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chelidonThis is a nifty site with some lovely art, and some very practical, very down-to-earth homesteading information. I recommend it as well worth checking out if you're into that kind of thing.
And for anyone contemplating solar PV or heating systems, there's a good summary of the new tax credits here. As I said in an earlier post, almost all of the money in the Republican's new energy bill goes to, no surprise, big oil, coal, etc. -- what little alternative energy funding there is tends to go to things like encouraging new nuclear plants. However, there is, buried in there, something that can benefit homeowners. For two years (2006-2007), there's a 30% tax credit for solar photovoltaic and solar hot water systems, capped at $2000 each. So that means if you spend $6666 on each of two new or existing solar systems (PV and hot water are each seperately eligible for the tax credit), you'll get $2000 credit for each, up to a total of $4000 during each of the two years the credit is in effect.
This may change my plans a bit -- if the Federal government will let me keep $4000 more of my own income in each of the next two years in return for putting in solar systems, it may make sense to look into doing it sooner rather than later. It's like getting a 30% discount of the cost of the systems. And I'll admit, looking at how low the big stream is running this year over the last couple of weeks, I'm thinking something to supplement the microhydro in the sunny summer months for electrical generation may be a good idea after all. Or I could put solar panels on the treehouse I'm going to be building -- wouldn't that be luxury! ;>
And for anyone contemplating solar PV or heating systems, there's a good summary of the new tax credits here. As I said in an earlier post, almost all of the money in the Republican's new energy bill goes to, no surprise, big oil, coal, etc. -- what little alternative energy funding there is tends to go to things like encouraging new nuclear plants. However, there is, buried in there, something that can benefit homeowners. For two years (2006-2007), there's a 30% tax credit for solar photovoltaic and solar hot water systems, capped at $2000 each. So that means if you spend $6666 on each of two new or existing solar systems (PV and hot water are each seperately eligible for the tax credit), you'll get $2000 credit for each, up to a total of $4000 during each of the two years the credit is in effect.
This may change my plans a bit -- if the Federal government will let me keep $4000 more of my own income in each of the next two years in return for putting in solar systems, it may make sense to look into doing it sooner rather than later. It's like getting a 30% discount of the cost of the systems. And I'll admit, looking at how low the big stream is running this year over the last couple of weeks, I'm thinking something to supplement the microhydro in the sunny summer months for electrical generation may be a good idea after all. Or I could put solar panels on the treehouse I'm going to be building -- wouldn't that be luxury! ;>
