A coalition has urged Congress to modernize and extend expired energy efficiency tax incentives. Composed of environmental groups and leading manufacturers of windows, air conditioners, insulation, and other efficiency components, the group is touting benefits to consumers and job creation.
Three efficiency incentives expired on Dec. 31, 2017, leaving the tax code without any direct inducements to cut energy waste, according to a post at the Natural Resources Defense Council. The incentives, as originally written, are outdated. They reference older building codes or efficiency thresholds and don’t reflect current market prices for building technologies and high-efficiency equipment.
For example, the incentive to buy a high-efficiency air conditioning system is capped at $300—not enough to affect purchasing decisions on equipment and installation that often costs $10,000 or more.