Since its creation under the Energy Policy Act (EPAct) of 2005, the §179D deduction for energy-efficient commercial buildings has undergone a variety of changes—most recently, its long-awaited addition as a permanent part of the tax code in December 2020. After years of frequent expiration and renewal as a tax extender, this was a welcome change [...]
From green building initiatives to creating designs that improve cost efficiency, architects and engineers routinely develop solutions that can enhance quality of life for both their clients and society as a whole. But as they pursue these groundbreaking activities, many architecture and engineering firms overlook the powerful opportunities for tax savings available to them. Specifically, [...]
With the enactment of a massive COVID relief spending package in December 2020, the §179D deduction for energy-efficient commercial buildings was finally made a permanent part of the tax code. After years of uncertainty due to the deduction’s previous status as a tax extender, this change was widely celebrated by building owners, primary designers, and [...]
As the year enters its fourth quarter, an important deadline is looming for commercial building owners and designers seeking opportunities to minimize their tax burdens: the §179D deduction for energy-efficient buildings is currently due to expire on December 31, 2020. As one of the “tax extenders”—a group of temporary tax incentives that are only authorized [...]
A structural engineering firm was hired by the State of Washington to design three new schools, which totaled an estimated 281,558 square feet. The designs incorporated several energy efficiency measures in the lighting systems, HVAC systems, and the building envelope. These measures exceeded ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2007, indicating that the buildings met the latest widely accepted [...]
An architecture firm in Connecticut was hired by a government entity to design an 89,693 square-foot elementary school. The design, which was completed in 2020, included several energy efficiency measures in the school’s lighting, HVAC systems, and the building envelope. These measures were found to exceed the standards of ASHRAE 90.1-2007 by over 50 percent, [...]
From designing sustainable buildings to developing plans that incorporate more cost-efficient materials or construction methods, architects and engineers often pursue innovative new techniques in their day-to-day work. However, many architecture and engineering firms miss out on the opportunity to significantly reduce their tax burdens with a commonly overlooked incentive: the Research and Development (R&D) Tax [...]