Pittsburgh-area homeowners slow to take advantage of energy efficiency tax credit - Pittsburgh Business Times:

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John McCloskey, president with North Side-based , said the which provides a tax credit for 30 percent of an energ efficient installation upto $1,500, has not pushed new customers his way but seemz to be convincing some homeowneres to seek more extensive renovations to take full advantage of the tax credit. Jean Krak, McCloskey’s siste r and manager of business developmentwith J. Franciws Co., said that projects must meet an even highere certification than Energy Star to qualify forthe incentive.
Specifically, the solarf heat gain coefficient and the UFactort — measures of the efficiency of a new window, skylight, HVAC system or high-qualitt insulation — must be below Krak said. “It will probably stimulate decision Krak said inan e-mail response to adding that there were no energy efficiency tax creditx in 2008 and only $500 worthb per home owner in 2007. “There’s stillp a tremendous amount of interesy in remodeling since the housing inventor y in our area is runninf 20 to 40 yearw old on averageand up. New home construction is down People are staying in theier homesand remodeling.
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