tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16154906.post-1132327164610679862005-11-18T10:08:00.000-05:002005-11-18T10:33:16.390-05:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.yournextbroker.com/uploaded_images/PJ-AG428B_ZERO_20051116204710-756687.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://www.yournextbroker.com/uploaded_images/PJ-AG428B_ZERO_20051116204710-752466.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>With rising energy costs, more and more people have been looking into "zero-energy homes." These homes are designed to produce as much energy as they use. In the past these homes were too expensive to make it worth it, but new tax credits may make them more affordable.<br /><br />The technology behind these zero-energy homes? Solar power. The concept is that when there's enough solar energy power to power your home you use it. With there's too much, you send it back into the power grid to receive credit to your account. When there's no sun, you use the power grid to power your home. The idea is that your credits balance out how much you use. Zero-energy.<br /><br />So what makes this technology so unaffordable? Well the solar panels and the inverters can cost between $8,000 and $20,000. When you consider the average yearly electric bill is $1,500 / year, it would take at least 6 years to pay off the cheapest of installations.<br /><br />That's where the government and subsidation set in. Under the wide-ranging federal Energy Policy Act passed this summer, which takes effect Jan. 1, the buyer of a new home equipped with a solar photovoltaic system may claim a tax credit valued at 30% of the system's cost, to a maximum of $2,000.<br /><br />The new credit, which is temporary and comes up for renewal in 2008, is part of a national initiative to reduce home energy consumption by 70% by 2020.<br /><br />With these tax credits, you may be able to make up the costs within a few years. And then think of the resale value! Plus, it will make your inner hippie smile.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16154906-113232716461067986?l=www.yournextbroker.com' alt='' /></div>Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14349914826862572295noreply@blogger.com1