadable information, such as insulation investment payback, technical data sheets, MSDS data, application profiles and brochures;
A spotlight on the latest building success stories and links to customers showcasing their use of Neopor in commercial applications;

• An expanded marketing section describing the properties and versatility of BASF’s Neopor demonstrating how it adds value in building and construction applications;
• An online customer information service that puts users in touch with a BASF Customer Relationship Specialist, a single point of contact for answers to many common questions

“Our objective is to provide a comprehensive and user-friendly online resource that will enable our customers and users of our product to find the information they need quickly and easily,” said Aaron Wood, Marketing Manager at BASF. “The site delivers an important, value-added capability for our customers by saving them time and giving them instant access to a wealth of information about our products and services and about the marketplace.”.
The Neopor site is open to all users and requires no registration to receive non-secure information. Customer account information and other secure data are protected with advanced safeguard measures.
BASF - The Chemical Company.

BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has approximately 16,000 employees in North America, and had sales of $13 billion in 2009. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, or to sign up to receive news releases by e-mail, visit www.basf.us.
BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics and performance products to agricultural products, fine chemicals and oil and gas. As a reliable partner, BASF creates chemistry to help its customers in virtually all industries to be more successful. With its high-value products and intelligent solutions, BASF plays an important role in finding answers to global challenges, such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and mobility. BASF posted sales of more than €50 billion in 2009 and had approximately 105,000 employees as of the end of the year. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.

For more information, contact:
Kathy Dennis
BASF Corporation
Tel: (973) 245-6288
E-mail: Kathy.dennis@basf.com

Greenbuild International Expo and Conference wants to hear from you

Generation Green: What Are You Doing to Redefine Our Future?

GreenbuildExpo.org is looking for your videos.

Let's face it. So far 2010 hasn't been exactly kind. Every day has seemed to bring a new natural (or unnatural) disaster, partisan discord across the country, and economic news that has kept the world in a state of nervousness and doubt.

We started the year with a devastating earthquake in Haiti and wretched weather that plagued much of the country with school closings, travel interruptions and power outages. Most recently, our eyes have been glued to the terrifying images of an oil spill that threatens the Gulf, its wildlife and the livelihood of tens of thousands of people.

But there are bright spots, as well – many, many of them – and the green building community is at the heart of that optimism. Which is why, in the midst of this year that demands solutions, we want to know:Generation Green, what are you doing?Less than six months from Greenbuild 2010, which promises to be the biggest Greenbuild yet, we hope you're taking this year's theme to heart. "Generation Green: Redefining Our Future." Every day, in ways big and small, our community is taking important steps to redefine our future.

Send us your videos! Please visit www.greenbuildexpo.org/GenGreen today and let us know: What are you doing to redefine our future? Generation Green is not an age group. It's not about politics or personality, demographics or geography. It's all of us. You are Generation Green, and your ideas will inspire the world to act today. And they may be featured at Greenbuild 2010 in Chicago!

What are you doing to take advantage of this watershed moment, when we can push the reset button on the hope that ushered in last year and use it to reignite our energy for the changes we need to move us forward?What are you doing to help the people in Haiti and along the Gulf Coast? What are you doing to support clean energy development? To promote green jobs and a clean, green economy? To push forward retrofits for existing buildings and infrastructure? To get your child in a green school or make sure that there is one in your community? No action is too small, no goal too idealistic, and no person too young or too old or too powerless to make a difference.

We want to hear from everyone – you, your kids, your grandparents. Your colleagues and your classrooms; your mayors, governors and Congress members; your PTA board and your USGBC Students group. We're not looking for expensive, well-produced videos. Your ideas can be simple or profound, general or specific. Just tell us, in 30 seconds or less, how you are building a future of economic, environmental and social prosperity.

Visit www.greenbuildexpo.org/GenGreen to learn how to submit your video and to see what the rest of Generation Green is doing.

White Cap Construction Supply - Contractor Day

Looking forward to participating in the Contractor Day event at White Cap Construction Supply store #157 this Thursday. Please stop by and check out our Creatherm radiant installation panels.

The address is:
157 - LOUISVILLE, KY
4609 Poplar Level Road
Louisville , KY 40213
Phone: 502-964-3385
Fax: 502-968-2034

Trade Show season 2010

Making last minute changes to the booth before starting the tradeshow circuit.
Check us out at the AHR show in a few weeks. Booth 5088.

BASF's Styropor EPS used in innovative application for radiant heating industry- Helps keeps heat rising

Creatherm “walk-it-in” radiant floor panels provide an efficient thermal and sound barrier between the ground and heated slab while saving contractors time and money.

FLORHAM PARK, NJ, – Until now, installing radiant heating has been a time consuming and labor intensive process for contractors. Home and building owners benefit from radiant heating because it is a clean, comfortable and energy efficient solution. Creatherm™ radiant floor panels, manufactured by Creatherm out of BASF Styropor® EPS, offer contractors an innovative foam installation process that saves time and money.

As with Insulating Concrete Forms (ICFs), Creatherm™ radiant floor panels are easily installed. Interlocking panels help reduce labor costs and improve installation efficiencies by allowing for precise tube layout that eliminates the need to tie, clip, staple, or screw the PEX [cross-linked polyethylene] tubing to the substrate.

Styropor®, an expandable polystyrene (EPS) was invented by BASF in 1952 and today is a classic among the raw materials employed for cost-effective con­struction, as well as efficient and reliable packaging. The most important properties of Styropor® EPS include:

excellent thermal insulation capacity

high compressive strength

outstanding impact absorption

low weight

design capabilities

BASF - The Chemical Company. We don't make a lot of the products you buy. We make a lot of the products you buy better.® BASF Corporation, headquartered in New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany.

BASF employs more than 15,000 in North America and had sales of approximately $16.4 billion in 2007.

For more information about BASF’s North American operations, or to sign up to receive news releases by e-mail,visit www.basf.com/usa.

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from oil and gas to chemicals, plastics, performance products, agricultural products and fine chemicals. As a reliable partner BASF helps its customers in virtually all industries to be more successful. With its high-value products and intelligent solutions, BASF plays an important role in finding answers to global challenges such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and mobility. BASF has more than 95,000 employees and posted sales of almost €58 billion in 2007. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.

About Createc Corporation Headquartered in Whitestown, Ind., a northwest suburb of Indianapolis, CreathermTM offers innovative foam products to the building industry. As a subsidiary of Createc Corporation, manufacturers of ICF panels, Creatherm’s Radiant Floor Panels were their first product to reach market, and sales have more than doubled since launch in 2005. For more than 35 years, Createc Corporation, as a second-generation family-owned business, has been a leader in the beaded foam industry, providing everything from protective packaging to automotive, component and specialty foam products. Strengths include in-house product design, quality manufacturing, and a large production capacity backed by timely delivery and attentive customer service. The ability to solve design problems offers Createc Corporation distinction as a valued business partner to companies nationwide.

Lugar Joins Senators Who Introduce Bill to Stimulate Clean Energy Manufacturing

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Thursday, December 10, 2009CONTACTS:Jude McCartin/Bingaman (202) 224-1804Mark Eddington/ Hatch (202)-224-5251Matt Williams/Stabenow (202) 224-1437Mark Hayes/Lugar (202) 224-8370

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Orrin G. Hatch (R-UT), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Richard Lugar (R-IN) have introduced legislation that would create jobs by encouraging the manufacture of renewable energy technologies in the United States.

The senators’ American Clean Technology Manufacturing Leadership Act extends the life of a successful tax credit that allows companies to write off 30 percent of the cost of creating, expanding, or re-equipping facilities to manufacture renewable energy technologies, like solar panels, wind turbines, and advanced batteries.

The legislation expands an innovative tax incentive first created at Bingaman’s urging in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Act authorized the Departments of Energy and the Treasury to award up to $2.3 billion in tax credits. But due to an unexpectedly high number of applicants, that program will run out of funds by mid-January. The senators’ American Clean Technology Manufacturing Leadership Act (S. 2857) would provide an additional $2.5 billion in tax credits, enough to leverage $8.33 billion in new domestic investment.

“This tax incentive has been so successful that President Obama himself called on Congress to extend it, so that more companies can take advantage of it and create jobs,” Bingaman said. “Currently, the United States runs an annual ‘green trade deficit’ of almost $9 billion. But the United States should be the world’s No. 1 manufacturer of clean energy technology. This tax incentive will help us move toward that goal.”

“With all the talk about green jobs these days, it can be confusing to figure out just what a green job is. Well, this legislation promotes green jobs where they matter the most, in the domestic advanced energy manufacturing sector. Renewable energy is a rapidly growing field, and we’re joining together today to ensure that the United States maintains leadership in the development and manufacture of the best energy technologies, while keeping our nation on the competitive cutting edge,” Hatch said.

“In order to turn our economy around and create jobs, we need to build the clean energy technology of the future here in America. Otherwise, we will lose the race with other countries and see those jobs go overseas,” said Stabenow. “This manufacturing tax credit, which I co-authored in the recovery act, has already spurred interest to invest in advanced energy projects such as wind, solar, geothermal, and other renewable resources across the country. It has also set aside critical funding for companies manufacturing technologies for the next generation of advanced vehicles. This initiative is central to any jobs package, and I am pleased to partner with my Senate colleagues to introduce legislation that will help put our economy back on track.”

“With one in ten Hoosiers unemployed and many more underemployed, job creation must be a first priority. Extending the Advanced Manufacturing Tax Credit is a fiscally-responsible way of helping American workers and businesses use our manufacturing expertise to lead in new energy technology production,” Lugar said.

Until ARRA was enacted in February, all domestic tax incentives focused exclusively on business and consumer tax credits to encourage the use of such technology as solar panels. The 30 percent tax credit – created first in ARRA and proposed for expansion through the American Clean Technology Manufacturing Leadership Act -- for the first time incentivized companies to manufacture clean technologies in the United States.

The American Clean Technology Manufacturing Leadership Act was referred to the Senate Finance Committee. Bingaman, Hatch and Stabenow are members of that committee. Bingaman also chairs the Finance Subcommittee on Energy, Natural Resources & Infrastructure, and plans to convene a hearing in 2010 on tax incentives for energy manufacturing.

This news release brought to you by the Indiana Renewable Energy Association.

Come visit us at the 2010 AHR Expo

Be our guest in Orlando at the AHR Expo next month.
Creatherm will be exhibiting at the world's largest HVAC&R event January 25 - 27, 2010.
Please stop by our booth # 5088 and join us for a great time.

Don't forget to contact us at info@creatherm.com for VIP admission tickets to the show.

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Small Iowa City Gets $1M for Geothermal Project

DES MOINES, Iowa, October 13, 2009 (ENS) – Iowa Governor Chet Culver today awarded $1 million to the City of West Union to establish an innovative geothermal district-wide heating and cooling system and a radiant-heat snow-melt system.
A city of about 2,500 in the northeastern corner of the state, West Union is the county seat of Fayette County. In 2008, West Union was named one of Iowa's two Green Pilot Communities by Iowa's Department of Economic Development.
"This is great news for West Union and our state as a whole," said Governor Culver. "I am committed to making Iowa the renewable energy capital of the country, and these funds are another step forward in meeting that goal."
West Union, Iowa on a summer evening (Photo courtesy West Union Chamber of Commerce)
West Union's planned renovation of six blocks of downtown infrastructure is called West Union Green Pilot Project. The award was made through the Community Development Block Grant's Downtown Revitalization Fund and Community Sustainability program.
The community will replace aging infrastructure such as water, storm and sanitary sewers, streets, sidewalks and lights using environmentally friendly materials.
The city intends to complete a six-block green streetscape including reconstruction of the streets and sidewalks. Porous pavement, rainwater harvesting and reuse, rain gardens and bioswales for stormwater retention will make the project green and sustainable.
Geothermal conduits using heat from deep within the Earth, radiant snow melt infrastructure and energy efficient street lighting will be installed.
The governor says no other community in the country will have integrated as many green infrastructure practices in one place and at one time as West Union, making the community a destination for planners, architects, engineers, and community officials who wish to learn from the West Union model.
The project began with a visioning workshop in October 2007 when the Department of Economic Development completed a technical assistance visit to advise West Union about the potential for multi-purpose pedestrian-scale streetscape improvements.
The next step on the green journey included a Green Pilot Workshop held in June 2008 to brainstorm and research green applications that could be incorporated into the six-block streetscape design.
West Union will receive technical assistance and training as well as financial incentives from IDED to complete the new, environmentally responsible streetscape.
The Iowa Green Streets Criteria will apply to this project. These criteria promote public health, energy efficiency, water conservation, smart locations, operational savings and sustainable building practices.
Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2009. All rights reserved.

Extreme Makeover in Kokomo, IN Adds Wind Turbine

‘Extreme Makeover' includes turbine
Firm giving it to TV show for Kokomo home has office here.

By Aaron Organ of The News-Sentinel
When TV host Ty Pennington calls for a driver to “move that bus” Tuesday in Kokomo for the latest episode of ABC's “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” not only will a nearly 4,000-square-foot dream home appear for one lucky family, but the residence will also be powered by a wind turbine built by a South Bend company with local ties.Wind-Wire, which has an office in Fort Wayne, will erect a Windstream 3.7 wind turbine on the lot of the home that is engineered to supply enough energy for a 2,000 square-foot home. The $16,200 donation is scheduled to be installed Sunday or Monday, right about the time Pennington is bellowing deadlines to a crowd of on-site volunteers.Wind-Wire got involved in the “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” build after company co-owner Dave Smith called the show to offer their services. The show told Smith to contact Hallmark Homes, which was contracted to construct the Kokomo home for the Indiana family in need.After Hallmark executives saw what Wind-Wire had to offer, the rest is history.“We contacted (Hallmark Homes) and they were real skeptical about it, but once we showed them what we did and they saw some of our units, they were all for it,” said Smith. “Matter of fact, they're real excited about it.”The family, which Smith could not identify, was notified of the project Wednesday and promptly sent on vacation, as it customary, while Pennington, his team, hundreds of volunteers and four workers from Wind-Wire get to work for the week.The old home will be demolished today. The new one will be revealed Tuesday.The turbine Smith's company is donating pumps out between 500 and 1,200 kilowatts a month and is entirely dependent on wind; windy months equal more power output. Smith said Skystreams, on average, drop a household electric bill 30 to 80 percent.The turbine will be shipped to the build site from the Wind-Wire plant in La Paz.Smith said the home will be built in a location conducive to wind-powered electricity.“We don't know who the family is, but we're hoping this really helps them out,” said Smith of the turbine. “This will help to eliminate a bunch of their electric.”Smith said Wind-Wire has installed turbines all over the region, from South Bend to Kokomo to Detroit to Chicago. In an economy enveloped in a “green” mentality, Wind-Wire has taken off.“Sure we want a little bit of advertising from it, but you know what? We always wanted to put ourselves in a position where we could do something like this for those families that need it, and we felt this was the perfect way of doing it,” said Smith. “And it feels good.”

Hoosier Wind Project Set For Commercial Operation

Construction of the 106-megawatt wind farm, consisting of 53 REpower MM92 turbines, commenced last April with commercial operation expected during 4th Quarter 2009. Indianapolis Power & Light (IPL) will purchase the power generated under a 20-year power purchase agreement. The Hoosier Wind Project, located in Benton County, Indiana will be operated and maintained by enXco Service Corporation.

“The Hoosier Wind project exemplifies the solid relationship between the enXco team and its long-term financing partners. Hoosier marks our third wind project to achieve financing in the past 10 months during extremely challenging times, affirming enXco’s ability to develop and build financeable projects,” said Tristan Grimbert, president and CEO of enXco. “We are very proud to have once again successfully worked with Dexia, Helaba, and Union Bank who demonstrate their commitment to renewable energy through our constructive working relationship,” Grimbert added.

EPA Launches ENERGY STAR Resources for the Enterainment Sector

We might not be thinking about energy efficiency when we go out to cheer on our favorite sports team or take the kids to the movies, but the enteratinment industry--including stadiums, museums, convention centers, theaters, tourist attractions, and other venues--spends about $4.6 billion on energy each year. These costs can be controlled by managing energy strategically, and the savings can be used to build better attractions. EPA now offers online tools and resources for the enteratinment sector, including a "Quick Reference Guide to Benchmarking," information on promoting energy efficiency.Energy benchmarking groups have already formed among major league baseball stadiums (led by the St. Louis Cardinal's Busch Stadium) and convention centers (led by the Viriginia Beach Convention Center), with members of each group activley sharing information and best practices in a neffort to improve the energy efficiency of their facilitities.

With hundreds of thousands of vistiors each year, these facilities are uniquley positioned to help spread the word about energy effiecny. With EPA's help, members of the entertainment industry will have the tools and resources they need to engage and inspire visitors to join the fight against global warming.

To learn more about ENERGY STAR for the entertainment industry, visit www.energystar.gov.

EPS Reduces Global Warming

New Life Cycle Analysis Clearly Demonstrates Environmental Contributions of Adding EPS Insulation to North American Homes

CROFTON, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A new study shows that expanded polystyrene (EPS) provides a substantial reduction in greenhouse gas emissions when used to insulate homes in North America.

This study, Energy and Greenhouse Gas Savings for EPS Foam Insulation Applied to Exterior Walls of Single Family Residential Housing in the U.S. and Canada, calculated the resources used and emissions produced in the manufacturing and delivery of EPS and concludes that EPS insulation will reduce the operational impact of the building to an extent that far outweighs the environmental impact caused by its manufacture.

“Everyone knows that adding insulation to your home will reduce energy costs,” acknowledges Betsy Steiner, executive director of the EPS Molders Association (EPSMA). “However, consumers are increasingly aware that product manufacture requires resource and energy consumption. We want our customers to know that energy and environmental payback on this investment is substantial, making EPS insulation one of the quickest and easiest ways to reduce energy usage.”

With mainstream support for the green movement, consumers are asking new and different questions about how products perform and are increasingly making purchasing decisions that take environmental considerations into account. This is particularly true in the area of construction, as buildings are responsible for 40% of all greenhouse gas emissions. Life Cycle Analysis (LCA), a measurement tool that provides comprehensive environmental data, is a widely accepted method of evaluating a product’s environmental footprint.

Franklin Associates, an independent consulting firm in Prairie Village, Kansas, conducted this study to analyze and quantify energy use and emissions with regard to EPS insulation. Franklin used data from the U.S. Life Cycle Index (LCI) Database and data collected from the EPS manufacturing industry. Homes were evaluated in all climate zones in the U.S. and Canada. The thermal performance evaluation of the homes was based on R-value data from Oakridge National Laboratories.

Using this approach, the study assessed the energy and resources used during the extraction, manufacturing, processing, delivery, use and disposal of EPS insulation, and the greenhouse gas emissions produced throughout the process. The energy and greenhouse gas savings were determined by comparing the heating and cooling energy requirements for the modeled home with added EPS insulation to a similar structure without added insulation. This provides the ‘net’ footprint or the environmental payback that is achieved by using increased insulation.

Insulation is measured in terms of thermal resistance, called R-value, which indicates the resistance to heat flow. The higher the material’s R-value, the greater the insulating effectiveness or, the better walls and roof resist the flow of heat either into or out of the building. When EPS insulation was added to the exterior walls, using R-4 and R-6 foam, the energy payback periods in Canada are less than one year in all Provinces. In the U.S., the energy payback time for R-4 insulation is less than two years with shorter payback times in colder regions. R-6 payback times for energy are slightly longer but ultimately result in higher energy savings over the life of the building. These energy values directly correlate to the resulting greenhouse gas reductions.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heating and cooling account for 50 to 70% of the energy used in the average American home, and inadequate insulation and air leakage are the leading causes of energy waste in most homes.

While ongoing research is aiming to identify renewable energy options, immediate green house gas reductions and efficiencies upgrades can be achieved with added insulation, and most importantly allows homeowners to take action now.

“The exceptional performance of EPS insulation offers the construction industry a means to achieve newer energy efficiency goals being revised and updated on an ongoing basis,” adds Steiner. “Architects, designers, and material specifiers can be confident they are providing an environmentally responsible choice when selecting EPS to insulate their buildings.”

For more information on this study and other EPS insulation resources, contact Virginia Lyle at the EPS Molders Association at (800) 607-3772 or visit www.epsmolders.org.

The EPS Molders Association is a trade organization for the U.S. and Canadian manufacturers of expanded polystyrene building and construction products.
Contacts

EPS Molders AssociationVirginia Lyle, 800-607-3772

Creatherm is Now on YouTube!

Recently Creatherm started a YouTube channel to post videos of some of the installations of our panels. We have plans on posting more videos, in an attempt to help spread the word of our Creatherm product line.

Look for added product videos and other postings as we progress and fine tune the channel.
Our goal is to give an up-close and personal look at our company and the industry.

If you have a YouTube account please subscribe to us http://www.youtube.com/creatherm.