Dear Sun Spots: You have helped us before, and we need your help once again.
We hear there is a tax rebate on energy saving things you do for your house, but we don’t know where to address our inquiry. We had a new roof put on and also siding with insulation. That should classify as energy efficient, hopefully.
Please find out if it is a refund at the end of the year on our taxes or a rebate we send for.
Thank you so much. — Lucy Cyr,
Mechanic Falls

Answer: There are indeed tax benefits for energy efficiency. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provides for credits on your federal income tax in 2009 and 2010 for improving the energy efficiency of your home. However, your new roof and insulation must meet certain standards in order to qualify. Here is a paragraph from www.energy.gov/taxbreaks.htm, where you can read all the details.

“Consumers who purchase and install specific products, such as energy-efficient windows, insulation, doors, roofs, and heating and cooling equipment in existing homes can receive a tax credit for 30 percent of the cost, up to $1,500, for improvements ‘placed in service’ starting Jan. 1, 2009, through Dec. 31, 2010. See EnergyStar.gov for a complete summary of energy efficiency tax credits available to consumers.”

There are also very good credits for those who install solar, geothermal, windmills, etc., and of course hybrid or electric cars. There is a complete listing of all the credits and the requirements for meeting them at www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=tax_credits.tx_index#c2. 

Additional information is also available at the excellent IRS Web site. Try visiting www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=206875,00.html for more help in understanding the rules. If you don’t have a computer at home, you can access them at your public library’s computer.

These credits are a very good deal for consumers. As www.ehow.com points out: “Tax credits are a substantially better benefit than a tax deduction. A tax credit of $1,500, will lower your taxes by $1,500. Expenses eligible for a tax deduction of $1,500 will only result in a small portion of the $1,500 being returned to the consumer.”

Dear Sun Spots: Jay, Livermore and Livermore Falls are preparing for their annual Apple Pumpkin Festival on Sept. 26 (rain date Oct. 17) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., on the rec fields in downtown Livermore Falls.

The Apple Pumpkin Festival is a cultural celebration and harvest festival held on the last Saturday of September. It highlights the rich cultural, agricultural and industrial heritage of the area with vendors and craft artisans, agricultural products, historical items, seasonal decorations and plenty of food all day long. There will be great live, local music, a climbing wall and the infamous Tiger Slide and Bounce House.

It is hosted by the Jay-Livermore-Livermore Falls Chamber of Commerce. You can see more about the event at www.applepumpkinfestival. One of the goals is to introduce the attendees to opportunities outside our area that they may have only heard about, but not learned about firsthand.

We hope you will consider joining us. Booth space is still available. Vendor applications may be downloaded at the chamber Web site, www.jay-livermore-lf.org. If you are interested in getting involved or have any questions, please call the chamber office at 897-6755.— Erin Nelson, No Town

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be e-mailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.