While you were busy with the holidays and worrying about the weather, there was some good news about saving money on your taxes. Hidden in a huge federal appropriation is an extension of residential energy tax credits for certain home improvements made in 2014. So if you replaced your windows, added insulation, or sealed leaky ducts, you may be eligible for a federal tax credit. Here are the details. Windows, doors and skylights If you replaced any windows, doors or skylights or installed new ones that meet Energy Star standards, you are eligible for a tax credit. You don't have to replace all your windows and doors to qualify and you can claim the credit if you installed a window or door where there wasn't one before. Tax credit: 10 percent of the cost, up to $500, but windows are capped at $200. Does not include installation. Roofs (metal and asphalt) Roofing materials that meet Energy Star requirements reflect more of the sun's rays and can lower roof surface temperature by up to 100 degrees F. Qualifying roofing materials include metal roofs with appropriate pigmented coatings and asphalt roofs with appropriate cooling granules.

Tax credit: 10 percent of the cost, not including installation, up to $500. Water heating can account for up to 25 percent of the energy used in your home. Qualifying water heaters include gas, oil or propane units with an Energy Factor (overall efficiency) of 0.82 or more or a thermal efficiency of at least 90 percent. Electric heat pump water heaters with an energy factor of 2.0 or more also qualify. Typical bulk insulation products can qualify for a tax credit, such as batts, rolls, blow-in fibers, rigid boards, expanding spray, and pour-in-place, according to Energy Star. Products that air seal (reduce air leaks) can also qualify, as long as they come with a Manufacturer’s Certification Statement, including weather stripping, spray foam in a can, caulk and house wrap. Tax credit: 10 percent of the cost, up to $500. Does not include installation but you can install the insulation/home sealing yourself and get the credit. To heat a home or water, biomass stoves burn wood and wood waste and residues (including wood pellets), agricultural crops and trees, plants (including aquatic plants), grasses, residues and fibers.

To qualify, stoves must have a thermal efficiency rating of at least 75 percent. Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning Some heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment qualifies for an energy tax credit. For full details see the Energy Star website. Here are the improvements. Central air conditioning, $300 tax credit.standing air conditioner units Advanced main air circulating fan, $50 tax credit.7 ton ac unit cost Air source heat pumps, $300 tax credit.replacing rv ac unit Gas, propane or oil hot water boiler. $150 tax credit, including installation costs. Natural gas, propane or oil furnace, $150 tax credit. How to claim your tax credit You'll need to file IRS form 5695 with your 2014 taxes. Be sure to keep a copy of the Manufacturer's Certification Statement and any receipts or itemized bills.

Tax credits for such renewable energy sources as wind, solar and geothermal will be available until the end of 2016. Check Energy Star for more information. Buying certain air conditioning systems may make homeowners eligible for equipment-related tax benefits and credits. Learn about federal, state-level and local tax credits, rebates, incentives and policies that support renewable energy and energy efficiency in the United States. Visit the online resources below to see of your LG air conditioning system qualifies: DSIRE - Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency®. Their Programs page is a helpful link which offers a list of policy/incentive options available by state/territory. ENERGY.GOV provides a link for Tax Credits, Rebates and Savings listed at a national and state level. What is helpful is that it lets you filter results by eligibility and savings category. ENERGY STAR offers Federal Tax Credits page ordered by year with important information on expriry dates and other qualifying details.

Download our 2015 - 2016 LG Manufacturer Certification Statement. Download IRS forms and publications for related residential Energy Credits to submit with your taxes.There are many incentives out there for energy efficiency and renewable energy. The two main types are rebates and tax credits. A rebate is money you get back while a tax credit is a reduction in the taxes you will owe. To find out what incentives are available in your area, contact your state energy office, your local utility and your local building department. Product manufacturers periodically offer discount and rebate programs so search their sites also. Ten years ago, shopping for home upgrades involved looking at a product’s functionality and aesthetics. Now, there's a third consideration: energy efficiency. Today, the products most touted by manufacturers and retailers are those that are Energy Star-certified and those that meet new federal environmental standards. Most of these appliances and other products come with higher price tags than their counterparts but help lower heating and cooling bills.

In addition, the government is offering a federal tax credit of up to $1,500 on energy-efficient home upgrades. Many of the tax breaks -- including those on eligible insulation, roofs and windows and doors -- are set to expire at the end of this year. But others run through Dec. 31, 2016. Below are links to websites that offer information on incentives: Database of State Incentives DOE Energy Savers Rebates, Incentives, Financing Energy Star Rebates (by zip code) Energy Star Tax Credits EPA Energy Efficiency & Solar Incentives Durability & Disaster Mitigation Incentives Florida DEP Renewable Energy Incentives Florida DEP Solar Energy Incentives Florida Power & Light Incentives Small Business Administration Loans for Energy Related Businesses Solar Energy Loan Fund (SELF) Tax Incentives Assistance Projects (TIAP) Updates Insurance Premium Incentives (for Homeowners) Citizens Insurance Windstorm Mitigation Premium Discounts

Florida Windstorm Insurance Incentives Sunshine State Insurance Incentives The following municipalities and utilities have incentives: Expedited plans review at no charge 15% reduction of water/sewer impact fees if residential structures are Water Star compliant Green Building Ordinance - FGBC or LEED Certification for public buildings Fast-Track Permitting & Land Development Review Carries a priority permitting program Has an expedited review incentive Offers reduced building permit fees/plan review fees as incentives InvestSmart Business Energy Upgrades Energy-Efficient Mortgages & Car Loans - Ask for "Green Advantage" Green Home Certification Incentive Kissimmee Electric Authority Rebates * Duct Leak Repair - $75 * HVAC (Central) Maintenance - $75 * Insulation - Up to $100 * LED Exit Signs (Businesses) - $ Up to $50 * CFLs - $ Up to $15 View the list of rebate guidelines Green Building Ordinance - Requires FGBC Certification for new public buildings

Reduced building permit fee Expedited permits for green buildings Pompano is revising its Chapter 152 Buildings and Chapter 155 Zoning ordinances to include sustainable points for projects seeking/obtaining green certification Energy Star Appliance Rebates Energy Star Air Conditioning/Heat Pump Rebates Natural Gas Appliance Rebates Solar Water Heater Rebates Solar Net Metering Program $500 discount on closing costs for any new certified green home Tampa Electric Energy Incentives ENERGY STAR Qualified Refrigerator Rebate Program - Receive $50 back Refrigerator & Freezer Recycling Program - Receive $50 back Energy Efficient Electric Water Heater Rebate Program - Receive $30 back ENERGY STAR Qualified Room Air Conditioner - Receive up to $50 back Summer Discount Plan - Receive up to $200 back Whole House Fan - Receive up to $50 back Evaporative Cooling - Receive up to $600 back Cool Roof - Receive up to $0.20 per square foot on qualified roofing materials