Environmental

Our insulation is engineered to make a difference, in more ways then one! A difference in the field and a difference for the future of our planet.

By nature of being a high-performance insulation, Insulfoam products SAVE energy. Which means less fossil fuels need to be produced, harvested and used. With this reduction in use of fuels, there is also a significant reduction in pollutants released to the environment, significantly having a positive affect on global warming (View the EPS Associations Study on EPS & Global Warming here).

EPS is also one of the only rigid insulations that is recyclable AND also has a stable long-term thermal R-Value that won’t decrease over time. This thermal durability, and ability to reclaim the product waste (rather than sending it to the landfills), differentiates Insulfoam EPS products as truly environmentally sustainable products.

Beyond the difference our insulations have on our earth, they can also help provide a large difference in your tax credits, environmental certifications and other regional incentives. Energy efficiency is something we all strive for, Insulfoam products in their most simple state, help you achieve this sought after energy efficiency!

Resources

ASHRAE Standards

Insulfoam products easily help projects meet energy efficiency standards:

ASHRAE Minimum Standards by Climate Zone

ASHRAE STANDARD 90.1 Thermal Value (R-Value) Increases

Tax Credits

While energy costs continue to rise, insulating your projects adequately not only help save energy costs, but also can often earn tax credits and incentives to further encourage builders and building owners to choose to insulate for high performance.

This information is for general use and tax credit amounts may vary. Please consult a tax professional to review your specific information.

WHERE CAN I FIND MORE INFORMATION ON CREDITS AND INCENTIVES? 

  1. Database of State Incentives for Renewable’s & Efficiency (DSIRE) is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and federal incentives and policies that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency. Visit the DSIRE website and click on your state for more local inventive information.
  2.  Tax Incentives Assistance Project (TIAP) is designed to give consumers and businesses information they need to make use of the federal income tax incentives for energy efficient products and technologies passed by Congress as part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and amended several times.Visit TIAP website for more information and links that are available for you.

WHAT DO I QUALIFY FOR AS A COMMERCIAL BUILDING OWNER?

A tax deduction of up to $1.80 per square foot is available to owners (or designers, in the case of government-owned buildings) of new or existing commercial buildings. To qualify, owners must demonstrate that the building was constructed or reconstructed to save at least 50% of the heating, cooling, water heating, and interior lighting energy cost that meet ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2001. Click here for more information on tax credits for Commercial Buildings from the Energy Star website.

**Tax credits, as compared to tax deductions, directly reduce the amount of income tax owed. Tax deductions reduce the amount of income subject to tax.

WHAT DO I QUALIFY FOR AS A HOMEBULIDER?

Homebuilders are eligible for a $2000 tax credit for a new energy efficient home achieves fifty percent energy savings for heating and cooling over the 2003 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) plus 2004 supplements. At least one fifth of the energy savings must come from building envelope improvement, achieved through higher levels of insulation and air sealing. A SIP building envelope delivers high R-value insulation while reducing air leakage, making SIPs an ideal option for meeting this requirement. Click here for more on information on tax credits for Homebuilders from the Energy Star website.

HOW DO I QUALIFY & APPLY FOR A HOME TAX CREDIT?

To receive the $2000 tax credit for homes, the builder must follow the guidelines set out in IRS Notice 2007-27. To do so, the home applying home must undergo an inspection from an energy rater certified through the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET). To find a RESNET energy rater in your local area, visit the RESNET website. To assist in the application process, The Internal Revenue Service has created IRS Form 8908 for guidance.

HOW DO I QUALIFY & APPLY FOR A COMMERCIAL TAX DEDUCTION?

Owners of commercial buildings must follow the procedures listed in IRS Notice 20006-52. This notification provides guidance for full and partial deductions on new commercial construction and renovation. Since the financial incentive is a tax deduction, the Internal Revenue Service will continue to use standard forms to apply it to your taxes each year. Please consult a tax professional to learn how you can maximize your deduction.

CAN I RECIEVE A PARTIAL TAX DEDUCTION?

Yes…in the case of a building that does not meet the whole building requirement of a 50 percent energy savings, a partial deduction is allowed for each separate building system that is certified by a qualified professional as meeting or exceeding the applicable system savings targets of the $1.80 per square foot commercial tax credits. The applicable system savings targets are those that would result in a total annual energy savings of fifty percent for the whole building, if each of the separate systems met the system target; note that the maximum allowable deduction is $0.60 per square foot. The separate building systems are: Interior Lighting System; Heating, Cooling, Ventilation, and Hot Water System;, and Building EnvelopeFor more information on partial deductions, visit IRS Notice 2006-52

WHAT DO I QUALIFY FOR AS A FIRST TIME HOMEOWNER?

The ‘First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit’ has been extended through December 31, 2010. This tax credit of up to $8,000 is available for qualified first-time home buyers purchasing a principal residence on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 31, 2010. For more information on the First-Time HOme Buyer Tax Credit, visit the federal housing website. For more information on Energy Star qualified tax credits, visit the consumer/homeowner energy star website.