Thanks to a new state law, you or your business can get tax credits for energy efficient and renewable energy technologies. Ben Taube, the executive director of the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance, will speak about energy policy and the tax credits to the Savannah chapter of the United States Green Building Council on Sept. 23. The meeting is free and open to the public. Taube’s speech is titled “Learn About Energy Policy and the Current Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Tax Credits.”
“The passage of House Bill 670 in 2008 by the Georgia legislature is a monumental milestone for the State which provides tax credits for energy efficient and renewable energy technologies on commercial and residential properties,” said Taube, LEED AP. A team led by the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA) drafted and managed the process of adoption and final signature by the governor. “If you survey those companies in Georgia that focus on the development and installation of energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, the majority of their work is outside the State with most occurring in Florida and North Carolina where the tax incentive is robust and has created a demand for these services,” Taube said.
The Sept. 23 meeting is free and open to the public. It will be held from 5:45-7 p.m. on the second floor of Wild Wing Cafe in City Market. RSVP by Sept. 19 to wards@thempc.org. For more information about the Savannah chapter of the USGBC, visit www.coastalgreen.org.
Taube will talk about the tax credits and future of energy policy in the state. In addition, he will explore energy efficiency policy across the U.S. with a focus on what Georgians should be thinking.
The Southeast region recorded 20 percent population growth in the past decade, making it the country’s most populous region today, SEEA reports. Further, the Southeast is the fastest growing region in the United States. Energy-efficiency measures would help to offset the increased energy needed due to rapid population growth.
Energy-efficient products from air conditioners to TVs save money and make better use of based load electricity. They cost the same or about the same as less efficient models, and if there is a cost difference the efficient product pays for itself in energy savings.
SEEA’s mission is to promote and achieve energy efficiency through networking, program activities, and education. The results of increased energy efficiency will be a cleaner environment, a more prosperous economy, and a higher quality of life in the Southeastern United States. SEEA brings together businesses, utilities, governments, public utility commissions, energy service companies, manufacturers, retailers, energy and environmental organizations, low-income energy advocates, large energy consumers, and universities to promote energy-efficient policies and practices. For more information, visit www.seealliance.org.
The Savannah Chapter of the United States Green Building Council is dedicated to promoting sustainable design and green building throughout the Creative Coast. The group meets monthly on the fourth Tuesday of the month. The meetings are open to the public, and everyone is encouraged to attend. The USGBC-Savannah Chapter seeks to educate the public on the long-term benefits of green building and how sustainable design can be integrated or implemented into one’s life.
www.coastalgreen.org