Sports Hall of Fame banquet canceled
The City All Star Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame has canceled its 29th annual awards banquet, scheduled for April 14 at Cannstatter’s, due to the coronavirus.
Organizers plan to honor the inductees next year.
The inductees will be former La Salle University basketball player Craig Conlin; coach and youth league organizer Lou DeCree; retired longtime women’s college basketball official Dennis DeMayo; Division I football official Joe Griesser; Joe Hand, a leading TV distributor of closed-circuit and pay-per-view boxing; Mike Hawkins, the PIAA District 12 chairman and former football coach and athletic director at Germantown High School; Steve Kane, the longtime former boys basketball coach at University City who led the Jaguars to the 1995 Public League title; Mike Koplove, who pitched for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Cleveland Indians; Kathy Lonergan, a Division I women’s basketball referee; Dave Mastropietro, a baseball star at La Salle University; and Dr. Anthony Salem, a former minor league baseball player. ••
Tax credits available for HVAC units
Homeowners can apply for up to $500 in federal tax credits when they install new energy-efficient heating and cooling systems in their homes.
The new legislation, passed by Congress in February, also makes the credits retroactive starting December 31, 2017. Homeowners who had eligible equipment installed in 2018 and 2019 can also apply for the credit with proper documentation.
The credits came about in large part due to lobbying from the Air Conditioner Contractors of America.
“We’ve been working on a much longer-term reinstatement of the tax credits,” said Todd Washam, vice president of public policy and industry relations for the ACCA. “This is a temporary victory. Our goal is to see it extended through 2026.”
Meanwhile, the credits can be combined with rebates from PECO for installing high-efficiency appliances.
Ron Musser, owner of ECI Comfort, which specializes in high-efficiency installations throughout the Delaware Valley, said these offers speak to a growing awareness of environmental concerns.
“When it comes to efficiency, we’re seeing more and more customers concerned about how their energy choices impact the environment,” he said.
Tom Brubaker, manager of communications for PECO Smart Ideas, said switching to high-efficiency appliances can save anywhere from 10 to 30 percent on energy bills.
“It’s often said that energy efficiency is one of the legs in the stool of the whole renewable debate,” he said. “Just by cutting back your use of electricity, you’re helping the environment, which helps all of us.”
For more information, visit www.ecicomfort.com/blog/tax-credits-heating-cooling, https://www.pecorebateportal.com/heating-cooling and https://www.acca.org/news/guest-blog/acca-legislative-priorities-signed-into-law. ••
Water Department wants to hear from you
The Philadelphia Water Department is welcoming residents to fill out an annual customer satisfaction survey that helps guide programs and services.
Any Philadelphia resident 18 and older who takes the survey at www.pwdsurvey.com or by texting @water to 39242 can enter a raffle to win a $100 gift card.
The survey is available in English and Spanish and takes less than 10 minutes to complete.
Residents are urged to take the survey and share their experiences on topics such as drinking water habits, water quality, communications preferences, infrastructure awareness, sustainability and overall perceptions of PWD.
Answers and personal information will be kept completely confidential. ••
