ARRA extends, expands, and simplifies the federal income tax credits for homeowners who make energy efficiency home improvements. The law extends the consumer tax benefits for another year, through 2010; triples the total available tax credit from $500 to $1,500; and increases the tax credit to 30 percent of the cost of each qualified energy efficiency improvement. The law also removes the cap on geothermal heat pumps and solar water heaters through 2016.

Consumers who employ energy-efficient products in their homes or drive fuel-efficient vehicles enjoy multiple benefits. At home, these benefits include lower home energy bills, increased indoor comfort, and reduced air pollution. On the road, consumers will increase their gas mileage so they lower their gasoline costs, and they will dramatically reduce the amount of air pollution from their vehicles.

Selected Tax Credits

Windows, doors, insulation, and roofs must be expected to last at least five years (a two-year warranty is sufficient to demonstrate this).

In some areas of the country, consumers also will be eligible for utility or state rebates or state tax incentives for the same homes, vehicles, and equipment.

Manufacturers can certify (in packaging or on the company’s web site) which of their products qualify for the tax credit. Retailers, contractors, and manufacturers should be able to help you determine what levels of insulation and what other products qualify.

All the improvements must be installed in or on the taxpayer’s principal residence in the United States. Condo and co-op improvements are apportioned to the owners.

There are also tax credits for geothermal heat pumps solar photovoltaic cells, solar water heaters, and fuel cells, also modified starting in 2009.

Geothermal (or ground-source) heat pumps placed in service starting in 2009 are now eligible for a tax credit for 30 percent of the cost, with no maximum. These credits are effective through December 21, 2016. In order to be eligible for the tax credit, geothermal heat pumps must meet Energy Star criteria (specified in Section 6.4 below). In 2006-2007 geothermal heat pumps were eligible for a smaller credit as part of the home improvements credit described above.

Solar hot water heating and photovoltaic power systems placed in service by December 31, 2016 are also eligible for the 30 percent credit, as are small wind systems.

In order to be eligible for the tax credit, heating and cooling equipment must meet specified measures of energy efficiency.

To get the tax credit you will need to file IRS Form 5695 with your taxes. In addition, you will need to keep at least receipts proving that you purchased the improvements and a copy of the manufacturer’s certification. Accountants and tax advisors should also be able to provide more guidance.

Texas electricity deregulation, a process that began in the late 1990s, means that about 75% of Texas power customers (those not served by a a municipality or a utility cooperative) can choose their electricity service provider. Before Texas electricity became deregulated, it was regulated by state government. Electricity rates were set by the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT), and there was only one provider of electricity service in each market. The single company was responsible for generating, transmitting, distributing and selling to the energy consumer.

Currently, consumers can select electricity service from a variety of "Retail Electric Providers" (REPs). The incumbent utility in the area still owns and maintains the local power lines (and is the company to call in the event of a power outage) and is not subject to deregulation.

In 1999, the Texas Legislature thought that by passing a deregulation law, they could get rid of electric company monopolies and reduce government control of electricity rates. Since 2002, approximately 85% of commercial and industrial customers in Texas had switched power providers at least once and about 40% of residential customers in deregulated areas of the state have switched from the former incumbent provider to a competitive REP. Since 2002, over 60 startup firms have been formed specifically for the Texas electricity market with about on-half focused on Texas residential users.

Endangered Species – On the verge of vanishing from the earth. These species have become endangered due to habitat loss, exploitation, or habitat disturbance.

Threatened Species – Likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future.

To be considered for listing, the species must meet one of five criteria (section 4(a)(1)):

1. There is the present or threatened destruction, modification, or curtailment of its habitat or range.

2. An overutilization for commercial, recreational, scientific, or educational purposes.

3. The species is declining due to disease or predation.

4. There is an inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms.

5. There are other natural or manmade factors affecting its continued existence.

As of November 1, 2009, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service listed approximately 1,200 animals and 750 plants as endangered or threatened in North America. Internationally, 194 countries have signed an accord agreeing to create Biodiversity Action Plans to protect endangered and other threatened species. In the United States this plan is usually called a species Recovery Plan.

Animals on the U.S. Threatened and Endangered Species List include the grizzly bear, wood bison, manatee, sea lion, red wolf, gray wolf, ocelot, jaguar, cougar, big horn sheep, mantled howler monkey and green sea turtle. The Bald Eagle, the only eagle unique to North America, was removed from the Federal List of Endangered Species on June 28, 2007.

In just the first 6 years of the first earth day in 1970, accomplishments in the United States included:

The Environmental Protection Agency was established in 1970. The EPA consolidated in one agency a variety of federal research, monitoring, standard-setting and enforcement activities to ensure environmental protection. EPA’s mission is to protect human health and to safeguard the natural environment—air, water, and land.

The Clean Water Act (CWA), the cornerstone of surface water quality protection in the United States, became law in 1972. It has provided more than 62% of the United States with cleaner water. It has enabled millions of people to fish, swim and  drink out of waters due to a reduction in pollutants.

The Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973 protects plants and animals that are listed by the federal government as “endangered” or “threatened.”  The ESA requires balancing species protection and people’s economic needs. The Act has been nearly 100 percent successful in saving species from extinction.

The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 created the labor department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Among other things, it establish maximum levels of exposure to lead, asbestos, chemicals, and other toxic substances in the workplace. In doing so, it reduced in-plant pollution.

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), enacted in 1976, gives the Environmental Protection Agency the authority to control hazardous waste from the “cradle-to-grave.” This includes the generation, transportation, treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste.

President Obama Marks 40th Anniversary of Earth Day in 2010

President Obama marks 40th anniversary of Earth Day. He speaks about forty years of Earth Day and his administration’s efforts to fight for a healthier environment.

2010 Earth Day Video by Tupperware Brands

• ARRA triples the total available tax credit from $500 to $1,500;
• Increases the tax credit to 30 percent of the cost of each qualified energy efficiency improvement;
• Removes the cap on geothermal heat pumps and solar water heaters through 2016.

For improvements made in 2009 and 2010, you can get an income tax credit of up to $1,500 for installing efficient new windows, insulation, doors, roofs, and heating and cooling equipment. Efficiency criteria varies depending on when these items are placed in service (installed).

The overall $1,500 cap can be reached in several ways with the purchase and installation of energy-efficient products that meet certain efficiency criteria such as:

• Exterior windows, including skylights and storm windows;
• Insulation, exterior doors, or roofs including seals to limit air infiltration, such as caulk, weather stripping, and foam sealants, as well as storm doors;
• Central air conditioner, heat pump, furnace, boiler, water heater, or biomass (e.g. corn) stove. Starting in 2009, geothermal heat pumps were instead eligible for a separate tax credit.

The tax credit incentive is 30 percent of the cost of purchasing and installing a new tankless water heater with an Energy Factor (EF) of at least .82 , or a thermal efficiency of at least 90%, for improvements placed in service through December 31, 2010. The maximum tax credit is $1500.

The tax credit amount is now 30 percent of the cost of the measures, including installation costs for heating and cooling equipment, but only product costs for windows, insulation, and other parts of the building shell. There is a cap on the credit amount of $1,500 for fiscal years 2009 and 2010 combined, thus the credit applies to up to $5,000 in total costs.

There are also tax credits for geothermal heat pumps, solar photovoltaic cells, solar water heaters, fuel cells, and small wind systems. Geothermal heat pumps must meet Energy Star criteria.

The credit cap for small wind energy property (currently $4,000), solar water heating prop-erty, and geothermal heat pumps (currently $2,000) has been removed for qualifying property placed in service after 2008.

To get the tax credit you will need to file IRS Form 5695 with your tax return. You will need to keep receipts proving that you purchased the improvements and a copy of the manufacturer’s certification. For windows and skylights, homeowners may use either ENERGY STAR labels or manufacturer certification statements to document eligibility for the tax credit. Doors are required to have a manufacturer certification statement. Accountants and tax advisors can provide more guidance.

File a claim for refund on Form 1140X for any qualified years that you discover had allowable energy property but the credit was not claimed on the original tax return when filed.

In addition, many ENERGY STAR partners, including local utilities, provide financial incentives for purchasing ENERGY STAR qualified windows, doors, and skylights.  Special offers include sales tax exemptions or credits, and rebates on qualified products. Partners also occasionally sponsor recycling incentives for the proper disposal of old products.

Hybrid and Diesel Vehicle Tax Credit

An income tax credit is available for buying or leasing a new hybrid gas-electric or diesel automobile. The tax credit amount depends on the fuel economy and vehicle weight. Hybrid vehicles must use less gasoline than an average vehicle of similar weight and meet an emissions standard. Few diesel vehicles meet the emissions standard. There is a similar credit for plug-in hybrid or pure electric vehicles, alternative-fuel vehicles and fuel-cell vehicles. If you buy more than one eligible vehicle for any of the above, you can get a tax credit for each vehicle.

For vehicles purchased after 2009, the credit is limited to $7,500 for all vehicles (10% of the cost up to $2,500 plus up to $5,000 based on the battery capacity). The law also adds a credit of up to $4,000 for plug-in conversion kits and 10% of the cost of qualified two- or three-wheeled vehicles purchased after February 17, 2008.

Now is the time to increase energy efficiency of the home, lower taxes and utility bills, and reduce the impact on the environment.

High heating bills are a major worry for most of the country yet hot everyone can install solar panels or take advantage of a wind turbine. There are many simple things every household can do to conserve energy and thus save money. Heat can account for as much as 38 percent of a monthly utility bill in a cold winter climate, and is about the same in a hot summer.

Even if you live in an apartment and don’t pay for water, you should still reduce your use, because you pay for it indirectly in taxes and higher costs as it becomes more scarce. Low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators are relatively inexpensive and efficient.

It used to be that the refrigerator was the largest energy-suck in the home. Thanks to the dissemination of energy conservation facts and federal mandates, modern refrigerators now use moderate amounts of energy. You can cut back even further by choosing a top-freezer model and avoiding ice-makers.

WAYS TO REDUCE ENERGY COSTS

1) Lighting can account for 15 percent of your electric bill. Replace regular incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). A CFL uses 60% less energy than a regular bulb. The bulbs are continually improving, so that they are now softer and pleasant.

2) Get a home energy audit. Many utilities offer free home energy audits to find where your home is poorly insulated or energy inefficient.

3) Move your thermostat down 2° in winter and up 2° in summer. Almost half of the energy used in homes goes to heating and cooling. a timed thermostat set at around 65 degrees will save lots of money. These thermostats automatically lower the heat or air conditioning at night and raise them again in the morning. There’s also no point heating or cooling a home when no one is in it. A properly set thermostat can save you $100 a year or much more on your energy bill.

4) No matter what the temperature, you will reduce costs if you Insulate and weatherize your home. Leaks around windows and doors suck heat and cold right out. Simple caulking and weather-stripping will take care of most of these problems. Insulating your walls and ceilings can save 25% of your home heating bill.

5) Clean or replace filters on your furnace and air conditioner so they rum more efficiently.

6) Turn off electronic devices such as a television, DVD player, stereo, computer, hairdryer, and cell phone chargers when you’?re not using them. Even when turned off, many of these things use energy so unplug electronics from the wall when not in use. Keeping electronics on standby mode is costing you more than $30 a year. Instead, plug everything into a surge protector and turn that off at the main switch when not in use. The energy used to keep display clocks lit and memory chips working accounts for 5 percent of total domestic energy consumption. Unplugging a computer every night can save up to $80 per year. Instead of charging a phone overnight, do so when you are still awake and unplug it when it’s done.

7) Buy energy efficient appliances. Look for the Energy Star label since they are the most efficient models.

Wrap your water heater in an insulation blanket.

9) Only run your dishwasher when there?’s a full load and use the energy-saving setting.

10) Use less hot water by installing a low flow showerhead and washing clothes in cold or warm water instead of hot. It takes a lot of energy to heat water.

11) Use a clothesline instead of a dryer whenever possible.

12) Buy recycled paper products. They take less 70 to 90% less energy to make.

Air Pollution

There are four reasons of air pollution: Emissions from vehicles, thermal power plants, industries, and refineries. The problem of indoor air pollution in rural areas and urban slums has assumed significant attention lately.

India’s environmental problems are exacerbated by its heavy reliance on coal for power generation. Coal supplies more than half of the country’s energy needs and is used for nearly three-quarters of electricity generation. While India is fortunate to have abundant reserves of coal to power economic development, the burning of this resource, especially given the high ash content of India’s coal, has come at a cost in terms of heightened public risk and environmental degradation. Reliance on coal as the major energy source has led to a nine-fold jump in carbon emissions over the past forty years. The government estimates the cost of environmental degradation has been running at 4.5% of GDP in recent years.

River Water Pollution

Fully 80 percent of urban waste in India ends up in the country’s rivers, and unchecked urban growth across the country combined with poor government oversight means the problem is only getting worse. A growing number of bodies of water in India are unfit for human use, and in the River Ganga, holy to the country’s 82 percent Hindu majority, is dying slowly due to unchecked pollution.

New Delhi’s body of water is little more than a flowing garbage dump, with fully 57 percent of the city’s waste finding its way to the Yamuna. It is that three billion liters of waste are pumped into Delhi’s Yamuna (River Yamuna) each day. Only 55 percent of the 15 million Delhi residents are connected to the city’s sewage system. The remainder flushes their bath water, waste water and just about everything else down pipes and into drains, most of them empty into the Yamuna. According to the Centre for Science and Environment, between 75 and 80 percent of the river’s pollution is the result of raw sewage. Combined with industrial runoff, the garbage thrown into the river and it totals over 3 billion liters of waste per day. Nearly 20 billion rupees, or almost US $500 million, has been spent on various clean up efforts.

The frothy brew is so glaring that it can be viewed on Google Earth.

Much of the river pollution problem in India comes from untreated sewage. Samples taken recently from the Ganges River near Varanasi show that levels of fecal coliform, a dangerous bacterium that comes from untreated sewage, were some 3,000 percent higher than what is considered safe for bathing.

Groundwater Exploitation

Groundwater exploitation is a serious matter of concern today and legislations and policy measures taken till date, by the state governments (water is a state subject) have not had the desired effect on the situation.

Reduce Pollutions:  Suggestions

Reduce tax on incomes and institute a tax on pollution was a suggestion environmental crusader Al Gore had for India to tackle the issue of global warming effectively. “Reduce tax on employees and employers and put a tax on pollution.

The more carbon dioxide one emits the more he pays in taxes,” said Gore in an interactive session at the India Today Conclave here on March 16, 2008. Replying to a question by Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma, Gore also suggested subsidising clean energy generation instead of carbon fuels like kerosene.

AGRA, December 12, 2008: Now Tulsi an ayurveda wisdom to help Taj Majal retain its pristine allure. The forest department has come up with a quick-fix project — plant a Tulsi drive in Agra. The recommended complexion care regimen, officers claim, has full backing from ancient texts which hold Tulsi to be the panacea for all problems from cosmic to cosmetic. The department is all set to launch the Tulsi plantation drive from January 2009. The public-private joint venture is expected to provide an eco-protection cover to sensitive Taj trapezium zone surrounding the 17th century monument as well as the other two world heritage monuments — Agra Fort and Aitma-ud-Daula tomb. Tulsi (Occinum sanctum) chosen for its anti-pollutant anti-oxidation and air-purifying properties making it an ideal ornamental shrub in the vicinity of the Taj Mahal.

By the initiatives of the Delhi Metro and the Delhi Bicycling Club, which encourage people to use bicycles for short distances, pedaling a cycle is increasingly and becoming routine for people. On bicycle, one can change destination without hassles and it’s cheap.Taking to pedal, Delhiites choose an eco-friendly saddle.

R.YUVARANI
M.PHIL SCHOLAR
PERIYAR UNIVERSITY
SALEM-11

According to an article published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC), air pollution has both short and long-term toxic effects that injure the heart and blood vessels, increase rates of hospitalization for cardiac illness, and can even cause death.

“We used to think air pollution was a problem that primarily affects the respritory system. We now know it is also bad for the heart,” said Robert A. Kloner, M.D., Ph.D., director of research at the Heart Institute of the Good Samaritan Hospital, and a professor of medicine at the Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, both in Los Angeles.

When pollutants are inhaled, they trigger an increase in “reactive oxygen species” -  superoxiding molecules that damage cells, cause inflammation in the lungs, and spark the cascade of harmful effects in the heart and cardiovascular system, especially the arteries and blood vessels.

Recent research suggests that ultrafine air pollutants, such as those coming from car exhaust, may pass into the blood stream and damage the heart and blood vessels directly. Hearts directly exposed to ultrafine air pollutants show an immediate decrease in both coronary blood flow and the heart’s pumping function, as well as a tendency to develop arrhythmias, according to studies conducted at the Heart Institute.

“There doesn’t have to be an environmental catastrophe for air pollution to cause injury,” said Boris Z. Simkhovich, M.D., Ph.D, a senior research associate at the Heart Institute of the Good Samaritan Hospital, and an assistant professor of research medicine at the Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California. “We’re talking about very modest increases. Air pollution can be dangerous at levels that are within the accepted air quality standards.”

Studies in both humans and animals have shown that exposure to air pollution can affect heart rate, blood pressure, blood vessel function, blood clotting, and heart rate variability (a factor in developing heart rhythm disturbances), and speed the progression of atherosclerosis.

Researchers who study large populations of people over time have found that increased levels of air pollution are linked to emergency hospital admissions for heart attack, chest pain, and congestive heart failure and even to death from heart disease, arrhythmias, heart failure and cardiac arrest.

The elderly and patients who have already been diagnosed with heart disease or diabetes (which damages the blood vessels) are particularly vulnerable to the cardiovascular effects of air pollution.

“Patients with cardiovascular disease shouldn’t exercise outside on days with increased air pollution levels. On very polluted days, they should consider staying inside, and during the winter, they should limit exposure to fireplace smoke,” Dr. Kloner said. “Of course, the real solution is to reduce air pollution.”

Alfred Bove, M.D., Ph.D., agreed. “The review by Dr. Simkhovich and his fellow authors make it quite clear that air pollution is linked to cardiovascular disease and blood vessel damage.,” said Dr. Bove, ACC’s president-elect and cardiology section chief at Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia. “They suggest that this is another compelling reason to campaign for improved air quality, while at the same time studying therapies to minimize the risk of exposures.

You know it is paramount that we provide the nutrients our bodies need, because our bodies were designed to heal themselves. It has been documented that heavy metals and other toxins cause the energy system in our bodies to be short circuited and that causes our immune system to not work correctly which in turn allows diseases to become chronic. Proper nutrician is the only safe way to combat most degenerative diseases, promote healthy blood vessels and reduce the toxic effects of air pollution.

2-for-1 & Free Shipping on Air Purifiers at KathyIrelandAir.com – Limited Time Only!

Homeowners also need home energy use comparison reports in order to find out how to minimize their energy consumption and save a little money on their electricity bills. By making use of home energy comparison reports and analyses, you will be able to determine which appliances cost you too much to run and you may be presented with several opportunities to cut back on your energy cost.

In the past, people had to rely on experts for advice on how to save a lot of money on their home energy use. Sure, there were general tips which could be used by everyone to lower their energy use but in order to really save a lot of cash, people needed comprehensive home energy use comparison reports made by specialists.

Technology, however, is constantly evolving. We all know that, right? Thus, it was inevitable that people would find a way to make home energy comparisons more accessible to homeowners.

With the advent of the computer, technological evolution got a jump-start of sorts. As you must have noticed, technological developments have accelerated because of the computer. Nowadays, accessing different types of data and information has been made easier and more convenient for the average person.

Different calculating programs are available today to help you get the home energy use comparison that you need. These programs actually compute your home energy use based on information which you provide.

Dome of these programs not only compute your home energy use, but actually provide comparisons with other homes in order to let you know whether or not you are efficiently consuming your electricity. We all know that in order to gauge ourselves, we need to have standards. By comparing our home energy use to other houses, we can better judge our quality of living.

There are also home energy use calculators that offer you comprehensive home energy use comparison reports and give you tips on how to cut back on your electricity costs. By making use of these programs, you can have an easier time determining which appliance to turn off and which appliance to keep running. It can also give you tips on how to use your energy efficiently by showing you just how much energy is consumed by doing unnecessary things.

Another type of home energy use calculator is made use of by architects and engineers in order to design houses which are more energy efficient. In making use of these tools, they can make sure that the homes they build are not too expensive to live in.

In this type of program, not only is the design of the home taken into consideration, but the materials used in construction as well. You see, the different types of materials used to build a home significantly affect the costs of heating or cooling. Did you know that the cost of climate control accounts for the biggest part of the average electricity bill? By making use of home energy use comparison programs like these, you can make sure that the home you will be having will not need a lot of financial input in order to keep you comfortable.

These types of home energy use comparisons can also point out design flaws and open up some opportunities which may help you take advantage of alternative energy sources.  By making use of these programs, you may be able to obtain “free” energy from the environment.

Other programs are specifically targeted to help you cut the costs of energy use. These programs not only calculate and compare your home energy use, but hey also provide you with different resources in order to help you implement different cost-cutting techniques. By making use of these programs, you not only get access to the method of saving, but also to the means.

So you see: these programs can actually make it possible for you to save a lot of cash on your home energy use without having to consult an expert. And that, my friend, is a very good thing.