
Insulated siding: local programs offer financial assistance
All good things must come to an end, and unfortunately that's the case with many of the federal tax credits for making your house more energy efficient. However, if you're thinking about installing insulated vinyl siding on your home, there may still be some help available.
The Vinyl Siding Institute reports that there are a few state and local programs in place that could provide a little financial assistance for your project. If you think that rebates and low-interest loans to lower your utility bills sound like a pretty good deal, you can find out if your area has a program and whether you're eligible.
Insulated vinyl siding: an investment with good returns
The EPA estimates that an average home in Arizona could realize an 18 percent reduction in energy usage if built to International Energy Conservation Code specifications. If it's a home being constructed, the costs to meet the IECC standards might add up to an additional $1,517. The homeowners could recoup those costs in about 3.9 years in the form of energy saving -- after that point, it's money in their pockets.
The potential savings varies by region, but making your home more energy efficient is almost always a good investment. One of the easiest ways to get started is by installing insulated vinyl siding. The IECC recommends that a home's exterior walls should have an R-value that ranges from R-13 for milder regions to a hefty R-25 for cold weather zones.
The R- values can be achieved by a combination of wall cavity insulation and insulated siding. If you need a little financial help to upgrade your home's energy efficiency, try these resources:
- Virginia -- The Richmond Regional Energy Alliance offer rebates of up to $500 for homeowners in certain jurisdictions who perform energy upgrades.
- Illinois -- You may be eligible for an Energy Impact Loan if you lower your home's total energy usage by 15 percent or more. The insulated siding must be approved by an energy auditor and installed by an Energy Impact-certified contractor.
- Maine -- Installing insulated vinyl siding may be an improvement that makes you eligible for a Maine Property Accessed Clean Energy or PowerSaver loan.
- Nebraska -- Upgrading to insulated siding is one of the remodeling projects that can make you eligible for a Nebraska Dollar and Energy Savings loan. The siding must be approved to qualify for the assistance.
- California -- If insulated vinyl siding is installed as part of a whole house energy efficiency upgrade, you may be eligible for a California Homebuyers Fund loan.
These are just a few of the programs that may help you realize the savings that making your home more energy-efficient can provide. Check with your state, local jurisdiction, and regional utility companies to see what other programs may be available in your area. If you're counting on the assistance, always verify that the insulated siding you plan to use is an eligible upgrade before your proceed with your project.
Featured Articles
- Vinyl siding cost: Is spring the cheapest time for installation?
- Vinyl siding: sometimes it just makes dollars and cents
- Planning a siding installation? Sooner may be better than later
- Insulated vinyl siding: A hot idea for keeping homes cool
- Vinyl siding costs: 5 architectural influencers
- Save on vinyl siding: install in the fall
- New vinyl siding: finding the best kind
- 5 best reasons to buy premium-gauge vinyl siding
- Exterior siding cost: How much is installation labor?
- 3 top veneers -- with siding costs to match
- Protect your vinyl siding cost: Use pre-screened contractors
- R-value and your vinyl siding cost
- Waterproofing: Add it to your siding cost
- Increased energy efficiency could affect vinyl siding prices
- 3 tips for negotiating vinyl siding costs with contractors
- Installation charges and total siding cost
- The truth about contractor markup and siding cost
- One stop shopping saves on siding cost
- Does redwood fit into your siding cost budget?
- Better vinyl siding: cost for repairs less likely
- Siding cost: include water intrusion prevention
- 3 little-known tips for finding lowest vinyl siding prices
- How fascia trim affects siding cost
- Roll new gutters into vinyl siding cost
- 3 steps to solid vinyl siding cost estimates
- From beginning to end: siding prices add up in the details
- Wood or fiber cement siding? Cost could decide
- Siding cost: vinyl is affordablity winner
- 5 ways to negotiate siding cost
- From bargain to upscale, siding cost makes the grade
- Vinyl siding cost makes faux brick a natural choice
- 3 reasons contractors mark up siding prices
- Have you calculated your long term siding cost?
- 3 negotiation tips to lower fiber cement costs
- Is siding cost your deal-breaker?
- Lower your vinyl siding cost: do 3 tasks yourself
- Keep vinyl siding cost low with aluminum trim
- Wood siding vs. vinyl siding: prices could be a deal-breaker
- 3 crucial aspects of fiber cement prices
- How jobsite conditions affect vinyl siding cost
- How much of your fiber cement cost is labor?
- Fiber cement cost: 3 smart reasons to hire a contractor
- 3 secrets for finding lower vinyl siding prices
- Compare bids for best siding cost and save money
- Decipher fiber cement cost
- Score the best fiber cement prices
- 9 vinyl siding costs your estimate should include
- 3 DIY tips for vinyl siding cost savings
- Tips on siding cost, tax savings and ROI
- By the numbers: Reynolds vinyl siding cost
- How much does Gentek siding cost?
- Include Soffit Installation in your Siding Cost for Long-Term Savings
- What Do Your Vinyl Siding Prices Include?
- How much does Alcoa siding cost?
- Find a Good Repair Contractor: Keep Fiber Cement Prices Under Control
- Siding Cost and Contractors
- Home Siding Products and Long-term Costs: The Bottom Line
- Home Siding: Where You Live Determines What You Pay
- DIY Repairs and Fiber Cement Cost
- How to Figure Fiber Cement Cost for your DIY Project
- Save Money on Your Vinyl Siding Cost: Do the Job Yourself
- Cleaning vs. Replacement: Keeping Vinyl Siding Prices Down
- How Safety Affects Your Fiber Cement Cost
- DIY Vinyl Siding Cost: How Much Should You Figure for Labor?
- Why Are Fiber Cement Prices Higher?
- Fiber cement cost: how much of the price is materials?
- Vinyl Siding Cost Factors: Keeping the Lid on Lead Paint
- Vinyl Siding Cost Savings: Energy-Efficiency and More
- Cost of Vinyl Siding: Three Ways to Stay on Budget
- Quality Determines How Much New Vinyl Siding Costs
- How Much Does Vinyl Siding Cost? The Bottom Line.
- How to Keep the Cost of Vinyl Siding Projects Down
- Tips to Help You Research Vinyl Siding Costs
- Evaluating Contractor Markups on Vinyl Siding
- Vinyl Siding Costs: Comparing Premium vs. Value
- Negotiating for Your Vinyl Siding Cost Estimate
- Vinyl Clapboard vs. Vinyl Cedar Shake Siding: Cost Discussion
- Vinyl Siding - Costs are Low, Style is High
- Vinyl Siding Cost - Brand Comparisons
- Vinyl Siding Cost Factors Fluctuate with the Economy