Want more proof that it makes financial sense to go green in the data center? How about tax incentives for going green?

Pursuing energy efficiency strategies for the data center is often viewed as a process that takes a while to pay off. You sacrifice a little extra now, for a big return on that investment down the line. But what if you can cut costs all around in the near term?

Cindy Waxer at ComputerWorld tackles one of the rarely discussed aspects of green data center builds and retrofits: taxes. It turns out that the government (both federal and some states) provides businesses some juicy tax deductions if they outfit their facilities with energy-saving tech.

Here’s one example:

Companies can claim a tax deduction of $1.80 per square foot on new or existing buildings by installing interior lighting, heating, cooling, ventilation or hot water systems that reduce a building’s total energy and power costs by 50% or more.

The lesson here is to research and take advantage of those tax breaks. Combined with some utility incentives, it can lead to huge savings all around and smaller power bills for years to come. Here are some more online resources to help you get started:

• DSIRE – Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency
• Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency – Business.gov (see the Tax Deductions for Commercial Buildings section)
• Tax Breaks for Businesses, Utilities, and Governments – Energy.gov (primarily renewable energy generation – i.e. solar panels, wind turbines, etc.)

Image Credit: Flickr user AMagill – CC