Home Improvements Eligible for Tax Breaks or Rebates


Home improvements eligible for tax breaks or rebates Homeowners often look to make


improvements to their homes to improve aesthetics, save money or make their homes more energy efficient. What they may not know is that certain home improvements may qualify them for manufacturer or energy supplier rebates and even federal tax credits that can help a person save even more.


Not all products are eligible each year, so


it’s beneficial to know what tax incentives are out there regarding home retrofits. Here are some programs to keep in mind. In Canada, the ecoEnergy Retrofit -- Homes program has been extended until March 31, 2012. Owners of most homes, including four-season recreational properties and low-rise multi-unit residential buildings of three stories or less with at least 50 percent residential space, might be eligible, according to Natural Resources Canada. Applicants can receive a federal grant for up to $5,000. Owners of multiple dwellings can receive up to $1,000,000. Eligible improvements include heating and cooling systems, ventilation systems, hot water equipment, insulation, air sealing, windows/doors/skylights, and water


conservation products. U.S. residents who made home


improvements in 2011 may be eligible for tax credits when filing a 2011 tax return. Installation and replacement of biomass


stoves, HVAC systems, insulation, metal and asphalt roofs, nonsolar water heaters and windows/doors can earn a person up to 10 percent of the cost, up to $500, or a specific amount from $50 to $300. Improvements


must have been done to an existing home and principal residence by December 31, 2011. Federal tax credits for 2012 include geothermal heat pumps. These are similar to ordinary heat pumps, but use the ground instead of outside air to provide heating, air conditioning and, in most cases, hot water. Use of small residential wind turbines and solar energy systems, including solar water heaters and photovoltaic panels, are also eligible. These tax credits offer 30 percent of the cost of the renovation with no upper limit.


Visit http://Energy.gov/savings to determine any additional rebate and savings programs that may be offered in your state. Canadian residents can log onto http:// oee.nrcan.gc.ca/corporate/1513 to find out about other grants and incentives in their province or territory. Homeowners looking to do


improvements can go online or consult with a tax professional to determine which improvements may be eligible for tax credits or incentives. With the energy saved and the credit, it could add up to considerable savings on the new product.


Installation of insulation and other energy-saving products could make you eligible for a tax rebate. How to Get a Cleaner, Healthier Home This Spring


(MS) -- Springtime is the best time to get your home and outdoor equipment ready for the approaching warm weather, and the sooner you start the sooner you will be ready to enjoy the spring and summer months. Here are some suggestions to make your home as healthy and as clean as possible. Get rid of mold and mildew


When the house is closed up tight for the winter, it’s easy for mold and mildew to take hold and grow, and such growths can adversely affect your respiratory system while potentially causing sinus congestion and eye irritation. Mold and mildew growth also creates unsightly stains, damaging paint and wall finishes as a result. Spray Nine(R) Cleaner/Disinfectant is very effective at controlling mold and mildew, addressing not only existing mold and mildew around the house, but also preventing any future problems. Further prevent mildew by venting bathrooms or opening a window to dry out the room after showering. Also check for and remedy any leaks that can contribute to mold and mildew growth. In attics, basements and utility rooms, consider the use of a desiccant, which will remove moisture from the air. Protect against allergens, viruses and bacteria Effectively cleaning a home can involve several


preventive measures to keep everyone free from viruses and bacteria. Spray Nine(R) Cleaner/Disinfectant takes just 45 seconds to disinfect a surface of harmful bacteria, including those associated with food poisoning, whooping cough and even infections such as MRSA. Registered as a hospital grade disinfectant by the Environmental Protection Agency, the spray takes even less time to disinfect a surface against viruses, doing so in just 30 seconds while protecting a home’s inhabitants from viruses including Influenza A2, Poliovirus Type I, a type of polio, and others that can cause the common cold and respiratory illnesses. Another way to redue the spread of illness is to make


sure everyone in the household washes their hands when coming in from school, work or from shopping. Say ‘Au Revoir’ to Odor Readying a home for fresh, spring days also entails ridding its interior of odor. Spray Nine(R) Brand Odor Eliminator neutralizes offensive odors on contact by “caging” their molecules so they are no longer detectable to the nose. Homeowners can eliminate odors in their kitchens, carpets and even their musty basements, ensuring the home is odor-free for the long winter months ahead.


Spray Nine(R) can be a very effective first line of defense against flu viruses and other bacteria.


In lieu of smoke and pet odors, Odor Eliminator provides a fresh floral scent and can even be added to compatible cleaning solutions to freshen the home as you clean. Think about adding houseplants as well. Plants are natural air filters and can go a long way toward cleaning the air of contaminants and odors. Outdoor equipment The warm-weather season is also barbecue season. Spray Nine(R) Brand BBQ Grill Cleaner does double duty as a heavy-duty cleaner and a hard surface disinfectant. It easily dissolves grease, fat and burned-on food for quick cleanup with less effort. The cleaner also kills foodborne germs that contaminate


Budget-savvy Home Even with a bare-bones


decorating budget, you can still give your home a fresh look for spring.


It just takes a bit of creativ- ity and an open mind, accord- ing to Ginny Bean, publisher and founder of Ginny’s catalog and Ginnys.com. “One of the easiest and least expensive ways to spruce up your home is to subtract from what’s in it,” says Bean. Removing clutter is just one of Bean’s low-cost, high- impact tips for giving your home a seasonal lift. Clear the clutter. In the winter,


it’s comforting to have stacks of books and magazines on coffee tables, and throws on couches. In the spring, you want open and airy. Put books on shelves, and magazines in a rack or basket. Tuck the throws in the linen clos- et, and pack away knick-knacks for a few months. Rearrange the furniture. Try floating furniture in the room rather than hugging the walls. It’s a great trick for making the space feel different and less structured. Swap out an item in your living room for one in your bedroom, or slide something from the kitchen into the dining room. Spring for some color. A few


touches of bright, saturated color can refresh any decor, and distract the eye from items that might be a bit dated. No one will notice a worn coffee table if it has a bold, oversized vase sitting on it. There’s no need to break the bank. Think about pil- lows or placemats to incorporate the colors you want. Accessorize. You can change


your towels, shower curtain and bath accessories for less than $100. Jar candles are another in- expensive way to create an invit- ing room environment. Seasonal scents like honeysuckle, freesia and spring tulip add color, fresh- ness and intoxicating fragrance. Go sheer. Replace heavy drap- eries with bright, light-weight curtains or sheers. You won’t be- lieve the difference it can make. Just let them hang and blow in the breeze. Remake your bed. Put away that heavy comforter or quilt in favor of a lighter bedspread. Mix and match solid-colored fitted and top sheets with pillowcases in various patterns. Tuck the top sheet tightly all around and fold the edge at the head of the bed over your coverlet or blanket. Fold your bedspread down to rest across the foot of the bed. Add accent pillows to create an inviting, luxurious-looking bed. Assess your art work. Is your


wall decor warm and cozy? Switch out a few pieces for something lighter and brighter. Plant an idea. Put at least one house plant in every room. Fill a low planter or kitchen serving dish with potting soil and some grass seed. When the grass is a few inches high, add Easter eggs or seashells for a conver- sation-starting centerpiece.


For more seasonal decorating ideas and products, visit Ginnys. com or call (800) 487-9024 to order a catalog.


• Tree Removal • Pruning


• Stump Grinding • Storm Damage Removal • Hedge & Shrub Care


Call 603-886-1550


HIGH + DRY ROOFING Free Estimate


30 Years Experience


Fully Insured


Call Mike 429-0328 or


Cell: 494-8761 "People Look Up To Us" Tim's Turf Landscaping Materials, LLC & 15 Colby Road • Litchfield, NH 03052


• Turfgrass Sod • 5 Types of Bark Mulches • Grass Seed - Fertilizers • Screened Loam - Lime • 5 Step Fertilizer Program


424-1210 Deliveries


Available


Distributor for Tuckahoe Turf, Turf, And Yard Products Stone • Sand • Compost • Stonedust


• Brick Pavers • Playground Mulch (Kids Cushion)


• Black Mulch • Hydro Seeding Products


Hours: Mon-Sat 7am - 5pm, Sun 8am - 3pm weed+feed+crabgrass+grub control


51 Lake St, Nashua


www.joycecool.com sales@joycecool.com


LENNO X TM


food preparation surfaces, including Salmonella and E.coli in just 45 seconds. It can also be used on propane tanks, countertops, stainless steel, painted surfaces, BBQ covers, and ceramic and tempered glass. Remember, when cooking food on the grill, do not reuse marinade after it has touched raw meat or poultry. Promptly scrape down the grill surface while the barbecue is still warm to remove most of the drippings and scraps of food for easier clean-up. Patio Furniture The warm weather enables people to venture outdoors and commune with nature. Prepping the patio furniture for a new season of use often involved a lot of elbow grease and time. But Spray Nine(R) Brand Patio Furniture Cleaner cleans, kills germs, helps control mold and mildew and destroys bacterial odors in a matter of minutes while digging out grease, grime, fingerprints, bird droppings, suntan lotion, and other tough stains from outdoor and poolside furniture. The key benefit is its ability to kill harmful germs like Salmonella enterica, E. coli and Athlete’s Foot Fungus. Tackle


spring cleaning


projects with ease. More information is available at www. spraynine. com.


Area News Group


Hudson Lichfield News


April 20, 2012 Page 15


GWC FINISH CARPENTRY Jerry Caisse 882-7526


References • Insured in NH & MA Interior Woodwork


http://s17.photobucket.com/albums/b73/jerrycaissecarpentry2005/


Stairs & Rails • Bookcases Hudson, NH


LLC


Pure Enhanced Hemlock Deluxe Hemlock / Red Cedar Pine / Spruce Blend


Enhanced Hemlock


Black/ Playground Mulch Stone/ Loam/ Fill / Sand River Stone


Specialized stone Pick up and Delivery


Trucking- Backhoe -Bobcat Service 886-0085


187 Webster St. (3A) Hudson


Bradley Tree & Landscape T J


Spring Cleanups


Walls, Walkways & Patios Irrigation / Hydro seeding Shrub & Tree Pruning & Planting Lawn Expansion & Stump Removal Weekly Lawn Maintenance


Clean-Ups


$25 OFF Spring


exp 6/30/12 next to E & A Country Store


$2.00 OFF All


Products exp 6/30/12 891-4399 GENERATORS INSTALLED


Malley Electric Natural or Propane Generator Electrically installed for a great price! $3,495.00 some restrictions apply


Authorized GENER DealerAC ® 24-HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE 603-595-2970 Sales:


603-882-4244 Service:


603-889-1991 Stop wishing


you had Air Conditioning BOUCHER Handyman


and Remodeling LLC LLC


Let us take care of your "Honey Do" list TO DO:


Home repair and maint ashing.


enance.


Interior and exterior paint Power W


ing. Finished basement & bath, & more 603-882-7162


New! Wood Pellets


No job too


small!


Improvement Home


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20