Summer 2009                                                                                                                  Volume 3, Number 2

The price of fuel is again on the rise for no apparent reason and will continue to do so in the future. The Obama administration is promoting "green" alternatives to fossil fuel, such as geothermal systems.  B.L.Myers has been installing geothermal well fields since the 1980"s in residential and commercial/business projects. As an IGSHPA accredited geothermal installer, B.L.Myers has done many homes, schools and even the Avian House at the Philadelphia Zoo. Our newest geothermal project will be a dog daycare center in Bethel Township PA. The time to take advantage of these government tax credits is now!

 

Save the environment and save on your energy costs. "Just Green It."

 

TAX CREDITS

 

Residential Geothermal Heat Pumps:

For tax years beginning after December 31, 2008, the costs for installing qualified geothermal heat pump property at a residence are eligible for a 30% federal tax credit with NO cap. Under the 2008 law, a $2,000 cap had been imposed. Qualified geothermal heat pump property costs are costs for qualified geothermal heat pump property installed on or in connection with a home located in the United States. Qualified geothermal heat pump property is any equipment that uses the ground or ground water as a thermal energy source to heat a home or as a thermal energy sink to cool a home. To qualify for the credit, the geothermal heat pump property must meet the requirements of the Energy Star program that are in effect at the time of purchase. The home does not have to be the individual's main home.

 

Business/Commercial Geothermal Heat Pumps:

Section 1603 of the stimulus bill establishes a “Grant for Specified Energy Property in Lieu of Tax Credits” for the 10% tax credit for geothermal heat pumps systems (and other eligible technologies) placed under construction in

commercial buildings in 2009 and 2010, with other limitations applicable. The grant is intended to assist businesses who may not have sufficient tax liability to benefit from the business tax credits that passed originally on October 3, 2008.

Note: The above is provided for information only. Individuals should check the specific provisions of the new law including limitations, and consult with legal or tax counsel relative to the tax provisions and their applicability.

 

DIRECT SPENDING

Additionally, the stimulus bill has several provisions promoting energy efficiency, including funding to upgrade government buildings, public housing as well as send funds to state energy programs. Dependent on how this funding is disbursed and allocated geothermal heat pump systems may benefit.

 

 

  

The National Safety Council (NSC) hosts June as national safety month.  This year the focus is on four topics; teenage driving, falls prevention, overexertion (exercise, work, etc.) and distracted driving.  They are also offering two free on-line courses.  One is titled Alive@25 (focusing on young adults) and the other is adult CPR with AED.  You can access this information at www.nsc.org.

 

One of the things I constantly use the NSC for is accident statistics.  B. L. Myers currently updated our Policy Handbook to include “no use of cell phones while driving.”  This sounds a bit stern to some, but if you were not aware there are actually 250 cell phone bills in 42 states- all dealing with driving. NJ has outlawed them while driving and PA is close behind (Philadelphia just did).  Having a teen age daughter with a cell phone in her hands most of her waking hours, this issue is constantly in my sights.

 

The NSC also publishes some very interesting statistics on causes of death.  The latest data is obtained for persons born in 2005 with a life expectancy of 77.8 years.  Several of these entries are especially interesting.

 

You have twice the chance of dying from a firearms assault this year than you do crossing the street (pedestrian). There is virtually no chance of dying from radiation, but 1in 74,126,765 chance of being “offed” by fireworks. Interestingly enough, the chance of death from falling out of bed is the same as dying

  

in a cataclysmic storm.  I imagine that those chances are greater if you sleep outside in a tree house during such a storm.

 

There is twice the chance of dying from a poisonous spider bite as there is if your pajamas caught fire. Yet, falling and drowning in a bath tub and inhaling gastric contents (stomach acids) afford the same deadly statistics.

 

For workers, cave-ins (such as trenches and excavations) are 15% more likely to kill you than coming in contact with a hot water tap. Although, contact with electric transmission lines is 3 times as likely.

 

Overall, the chances of dying from an unintentional accident is 1 in 2,517 this year or 1in 32 over your lifetime.  Motor vehicle accidents are 30% less likely to result in death. I guess it is fair to say you can die crossing the street as easily as you could at work or enjoying your favorite recreational activity.  As for the gentleman below, he is putting an awful lot of faith in those two sticks…he must not work under the direction of a cranky Safety Director.

 

Not a B. L. Myers employee.