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Insulation provides a steady internal temperature for your home by keeping conditioned air in, and the outside temperature out. Well-insulated homes are more energy efficient, so adding insulation and correcting any existing issues can be a wise investment. Several types of insulation are readily available: batt, blown-in, and blown-in foam are the most popular. Batt insulation comes in rolls of large sheets, and it stapled into place. Blown-in insulation comes as loose-fill which you can blow in to small areas and crevices that batt insulation may have missed. Blow-in foam is blown in as soft foam, but quickly expands and hardens to cover almost any area. Insulation is rated in R-values or R-ratings. These ratings measure the thermal factor of the particular insulation; the higher the R-value, the better the insulation and higher the price. Higher R-values are required by building codes in areas where insulation is exposed to the elements, such as in attics. Homeowners often add insulation to interior walls for its sound dampening effects. Bathroom insulation reduces plumbing noises, and game and media room insulation prevents noise from reaching other parts of the home.

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How to Qualify for an Insulation Renovation Tax Credit

By Alicia Rowe

How does $300 in return for replacing the insulation in your home sound? Homeowners can currently qualify for a federal tax credit of up to $1,500 for 30% of the cost of energy efficient home improvements. So, if you spend $1,000 on new qualifying insulation, you can receive $300 worth of tax incentives. Use the following information to plan your project.

What kind of insulation qualifies?
Your new insulation levels must meet the requirements of the 2004 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). Builders use this code to determine how much insulation a home needs based on a range of different factors. You can do a quick determination for insulation material using its R-value. This value rates its thermal resistance (or resistance to heat-flow), and each state has its own recommendation for which R-value to use. For most homeowners, values between R-19 and R-30 will qualify, but be sure to double check before installing!

Is there a deadline for improvements?
All insulation improvements must be done between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2010 to qualify for the tax credit.

What if I hire a professional contractor?
Although the contractor and labor fees will not count towards the tax credit, the cost of materials still will. Regardless of the tax incentive, hiring a contractor is a good idea for many reasons. A contractor can ensure that your new insulation is properly and safely installed, and can make recommendations on the best type of insulation material to use. Make sure to get an itemized receipt showing the separate labor and material fees!

What paperwork will I need?
You can obtain the forms you'll need from the IRS itself. Remember that itemized receipt from earlier? You'll need to send that in to prove your eligible materials were purchased within the correct timeframe. Also be sure to obtain a filled-out Manufacturer's Certification Document from the insulation manufacturer, as this will need to be included as well.

2009 Insulation Tax Credit

By Jennifer Weldon

New tax codes pertaining to the 2009 insulation tax credit are not clear as to how homeowners can take advantage of this tax break. We have cut through the red tape and answered homeowner's most pressing questions as to how they can qualify for the tax credit.

Federal Tax Credits are available for installing new insulation in existing homes. The 2009 federal tax credits that were implemented for installing new insulation in your home can be quite confusing. Here are some common questions homeowners have in regard to the new tax codes:

What is the amount of the tax credit?
Homeowners may qualify for up to 30% of the expense of the new energy efficient insulation, up to a maximum of $1,500. This is an increase from the old tax credit of only 10% of the expense, up to $500. Thus, if you spend $1,200 on new energy efficient insulation, you can qualify for a tax credit of $360.

How do I meet the tax credit's criteria of energy efficient insulation?
The tax credit criteria is based upon the 2004 International Energy Conservation Code, IECC, requirements. The IECC provides guidelines to builders as to what insulation a home needs based upon several factors. If you combine these requirements with the insulation levels the US Department of Energy recommends, you can determine what levels of insulation you will need to install to satisfy the tax credit's criteria. Typically, installing insulation between R-19 and R-30 in your attic will satisfy this criteria.

Where should I install the insulation to qualify for the tax credit?
The tax code reads that insulation improvements must be made to the building envelope. The building envelope is basically the exterior sides of a home; or exterior walls, attic, foundation,crawl space and basement. The tax credit applies to these areas only because these areas insulate the home from outside temperatures and have the greastest impact on energy usage of a home.

When should I install the new insulation to qualify for the tax credit?
To be eligible for the tax credit, you must perform the new insulation installation between January 1st, 2009 and December 31st, 2010.

If I hire a professional contractor to install the insulation will I qualify for the tax credit? Yes, you will qualify for the tax credit if a professional contractor performs the installation. However, only the cost of the materials, not the labor, is used to calculate the tax credit. Ask your contractor to itemize your bill so that is separates material costs from labor costs. Hiring a professional contractor will ensure that the new insulation is installed correctly and will save you money on your monthly utility bills. Some of the new energy-efficient insulation has safety guidelines for installation as well, so it is best to have an experienced professional perform the work.

What documentation is needed to qualify for the tax credit?
The IRS has compiled a list for what documentation is needed to apply for the tax credit. This can be found on the IRS official website. Basically, you will need to provide an itemized receipt dated between January 1st, 2009 and December 31st, 2010 showing the cost of the material. Also required is a Manufacturer's Certification Document. This is a document supplied from the insulation manufacturer that verifies the energy efficient of the insulation.

If you follow these simple guidelines, you will be eligible to qualify for the 2009 insulation tax credit and this will help offset the cost of the new insulation. Over time, as you realize reduced energy bills, the new insulation will pay for itself!