New Tax Incentives For Air Conditioning Units Available For Arizona Homeowners

It's never been more financially reasonable and timely to "go green" with your air conditioner. The recently passed federal stimulus bill (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009) has made it more affordable for Arizona homeowners to replace their air conditioning units with more energy-efficient models.

Summer temperatures have arrived in Arizona early this year - the Phoenix area just reached over 100 degrees for the first time this year and Tucson won't be far behind. . Now is the time to take a look at your air conditioner before it gets too hot, or worse - before your unit breaks.

Replacing a central air conditioning system is a sound financial decision. A more efficient air conditioning unit uses far less energy and can reduce your energy costs by up to 40%. Combined with the new tax incentives and rebates being offered, it can quickly pay for itself, especially with the amount of use a central air conditioner gets in Arizona. It's also an investment in restoring the ozone layer, which protects us from solar UV radiation and it's an investment in making the air we breathe cleaner and safer.

Arizona homeowners who install qualified central air conditioning units January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2010 may qualify for a tax credit for 30% of the installation costs , up to $1500. The stimulus bill also removed the $500 lifetime cap from similar tax credits that were available in 2006 and 2007. Homeowners that claimed tax credits in those years may still be eligible for the full $1500 tax credit for 2009-2010. In addition, Arizona Public Service (APS) customers may also qualify for an additional rebate of up to $400 and Tucson Electric Power Company customers may qualify for rebates of up to $250 for installation of high-efficiency air conditioning systems.

For more information on the federal tax credits and for a list of qualified products, visit hvactaxcredits.com/2009_energystar.asp. A list of requirements and rebate application information for the Arizona Public Service rebate program is available on aps.com/main/green/choice/choice_3.html and for the Tucson Electric Power Company Efficient Home Cooling Program at tep.com/Green/EHC/.