Comments on: Malling the economy — a counterproposal http://climateprogress.org/2008/04/29/malling-the-economy/ The Latest on Climate Science, Solutions, and Politics Fri, 04 Jul 2008 22:44:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1 By: jlw http://climateprogress.org/2008/04/29/malling-the-economy/#comment-11831 jlw Wed, 30 Apr 2008 17:36:50 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2008/04/29/malling-the-economy/#comment-11831 What I'd like to see is the income tax mortgage interest deduction tied to a home's energy efficiency. If you buy a house that is well insulated and has the best Energy Star appliances, you can deduct the entire mortgage interest from your taxable income. Buy a house that rates poorly and you can only deduct a fraction of the interest, or perhaps none at all. That would give buyers and sellers a direct monetary incentive to fix up existing housing stock. What I’d like to see is the income tax mortgage interest deduction tied to a home’s energy efficiency. If you buy a house that is well insulated and has the best Energy Star appliances, you can deduct the entire mortgage interest from your taxable income. Buy a house that rates poorly and you can only deduct a fraction of the interest, or perhaps none at all. That would give buyers and sellers a direct monetary incentive to fix up existing housing stock.

]]> By: A Siegel http://climateprogress.org/2008/04/29/malling-the-economy/#comment-11847 A Siegel Wed, 30 Apr 2008 21:35:39 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2008/04/29/malling-the-economy/#comment-11847 Nice piece. Very much appreciate your slogans: "Shop ’til Your Energy Bill Drops.”" Nice ... Nice piece. Very much appreciate your slogans:

“Shop ’til Your Energy Bill Drops.””

Nice …

]]> By: bill becker http://climateprogress.org/2008/04/29/malling-the-economy/#comment-11849 bill becker Wed, 30 Apr 2008 23:15:35 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2008/04/29/malling-the-economy/#comment-11849 Slogans Are Us, A Siegel. Thanks. Slogans Are Us, A Siegel. Thanks.

]]> By: bill becker http://climateprogress.org/2008/04/29/malling-the-economy/#comment-11850 bill becker Wed, 30 Apr 2008 23:18:41 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2008/04/29/malling-the-economy/#comment-11850 jlw: You may want to drop a note of encouragement to Congressman John Dingell. He introduced a bill in this session much like what you've proposed. It didn't get far, of course, because the home mortgage interest deduction is one of those sacred cows. But we've endorsed the idea in the Presidential Climate Action Plan that we're developing for the next Administration and Congress (www.climateactionproject.com). jlw: You may want to drop a note of encouragement to Congressman John Dingell. He introduced a bill in this session much like what you’ve proposed. It didn’t get far, of course, because the home mortgage interest deduction is one of those sacred cows. But we’ve endorsed the idea in the Presidential Climate Action Plan that we’re developing for the next Administration and Congress (www.climateactionproject.com).

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