Environmental Tax Planning

Dont miss out as you finish up the year on environmental discounts and tax credtis and rebates.

The Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency can give you some ideas on how to use some of those tax credits. http://www.dsireusa.org/

Recognizing Tampa public buildings

If you haven't visited the new Tampa Bay History Museum, this is a great opportunity to learn about Green Building practices...and it wasn't overboard or even noticeable.

Check out http://www.tampabayhistorycenter.org/green.html or better yet support our local economy...you can even bike there!

March 14 First Annual Green Builder Expo Tampa Bay

Here is a great opportunity for you to learn about green building and how you can make a difference with how you live. Check this event out at the new Wiregrass mall in Pasco county.
http://www.tbba.net/events/calendar.html?event_id=2641#bf_calFrame_906

There are many easy things you can do to make your house more 'Green'. Have you considered:

*Solar Tubes?
*Rain Barrels?
*Tankless water heaters?
*low water Florida native plants and drought resistent grass?

P.S. Little things may even qualify you for easy tax rebates and credits!

Economic Stimulus and Solar

As we get close to having a completed economic stimulus package, it looks like Solar is going to have a key part of that. In the current un approved form is the following according to Solar Energy Magazine:

"Primary among these provisions is a new renewable energy grant program intended to serve as an alternative to tax credits. Through the program, the U.S. Department of Energy will offer grants equal to 30% of a solar project's cost, if the system is placed in service during 2009 or 2010.Other provisions include an allowance for the federal government to enter into 30-year power purchase agreements (instead of the now-standard 10 years), the elimination of the penalty for subsidized financing for solar projects, the creation of a new loan guarantee program and a 30% investment tax credit for companies that manufacture renewable energy property or equipment."

This is on top of the existing tax incentives.

Water our Biggest "Green Project" in Florida

I constantly talk about recycling and ways to save energy as well as ways to generate energy but I have not mentioned much about using water resources more conservatively.

As you all know the Florida watershed works it way all the way down from the Eastern Continental Divide down through Alabama, and Georgia to reach us here in the Tampa Bay area. Every day there are news stories that should concern you about our ability to get clean water. Here are a few examples:

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/jan/13/na-court-declines-water-wars-motion/

http://www.abcactionnews.com/content/weather/story/Another-drought-likely-for-Tampa-Bay-area/QUArMQjo-UahBmlqxfdB0A.cspx

http://blogs.tampabay.com/breakingnews/2008/08/reservoir-could.html


http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/jan/22/na-swiftmud-to-start-pumping-sinkhole/

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/jan/27/cooler-pacific-ocean-likely-worsen-floridas-drough/

Maybe we should look at ways to recycle water? If you are building a home, consider a gray water system installation where your sink & shower water is filtered and used to clean your close and flush your toilets.

If you live in Tampa, you can get a FREE rain barrel by attending a workshop http://www.tampagov.net/dept_Water/information_resources/Saving_water/free_rain_barrels.asp

There are many ways you can re-use your rain water. Also if you are considering re-landscaping your yard, look for low water landscaping options like Zoyzia grass or Florida Native plants that are used to our drought conditions and very wet seasons.

Encouraging afternoon

I had a great weekend checking out what is around Florida in the "Green building space" Definitely learned that "Green" is a broad term that many people are trying to jump on board. I also had a great time spending time in the car with a group of "Like Minded" new century environmentalists....(Shout out to Tony and Stephanie....thanks for driving)

At the same time, I was very encouraged by some incredible products designed to help preserve our resources and environment. As a Certifying Agent for the Florida Green Building Coalition, it is very important that we all keep up with things that are out there as well as investigate new ways to do things.

The star of the weekend is Indigo in Gainesville. This store offers green building products and some great ideas. Definitely worth a check out if in the area.

Solar behind the scenes

I had the opportunity to do SMA-America inverter training on the Sunny Boy inverters this week. As usually, I love this stuff and am very impressed with SMA and their technology. Many people think the magic of solar is easy and that all you have to do is put panels on the house.......this is part true, but the real magic is in the inverter which converts DC power from the panel to AC power and coordinates power transfers back into the grid. Sounds simple.....not so quickly--this box is a technical marvel and does some very cool things.

Did you know that solar panels with an inverter connected to the grid, shuts down when the power grid goes down? Unless you integrate a battery bank and technologies like the Sunny Island into the set up your "solar power hurricane solution" is worthless.