Remodel Your Home, Get a Tax Credit

Insulation: $3,000 to $7,000, depending on the size of the home and the type of insulation used. (It has to meet 2009 standards.) Also, the primary purpose of the product needs to be insulation. You can't put new siding on your home, even though it may have insulating properties, and take the credit.

Air conditioner/furnace: About $4,000 and up for a central air system, depending on the size of your home. You need to meet specific energy-saving guidelines to get this credit.

Water heater: $700 to $1,500, depending on the model and your needs. To get the credit, the new heater has to say somewhere in its documentation that it has "an energy factor of 0.82 or a thermal efficiency of at least 90%."

Solar electricity panels: $25,000 to $75,000, based on your roof size and how many watts you need. An expensive upgrade, but remember this is one that qualifies for a "super" credit. Put a $50,000 solar system on the roof this year, and you'll qualify for a credit of $15,000 on next year's tax return.