THIS INFO IS OUTDATED AND THE LINKS NO LONGER WORK!
The good news is that the $2000 Federal Energy-Efficient New Homes Tax Credit for Home Builders is still available for apartment buildings, condominiums and homes. In order to collect the credit you need to have a qualified third party analysis. A HERS rater can certify that the home or apartments or condominiums are at least 50% above the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code. If you have a certified NC GreenBuilt home you have a good chance of being able to take advantage of this credit. https://bit.ly/1yYYb7w
The other Federal tax credit that can apply is
Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit. This was extended until December 31, 2016 . “Systems must be placed in service on or after January 1, 2006, and on or before December 31, 2016.”
Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies: Solar Water Heat, Photovoltaics, Wind, Fuel Cells, Geothermal Heat Pumps, Other Solar-Electric Technologies, Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels
DSIRE https://bit.ly/1GTcQrI
For North Carolina State Taxes there are:
Renewable Energy Tax Credit (Personal)
Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies: Passive Solar Space Heat, Solar Water Heat, Solar Space Heat, Solar Thermal Electric, Solar Thermal Process Heat, Photovoltaics, Landfill Gas, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Geothermal Heat Pumps, CHP/Cogeneration, Spent pulping liquor, Solar Pool Heating, Daylighting, Anaerobic Digestion, Small Hydroelectric, Ethanol, Methanol, Biodiesel, Geothermal Direct-Use
Applicable Sectors: Commercial, Residential, Multi-Family Residential
Amount: 35%
This is the last year for this credit unless there is an extension. It is currently set to expire on December 31, 2015 https://bit.ly/1zaeGkA
If you build in Asheville there is :
The City of Asheville Fee Rebate Program for Sustainable Residential Housing
Eligible Efficiency Technologies: Energy Star Rating, Healthy Built Home Certification (now NC GreenBuilt https://www.wncgbc.org/programs/green-built) , LEED Certification
The form for this rebate is – https://bit.ly/1td66Pd
Also this year our 5 year NC GreenPower generator contract is over. It is not renewable. “Generation agreements for small solar PV and small wind projects are for one five-year term at a fixed premium. Agreements are available for a total of five years per address and only for the initial participant. “ https://www.ncgreenpower.org/faq/
We chose this in 2010 because it looked like we would bring in more money as the program paid 11 cents a Kwh while net metering was significantly less. After a couple of years the amount paid went down to 6 cents per Kwh. Then you add on the expense of changing out the metering system to accommodate Net metering instead of the buy all /sell all system for NC GreenPower and there was probably very little savings. There is too much math and too little advantage in knowing the exact amount of savings or loss but now it seems clear enough to have a system that is net metered.
There is also the Duke Energy SunSense Solar Program that is a utility incentive for a net-metered Solar PV system.
“ Participating customers must participate on Duke Energy Progress TOU-D rate, Net-Meter Rider and Solar Rider for a minimum five-year period with an option to extend each year thereafter. Participants will receive a one-time upfront rebate of $250 per kW AC and a monthly bill credit based on the same system AC rating at $4.50 per kW.
The program limit is 1 MW AC each year. Duke Energy Progress must receive and approve program applications prior to PV system installation or else the incentives cannot be provided.”
It is well documented that adding a solar system not only pays back over time but also adds value to a house when it sells. It makes money sense and enviromental sense to add these when a home has good solar access.
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