Energy Audit News

RESNET has completed a survey of rating providers on rating activities in 2008. The survey found that in 2008, 21,939 homes were verified as being eligible for the federal energy efficient homes tax credit in 2008. According to the data on homes sold in 2008 from the U.S, Census Bureau, this would equate to 4.6% of all homes sold in the U.S. in 2008 qualifying for the tax credit. While the absolute number is down from the 23,702 in 2007, the decrease is significantly less than the reduction in the number of homes sold in 2007 (776,000 in 2007 as opposed to the 482,000 sold in 2008).

This is significant, since skeptics had initially claimed that few homes would qualify and there were concerns expressed that there would not be enough of a rating infrastructure to provide the verification. This skepticism, fortunately, has not held up. The numbers conclude that while new housing is down significantly, the demand for high performance new homes has not dropped accordingly.

Unless extended by Congress, the federal tax credit for energy efficient homes is scheduled to expire on January 1, 2010.

Information provided from the, “ Residential Energy Services Network”. (RESNET)