Before going on a pre-tax return spending spree on all things Energy Star and earth-friendly, it pays to step back and do some planning. Maximizing return on home improvement projects is like running a profitable business; it takes some research and cost-return analysis.

What are the Energy Tax Credit Caps?

First, a tax credit is not the same as a tax deduction. Deductions generally involve doing some math to whittle down what initially looked like a good deal. Credits may be subtracted from the taxpayer tax burden.