| Recently President Bush signed into law the | | | | few years should consider upgrading to a steel roof |
| Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 which, | | | | in 2009 to take advantage of the tax credit before it |
| among other economic incentives, extended the tax | | | | expires. Homeowners who add a metal roof that is |
| credit available for energy efficient home | | | | ENERGY STAR qualified can get 10% of the cost |
| improvements. Home owners that are in the midst of | | | | refunded, up to $500. That’s a pretty significant |
| planning to make improvements to their homes can | | | | savings. |
| do so in 2009 and receive tax credits for | | | | To qualify for the tax credit the steel roof must be |
| improvements that are deemed to make the home | | | | put into service between Jan 1 – Dec 31 2009, a |
| more energy efficient. | | | | manufacturer’s certification statement is |
| While the purpose of the bill was and will always be | | | | required, along with IRS Form 5695. According to the |
| to lessen the blow of the recent economic downturn, | | | | bill the roof qualifies if it is: “…any steel |
| one must look deeper to see the many advantages | | | | roof…installed on a dwelling unit, but only if such |
| it provides to the common household through tax | | | | roof has appropriate pigmented coatings or cooling |
| credits. Anyone who is planning to undertake home | | | | granules which are specifically and primarily designed |
| improvements should consult the details of the bill to | | | | to reduce the heat gain of such dwelling unit”. So |
| see if the changes they are making qualify for tax | | | | essentially you are looking for a coated steel roof |
| credits. | | | | which meets the ENERGY STAR program |
| One of the main focuses of the home improvement | | | | requirements. |
| tax credit portion of the bill was to encourage people | | | | Check with your Absolute Steel representative to |
| to change their roofing material from heat-absorbing, | | | | see which of our metal roofing materials qualify and |
| energy-wasting shake and shingle to a substance | | | | save some money! |
| that reflects heat and reduces energy consumption, | | | | While some may not consider 2009 to be the best |
| such as a reflective metal roof. | | | | year for major expenditures on a home, if your |
| The advantage of a change to metal roofing is that it | | | | home is in need of a roof soon regardless you should |
| reduces the home’s consumption of energy by | | | | think about upgrading your roof in the next year to |
| requiring less energy to cool the home in the | | | | take advantage of the tax credit savings. Not only |
| summer, as the steel roof reflects heat instead of | | | | will you save money on the roof itself, but every |
| absorbing it. A second advantage comes with the | | | | year your metal roof will give you back up to 40% in |
| fact that since the heat is immediately reflected back | | | | energy savings due to reduced cooling costs. You |
| into the atmosphere it reduces the occurrence of | | | | should also keep in mind that when you spend |
| smog and urban hot zones in populated areas. | | | | money on your house you are also helping to |
| Those who need to replace their roofs in the next | | | | stimulate a lagging economy, and every little bit helps. |