The HouseGuru Blog from Suburban Windows and Siding

Obama's New Energy Efficiency Program: "Cash for Caulkers"

     President Obama will be announcing a new $6 billion dollar program today called "Cash for Caulkers" that will hopefully stimulate the economy by providing incentives for Americans who make energy efficient home improvements. The new program "is intended to prompt Americans to invest in everything from insulation or new windows to overarching energy upgrades of their homes."

    Created after the success of "Cash for Clunkers" last summer, this program has been developed to create more jobs and provide incentives for all who participate. This program will only be available for a short time period, however the White House is expecting that the average household could save between $200-$500 this year if they participate. "The program involves a range of incentives for consumers, including rebates from stores that sell building materials, companies that install the equipment and utility energy efficiency programs. Consumers can also get rebates for a range of home energy upgrades."

    Here at Suburban Windows & Siding we have an exclusive line of Heat Mirror Replacement Windows that are one of the most energy efficient windows ever designed. To find out how you can take advantage of "cash for caulkers" and other energy efficient incentives, please feel free to contact us at 860-828-8227. 

 

The History of the Heat Mirror Replacement Window

      In 1979, Southwall Technology was founded in Palo Alto, California and participated in a 5 year government-funded research program at M.I.T to improve energy efficiency in buildings. The result was the Heat Mirror, a clear polyester film with a 3-layer coating that transmits light but reflects long-wave infrared energy. Heat Mirror technology was the first innovation in the glass industry in over 100 years. In 1991, Window & Door magazine awarded Southwall the "Diamond Crystal Industry Achievement Award" for its contributions to energy conservation.

      The Heat Mirror technology will lower your energy costs dramatically more than any other replacement window on the market. The secret to its success is the dual combination of heat-reflecting film and gas-filled air in the window that reduces heat-loss in the winter 5 times better than traditional double-pane windows. Heat Mirror will continue to save money on your energy bill in the summer by repelling radiant heat, therefore leaving your air conditioner significantly more effective. Heat Mirror doesn't stop there either, reducing sound transmission it also blocks 99% of UV radiation from the sun which prevents fading on your furniture, carpet, and drapes.

       When Popular Science Magazine chose the 100 Greatest Inventions as a millennium-year special, only 5 appliances made the list. Along with the air conditioner, stove, washer, and refrigerator, they listed Heat Mirror Replacement Windows as "One of the more dramatic advances." 

 For more information about Heat Mirror technology please CLICK HERE.

 

Energy Saving Tips

A fireplace can be a major drain on home energy. To burn, a fire draws warm air from your rooms to be replaced by cold outside air.  Warm air will escape through the chimney to the outside if the damper is not completely closed or sealed when not in use.  The fireplace should have well-closing glass doors unless it has a direct source of outside air.  If you do not use your fireplace at all, seal the damper {flue} with a specially designed inflatable plug or balloon inserted into the fireplace beneath the damper.  This type of product is available at hardware stores or on line and can pay for itself in one mid-winter bill. Remember air leaks in the home account for much of your homes energy loss.  Your fireplace is just one of the many simple things you can do to save energy, save money and make your home more comfortable. Suburban Windows & Siding can help you identify problem areas and save you energy with our Heat Mirror replacement windows and energy efficient doors.

Seal Up That Drafty House And Save Energy

Burrrrrrrrrrrr, It looks like winter has arrived in the northeast.  I was hoping it was going to pass us by this year.  I 'm sure many of you have noticed over the past few days how cold your windows feel and how drafty your home is.  

More than any other time of year, you notice your home's air leaks in the winter. Most people call these air leaks "drafts." You may feel these drafts around windows and doors and think these leaks are your major source of wasted energy. In most homes, however, the most significant air leaks are hidden in the attic and basement. These are the leaks that significantly raise your energy bill and make your house uncomfortable.

But locating leaks can be difficult because they are often hidden under your insulation. In cold weather, warm air rises in your house, just like it does in a chimney. This air, which you have paid to heat, is just wasted as it rises up into your attic and sucks cold air in all around your home - around windows, doors, and through holes into the basement.
Common Household Air Leaks

* Behind Kneewalls
* Attic Hatch
* Wiring Holes
* Plumbing Vent
* Open Soffit (the box that hides the recessed lights)
* Recessed Light
* Furnace Flue or Duct Chaseway (the hollow box or wall feature that hides ducts)
* Basement Rim Joists (where the foundation meets the wood framing)
* Windows and Doors

Locating Basement Air Leaks

A common area of air leakage in the basement is along the top of the basement wall where cement or block comes in contact with the wood frame. These leaks can easily be fixed in portions of the basement that are unfinished. Since the top of the wall is above ground, outside air can be drawn in through cracks and gaps where the house framing sits on top of the foundation. This perimeter framing is called the rim (or band) joist. In the basement, the above floor joists end at the rim joist creating multiple cavities along the length of the wall, and many opportunities for leakage. The following DIY Guide by Energy Star is the best guide I have seen on sealing up the drafts in a home.  Even implementing a few of the improvements can make a big difference,

Download the DIY Guide PDF (2MB)

Bill Nye Says Buy Replacement Windows

Replacement Windows and sealing up your home from air leeks are two of the most important energy efficient improvements you can do to your home according to Bill Nye the science guy who was on CNN the other night.  I was watching CNN and Bill Nye was debating the validity of Global warming and what we should be doing to help save our planet.  There has been allot of debate surrounding the science of Global warming lately but the evidence is clear, our planet is warming at an alarming rate.  I also saw Al Gore rebut Sara Palin on the subject as she seems to think it's all just a big scare tactic that will hurt the US financially in the long run.  Bill Nye made it clear several times that insulating your home, sealing up air leeks and replacing your windows made a significant difference in not only saving you money and reducing your energy bills but also greatly reducing the level of co2 and the effects of Global warming.  President Obama also continues to talk about retrofitting homes across America to make them more energy efficient and sites Replacement Windows as one of the best improvements you can make along with increasing insulation.  This is why the government has been giving homeowners a $1500 energy tax credit on these type of improvements.

Bill Nye, Al Gore, President Obama, all pretty smart guys.  Maybe we should listen to them.  The evidence suggests that the last decade is ending up to be the warmest on record since they started keeping climate records in the 1800s.  Even though the investment now may be difficult given the state of the economy, our future economy will be much brighter if we as a country take the lead and develop the solutions to make the world a cleaner more energy efficient place and eliminate the dependency on foreign oil.  At Suburban Windows and Siding we are committed to doing our part by providing our Heat Mirror Replacement Windows at the lowest price available to the consumer.

 

 

The Cost of Replacement Windows

 

      Have you noticed that one of the rooms in your house is always colder than the others? Even if your thermostat says it's 75 degrees in that room, there is still a noticeable difference. Chances are that you need to look into replacing your older drafty-windows with new and improved energy efficient windows.

For the time being, setup plastic wrap on your windows to prevent having to wear your winter jacket indoors. Setting up plastic wrap on your windows is a cheap and temporary solution to your problem, the down-side is the appearance of your windows. A permanent solution would be replacing your windows before the winter sets in, but what do replacement windows really cost?

Typically replacement windows start at around $200-250 per window, but these windows will not guarantee the need for plastic wrap next winter! The next level of replacement windows, ranges from around $250-$350, but still may not keep your home insulated when the weather gets really bad (especially in the Northeast).  The absolute, most advanced replacement window that every home should have is the Heat Mirror Replacement Window. These windows can range from around $400- $1500 depending on where you find them, a major difference in price because of their advanced technology and exclusivity.

*To find out more information about Heat Mirror windows at Suburban Windows and Siding, please click here.

Vinyl Shakes Look Like Real Wood

Happy Thanksgiving to all from the HouseGuru,  I hope everyone has a wonderful day.  It's amazing how far Vinyl Siding has come.  Suburban Windows and Siding is just finishing up another beautiful home in New Britain.  One of the things I love about the city of New Britain is all the old Colonial homes and English Tutors.  New Britain has such a diverse array of architecture dating back to the 17 and 1800s.  Old victorians and English Tutors are my favorites.  I just had the pleasure of residing an English Tutor and a beautiful old colonial right next door to each other.  For those of you who know the area across from Stanly Quarter Park, there are many old Tutors and colonials . 

    I wanted to make sure I kept that original Tutor look and feel so i suggested to the home owner to have us paint the stucco part and trim the boards in brown vinyl coated aluminum to make them maintenance free while maintaining the originallook. 

  The peaks were old ceder shakes that were not taking the paint very well and the 86 year old homeowners wife would not let him climb up there to paint it anymore, I must say I can't blame her.  We installed the ceder Impression Vinyl Shakes by Certainteed on the peaks and the house looks as authentic as the day it was built.  If your in New Britain on Stanly street across from the park you will see the Suburban Windows sign in front of the house so you can check it out. 

How to Conduct your own Home Energy Audit

     You can easily conduct a home energy audit yourself. With a simple but diligent walk-through, you can spot many problems in any type of house. When auditing your home, keep a checklist of areas you have inspected and problems you found. This list will help you prioritize your energy efficiency upgrades.

Locating Air Leaks: The potential energy savings from reducing drafts in a home may range from 5 to 30% per year, and the home is generally much more comfortable afterward.
1) Check to see if air is flowing through any of these places:
Electrical outlets, switch plates, window frames, baseboards, weather stripping around your doors, fireplace dampers, attic hatches, and mounted air conditioners.  2) Inspect replacement windows and doors for air leaks. See if you can rattle them, since movement means possible air leaks. If you can see daylight around a door or window frame, then the door or window leaks. You may want to consider newer, energy-efficient replacement windows and doors, such as Heat Mirror windows and Masonite doors.

Insulation: Heat loss through the ceiling and walls in your home could be very large if the insulation levels are less than the recommended minimum.
1) If the attic hatch is located above a conditioned space, check to see if it is at least as heavily insulated as the attic, is weather stripped, and closes tightly. Make sure the attic vents are not blocked by insulation.
2) If your basement is unheated, determine whether there is insulation under the living area flooring. In most areas of the country, an R-value of 25 is the recommended minimum level of insulation. Also make sure your water heater, hot water pipes, and furnace ducts should all be insulated. 

Heating/Cooling Equipment: Check to see if your furnace is more than 15 years old, if so you should consider replacing the system with a new energy-efficient unit. A newer furnace will greatly reduce your energy consumption. If your furnace isn't an older model then you should see if your filter needs to be replaced, which is recommended every 2 months. Finally insulate any ducts or pipes that travel through unheated spaces.

Lighting: Energy for lighting accounts for about 10% of your electric bill. Examine the wattage size of the light bulbs in your house. You may have 100-watt(or larger) bulbs where 60-75 watts would be more appropriate. You should also consider compact fluorescent lamps for areas where lights are on for hours at a time.

 

Home Improvements: Energy We Use vs. The Energy We Waste

     The debate over energy-consumption and how to preserve our resources has been an ongoing conversation in the 21st century. Regional climate differences impact your energy consumption greatly in terms of heating vs. cooling your home, and what type of energy-efficient technology you are using for your appliances, heating system, air conditioning, and insulation. So what exactly can you do in your home to help improve your energy efficiency? First take a look at how the average home's "energy dollar" is used according to the Department of Energy:

• 45 cents: Heating and Cooling your Home
• 34 cents: Lighting, Cooking, and other Appliances
• 13 cents: Water Heating
• 8 cents:   Refrigeration

Energy is wasted in your home due to a number of reasons:

1. Inadequate insulation throughout your home.
2. Older replacement windows that lose heat during the winter.
3. Inefficient heating/cooling systems and inefficient appliances.
4. When hot water is used instead of cold water for laundry.
5. If any faucets around the house are leaking.
6. If you don't have automatic thermostats and lighting controls

 

 

Heat Mirror Windows: 1/100 Greatest Inventions of the Millennium

       When Popular Science Magazine hosted the 100 Greatest Inventions of the Millennium, only 5 household appliances made the list. The air conditioner, the stove, the washer, and the refrigerator,"One of the more dramatic advances" was the Heat Mirror Replacement Window. The Heat Mirror window is so important because it actually conserves energy in the summer by reflecting radiant heat energy from your home and in the winter it retains the radiant heat! The Heat Mirror window is a sophisticated climate-controlling appliance which achieves 10 times the energy performance of single-pane windows, and 5 times that of dual-pane windows. The Heat Mirror window doesn't stop there too, it actually blocks over 99% of UV radiation from the sun which can help prevent fading of your carpets, furniture, and curtains. The Heat Mirror window is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which means that it's eligible for a tax rebate up to $1500. To find out more information on the exclusive Heat Mirror technology here in Connecticut, please click here.