WASHINGTON - A broad-based coalition of construction, trade, design, manufacturing, environmental, and energy efficiency groups and organizations are calling on Congress to support increasing the Energy Efficient Commercial Building Tax Deduction from $1.80 per square foot to $3 per square foot in order to help stimulate job creation. More than 80 organizations have now co-signed a letter to Congressional members asking for an increase in this tax deduction. This represents an increase of more than 40 percent in the number of signatures since December 2009.

The letter notes that the Energy Efficient Commercial Building Tax Deduction, created in 2005, provides a tax deduction of up to $1.80 per square foot for the design and installation of qualified energy efficient building systems in new building construction or in the renovation of existing buildings. The letter states, “Although the deduction has been successfully used to build and retrofit energy efficient buildings, the economic crisis has reduced the amount of building design, construction and renovations across the country.” Therefore, the signatories are calling on Congress to increase the maximum allowable deduction to $3 per square foot to help immediately stimulate construction and renovation and create jobs.

Signatories include: Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA), American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), Alliance to Save Energy, American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), Associated General Contractors of America, Comfort Systems USA Energy Services, Ingersoll Rand/Trane, International Code Council (ICC), Johnson Controls, Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA), McQuay International, National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), Siemens, Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA), and U.S. Green Building Council.

Publication date: 05/03/2010