Climatemaster heat pumps now eligible for Energy Star program

We are pleased to announce that as of December 1st, 2009 Water-to-Water type geothermal heat pumps can be eligible for the Energy Star program.

As of December 2nd, 2009 - ClimateMaster TMW and THW residential units were confirmed as eligible!

ClimateMaster's press release...

Energy Star 3.0 now in effect
December 3, 2009

The new Energy Star GHP rules are now in effect! Water-to-water units now qualify. Domestic water heating is no longer mandatory, and the definitions of GHP systems have been clarified and expanded in scope, which will really help answer many questions for tax purposes.
This was a MAJOR effort that was done at a record-setting pace for EPA (starting in April and taking effect December 1). ClimateMaster was the key driver that made this happen by using our lobbyists to set up several meetings in Washington D.C. with top EPA management to generate a priority for this issue. ClimateMaster President, Dan Ellis, authored the initial version of the new specification and then lead the charge to create an industry consensus draft through AHRI, and by directly working with the EPA staff that developed the specification on a weekly basis over several months to answer their questions, to make refinements, and to respond to the public comments that EPA received.

The scope of Energy Star 3.0 includes equipment designed for residential applications and excludes commercial and all 3-phase equipment. The new program calls for a three tier efficiency criteria phased in over time. Phase one went into effect on December 1, 2009. Tier two goes into effective on January 1, 2011 with tier 3 taking effect on January 1, 2012. Both new tiers specify efficiency requirements for water-to-air and water-to-water. As many are aware, until now water-to-water units were not eligible for Federal tax rebates due to their lack of Energy Star rating. Energy Star 3.0 will resolve this issue and allow water-to-water units purchased on or after December 1, 2009 to qualify for the Federal tax credits. The final efficiency ratings for Energy Star 3.0 are shown below.

Tier 1 Requirements (December 1, 2009)
Product Type - EER/COP
Water-to-Air
Closed Loop Water-to-Air 14.1/ 3.3
Open Loop Water-to-Air 16.2/ 3.6
Water-to-Water
Closed Loop Water-to-Water 15.1/ 3.0
Open Loop Water-to-Water 19.1 / 3.4
DGX
DGX 15.0/ 3.5

Tier 2 Requirements (January 1, 2011)
Product Type EER / COP
Water-to-Air
Closed Loop Water-to-Air 16.1/ 3.5
Open Loop Water-to-Air 18.2 / 3.8
Water-to-Water
Closed Loop Water-to-Water 15.1/ 3.0
Open Loop Water-to-Water 19.1 / 3.4
DGX
DGX 16.0 / 3.6

Tier 3 Requirements (January 1, 2012)
Product Type EER / COP
Water-to-Air
Closed Loop Water-to-Air 17.1 / 3.6
Open Loop Water-to-Air 21.1 / 4.1
Water-to-Water
Closed Loop Water-to-Water 16.1 / 3.1
Open Loop Water-to-Water 20.1 / 3.5
DGX
DGX 16.0 / 3.6

MIT's J.Tester calls Geothermal undervalued US Energy source

Geothermal energy remains the poor cousin in our current stable of renewable resources, in spite of offering enormous benefits. That’s Jefferson Tester’s inescapable conclusion, after participating in a Department of Energy investigation into the technical and economic viability of tapping into this potentially vast energy pool. He describes the findings of the DOE report to a live and online MIT Museum audience.

The 18-member research team accepted as givens the fact that U.S. will demand ever more power, having just passed the one million megawatt milestone. But there are threats to the supply system, with increasing prices for natural gas and difficulties expanding coal production, not to mention issues around electric transmission lines and energy storage. Renewables like solar and wind won’t make much of a dent in the next 20 years, researchers believe, and nuclear power continues to meet public resistance.

Grace + Remember

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Interest in Geothermal Soars!

This March 25,2009 MSNBC video explains how a geothermal home heating/air-conditioning system works and visits an installation project near the New York Finger Lakes. A 30% federal tax credit should help convince many homeowners to make an investment in geothermal.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Why put geothermal in your new home?

Paul Nagin explains to Natural Home Magazine why he put geothermal heating and cooling into his new home.

Why buy a green home?

A 2007 survey by NAHB revealed that "reduced energy costs" was the number one reason respondents would choose to buy a green home.

Tax Credits for Green Home Improvements

Now available:

• must be "placed in service" from January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2010
  
• must be for taxpayer's principal residence. 
  
• $1,500 is the maximum total amount that can be claimed for all products placed in service in 2009 & 2010 for most home improvements, EXCEPT for geothermal heat pumps, solar water heaters, solar panels, fuel cells, and windmills which are not subject to this cap, and are in effect through 2016.
  
• must have a Manufacturer Certification Statement 3 to qualify
  
• for record keeping, save your receipts and the Manufacturer Certification Statement3
  
• improvements made in 2009 will be claimed on your 2009 taxes (filed by April 15, 2010) — use IRS Tax Form 5695 (2009 version) — it will be available late 2009 or early 2010
  
• If you are building a new home, you can qualify for the tax credit for geothermal heat pumps, photovoltaics, solar water heaters, small wind systems and fuel cells, but not the tax credits for windows, doors, insulation, roofs, HVAC, or non-solar water heaters. 
  

More.

30% tax credit for homeowners who install Geothermal in 2009 +

The Stimulus Bill signed by the President on February 17th eliminates the $2,000 limit on the 30% tax credit for homeowners who install geothermal heat pump systems in 2009 and later years. For systems placed in service in 2008, the $2,000 lilmit still applies So, for example, if a homeowner pays $15,000 for a geothermal heat pump system installed in 2009, a tax credit of $4,500 could apply.

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