Recent action by the U.S. government has resulted in more good news for the residential metal roofing market.

As a result of the Stimulus Package signed in February of 2009, homeowners who make energy efficient updates to their home-including the installation of a painted or coated ENERGY STAR® labeled metal roof-between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2010 may be eligible for a tax credit worth 30% of the installation costs (materials only) up to $1,500 per home over the two-year period. This new program replaces the earlier $500 tax credit.

In these tough economic times, every penny counts. By installing a new metal roof, consumers can reduce their tax burden, cut energy costs, help the environment and protect their biggest investment - their home.

Contractors can be encouraged to also take advantage of this new tax credit information to persuade homeowners to install a new metal roof.

What do I need to know about the $1500 tax credit?

When discussing the tax credit with homeowners, it is important to explain exactly how the credit will work. Some key points to note are:

• Only pre-painted or coated ENERGY STAR labeled metal roofs qualify for the tax credit
• The metal roof must be installed between 01/01/2009 and 12/31/2010
• Only the cost of metal roof materials will qualify, NOT installation costs

What is an ENERGY STAR qualified roof product?

According to the EPA, an ENERGY STAR labeled roof is a reflective roof product that lowers roof surface temperature by up to 100°F, thereby decreasing the amount of heat transferred into a building’s interior. ENERGY STAR qualified roof products save money and energy by reducing the amount of air conditioning needed to keep a building comfortable.

Many products made by the manufacturer members of the Metal Roofing Alliance qualify for the credit. Contact your roofing manufacturer to determine which of their prepainted or coated products have the ENERGY STAR label.

What are the benefits of ENERGY STAR qualified roof products?

Benefits of ENERGY STAR qualified roof products include:

Saves Money and Energy. According to EPA, about $40 billion is spent annually in the US to air condition buildings - one-sixth of all electricity generated in a year! ENERGY STAR qualified roof products reduce the amount of air conditioning needed in buildings, and can reduce energy bills by up to 50 percent.

Downsizes Cooling Equipment. A reflective roof can reduce peak cooling demand by 10-15%. As a result, the home or building owner may be able to purchase a smaller, more efficient, and less expensive cooling system.

Decreases Pollution in Urban Areas. Reduced energy demand means less burning of fossil fuels, which results in less pollution from power plants. Also, ENERGY STAR qualified roof products help to reduce the "heat island effect," in which dark, heat-absorbing buildings and paved areas make the air in urban areas hotter and smoggier.

For more information, contractors can visit the Metal Roofing Alliance Tax Incentive Page or Ask the Experts at www.metalroofing.com . If you have any questions, please contact the Metal Roofing Alliance's contractor helpline at 410-534-6900 or by email to Rebecca@metalroofing.com. We know by tracking visitors to the MRA website that information on the tax benefits of installing a metal roof ranks very high on the list of most-visited sections of the site. Therefore, we know the tax credit message is very compelling to consumers. The MRA has created a new section on our website (www.metalroofing.com ) dedicated to information regarding the tax credit.