Can Asphalt Shingles Qualify for the Energy Tax Credit?

UPDATE: 01/01/2012

The Energy Tax Credit for roofing products ended December 31, 2011. It is, like last time, in legislation and may or may not be renewed for this year. At this point it looks like a 50/50 chance. However, if it is renewed, it should be retroactive back to the first of the year. Those of us in the roofing industry are doing everything we can to get this done.

Yes, but…

Let me explain.

We have contacted the three major asphalt shingle manufacturers that we see use here at Infinity Roofing: Certainteed, GAF/Elk and Owens Corning.  We will list the shingles and colors that we’ve been told are Energy Star Rated, and if they are available to us here in Colorado and the Midwest States.

Certainteed

Their “cool shingle” line is called Landmark Solaris. It is an architectural shingle that comes with a Lifetime Limited Warranty but isn’t available in any other warranty length at this time. The problem with this shingle is that it is currently made only in the Northwest. But we been told, by a distributor, it could possibly be shipped to the Carolinas –We are still waiting on a cost. It is available in these four colors: Burnt Sienna, Weathered Wood, Resawn Shake and Heather Blend.

I was told that, as of this week, the colors Mist White and Silver Birch have passed the tests and are now energy star rated in the regular Landmark Series. However, only those two colors.

In the 3-tab shingle arena, their Star White is energy star rated in the XT-25 shingle.

The Star White, Mist White and Silver Birch are readily available to us here in the Midwest and Carolina states, but the verdict is still out on the Landmark Solaris.

GAF/Elk

The “cool shingle” line by GAF-Elk is called the Timberline Prestique 40 HD Cool Color Series. This shingle is energy star rated in three colors and comes with a 40 Year Limited Warranty. It is not available in a 30 year, 50 year or Lifetime warranted shingle. It is currently only stocked in two places in California and, like the Certainteed Solaris, I am waiting on confirmation about availability and pricing. The colors available are: Cool Weatheredwood, Cool Barkwood and Cool Antique Slate.

GAF-Elk does have a regular 3-tab shingle, Royal Sovereign, that is energy star rated if you get the color White, and is available here in the south at anytime.

Owens Corning

Owens Corning has come out with their “cool shingle” and it is called Duration Premium Cool Shingles. We recently took a tour at a local Owens Corning plant and we talked with Owens Corning and this shingle has met the initial requirements for energy star rating but just recently (on May 1, 2010) received the Energy Star designation. The Duration Premium Cool Shingle won’t be fully Energy Star rated until August of 2010 (it takes three years for the certification). This shingle is offered in four colors and comes with a Limited Lifetime Warranty. But again, for us South Carolinians, it is currently only made in California and parts of Nevada. The four colors are: Frosted Oak, Harbor Fog, Sage and Sunrise.

Owens Corning does have a 3-tab shingle available that is energy star rated. Shasta White, in both the Classic (20 Year) and Supreme (25 year) line of shingles, is readily available for us here in the south.

Ventilation

We have been asked recently if the ventilation that is installed in a home can be used towards the Energy Tax Credit.

Homeowners have asked if Ridge Vents, Soffit Vents and Baffle Vents qualify for the tax credit. So, I we have inquired with the manufacturers of the ventilation we use, AirVent, and asked them. They said that only the Solar Fans qualify, not any other product.

Conclusion

A few miscellaneous notes. The Energy Tax Credit is not per occurrence. Meaning, you can’t get a $1500 tax credit for your roof + $1500 credit for new windows + $1500 tax credit for new insulation. Also, you can only apply it once during the next two years. Meaning, you can’t get $1500 this year for the roof and $1500 next year for new windows or insulation. However, you can combine different projects. Meaning, you can get $700 credit for windows + $800 credit for insulation. The Energy Tax Credit is 30% of material up to $1500.