NARI applauds Obama's focus on jobs
Asks Congress to bolster 25C energy-efficiency tax credits to create jobs and help consumers

DES PLAINES, IL, September 11, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) applauds President Obama's focus on job creation and recommends the full reinstatement of the 25C tax credit program for residential energy-efficient improvements.

"The 25C tax credit had significant impact on job creation in the remodeling and manufacturing sectors, as well as in energy reduction. The full reinstatement of the program will stimulate job growth and stability in small businesses," says David Merrick, MCR, UDCP, president of Merrick Design and Build Inc., in Kensington, Md., and chair of NARI National's Government Affairs Committee.

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 established a federal tax credit for energy-efficient home improvements (found in section 25C of the tax code). The 30 percent credit applies to energy-efficiency improvements for existing homes and the purchase of high-efficiency heating, cooling, and water-heating equipment. Homeowners were able to take a combined credit up to $1,500 for equipment purchased during a two-year period, until 2010 when the lifetime credit cap was lowered to $500.

"The program was successful in that many people exceeded the spending minimum required for the $1,500 tax credit, and that resulted in a large influx in retrofit work as well as investments back into homes for the long term," Merrick says.

Every energy-efficiency improvement offers an opportunity for trained remodeling professionals to enhance the quality of homeowners' lives. Those projects provide valuable work in the remodeling sector, which is struggling to recover from this economic downturn. The home energy-efficiency improvements also save homeowners substantial amounts of money on their monthly energy bills.

"NARI, with members predominantly representing small businesses, has noticed a decrease in retrofit work since the credit cap was cut by two-thirds last year and are calling for President Obama to reinstate the full $1,500 credit cap in the 25C, especially since the goals to create jobs and increase energy efficiency are still relevant today," Merrick says.

In a November 2010 survey, 81 percent of NARI members supported the extension of the 25C tax credit. The most recent government census reports there are more than 652,000 remodeling businesses in the United States. Nielsen's 2011 Global Online Environment & Sustainability Survey report shows 83 percent of consumers say environmental programs in companies are important.

Press Release Contact Information:

Nikki Golden
NARI
Marketing/Communications manager
700 Lee St., Suite 200
Des Plaines, IL
US 60016
Voice: 847.298.9200
Fax: 847.298.9225
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