'Save Energy, Save on Taxes'

If you’ve filed your taxes recently, you’ve probably thought how you could earn a tax break from expenses made this year. Well, have you thought about making eco-friendly improvements to your home?

You can earn tax credits of up to 30 percent off of the following fixes if it totals $1,500 or more (just save your receipts):

• A new roof using Energy Star roofing materials treated with asphalt and reflective metal. The materials help to reduce air-conditioning costs during the summer.

• Skylights installed in the home also qualify, especially if made with a low-emissivity glass.

• A water heater could merit a tax credit if has a thermal efficiency of 90 percent. 

Other home improvements will keep your heating and cooling costs at bay and will contribute to a healthier living environment:

Have small children in the home that like to crawl on the floors? Replace your home carpeting with eco-friendly carpet squares from companies like Shaw Carpet. Unlike old carpeting that emits formaldehyde and could cause health problems, the carpet squares are made from recycled materials and use non-toxic dyes. And when you decide to change the carpeting, you can send the old carpeting back to the manufacturer for recycling.

Reducing energy loss in your home is also as easy as getting a new set of curtains. No, literally. Thermal insulated blackout curtains are proven to cut back on window-related energy loss. And there’s the added bonus: The curtains block out unwanted ultraviolet rays and reduce noise from outside.

While it’s not made from recycled materials, a bed set made from organic cotton is far more eco-friendly than those old bed covers made with synthetic fibers. A bed set made from 100 percent organic cotton means that its cotton was grown free from chemical pesticides and fertilizers. And no unnatural dyes were used – so you can rest easily.

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