Now that this April 15 has come and gone, it’s a good time to begin planning for next tax season.

The recent economic stimulus package provides at least 1,500 reasons for making a reality in 2009 any dreams for home remodeling, installing new air conditioning and heating systems, insulation or windows and other qualifying projects — a tax credit of as much as $1,500 or more.

“Expanded tax credits for energy-efficient home improvements in the new economic stimulus package put more money in consumers’ pockets by providing financial incentive for homeowners to go green on their renovation projects in 2009 and 2010,” says the Web site of the National Association of Home Builders, www.hahb.org. “While more efficient homes save on water and energy bills, these tax credits will make such home upgrades even more affordable.”

For some home improvements, such as installing renewable energy sources — solar power and water heating systems, small wind systems and geothermal heat pumps — tax credits are not capped, meaning homeowners qualify for the full 30 percent of the cost of such systems, though tax refunds may be limited to the total tax due.

“If you are building a new home, you can qualify for the tax credit for geothermal heat pumps, photovoltaics, solar water heaters, small wind energy systems and fuel cells, but not the tax credits for windows, doors, insulation, roofs, HVAC or non-solar water heaters,” said the Web site for Energy Star, the joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy.

Whether remodeled or new construction, the home must be the primary residence of the taxpayer.

“The U.S. has 125 million single-family homes with the majority built before energy-efficiency improvements, suggesting a huge market for green remodeling,” NAHB says.

Locally, the market has been slow to respond to energy-efficient home applications, experts say.

“This is something that even the window makers are just beginning to understand,” said Joe E. Graham, owner of Parkside Gutters and Siding which also installs new and replacement windows. “The place I buy from was just starting to get windows in in the past few weeks that are part of the government’s tax credits.”

Yet, with so many homes in the area still fitted with older, single-pane windows, Graham said the opportunity for savings on monthly energy bills is significant. “Upgrading to double-pane and better-insulated windows would really save people money.”

Adam Caruthers, owner of Caruthers HVACR on Washington Street, said he has installed what he termed “elite” heating and air conditioning systems, but there is a need for growth locally.

“It’s a big investment up front,” Caruthers said, “but to save money you have to spend money.”

Many variables affect the cost of heating and air conditioning systems, including whether or not duct work has to be replaced but, just in terms of the equipment, the tax savings can nearly pay the difference between a basic system and an upgraded energy-saver, Caruthers said. A homeowner could expect to spend an additional $2,000 on the energy-efficient equipment, he said.

“The tax credit is not dollar for dollar,” cautioned tax preparer and accountant Rebecca Antwine, of Beard and Antwine Accounting on South Frontage Road. “It’s 30 percent of the cost of the improvements. You would have to spend $5,000 to get the full $1,500.”

Caruthers installs heating and air conditioning systems that cost from the basic $6,500 to top-of-the-line $20,000, he said. And replacing a home’s windows can easily cost $5,000, Graham said.

Will Hedman, owner of Carthage-based Mississippi Solar, said he has not installed solar energy systems in the Vicksburg area but has had recent inquiries, and he’s installed systems at a middle school in Rankin County, a poultry business and other sites.

Along with virtually no guidelines for the industry, Mississippi offers no state tax incentives to homeowners, while just across the river, Louisiana offers a 50 percent rebate in addition to the federal credit, he said.

“Just as an example, if you spend $3 in Louisiana, you get $2 back,” Hedman said. “If you spend $3 in Mississippi, you get $1 back. So it actually costs you twice as much in Mississippi to install a solar energy system.”

Solar power is a viable source of energy in Mississippi. “Anybody who has ever pulled cotton can verify that we get a lot of sun,” he added. “I’m confident we’ll progress in time. It’s coming along.”

Before choosing any energy-saving home products, Beard said homeowners need to investigate specific IRS regulations on improvements that qualify for the tax credit, and their income tax preparer can help.

“You don’t want people to feel they have to call their tax adviser for everything, but in this case they may be able to help you pick the right product,” Antwine said. “I tell my clients, anytime you feel like you are doing something that affects your taxes that much, you should call before proceeding. That’s why you pay me in the first place.”

In a separate category of energy tax credits are new incentives for purchasing hybrid and plug-in electric vehicles.

Antwine pointed out that the government’s incentive package has gone through several incarnations and even without changes includes limits on some of the items that qualify for the credits, most notably hybrid and electric vehicles.

“After the manufacturer sells 60,000 of those vehicles there is no longer a credit,” she said. “What is true today may not be true in two months because they may have already exceeded their limit.” And there are different limits for electric vehicles.

A number of Web sites are also dedicated to helping consumers sort out which products do or do not meet the standards for energy tax credits, including www.energystar.gov and www.nahb.org.