Suburban Blog

How to Take Advantage of the 2010 Energy Tax Credit

    

     This year the federal government has provided an energy tax credit for any homeowner who purchases energy-efficient products or a renewable energy system for their home, perhaps you may be eligible for a federal tax credit and you don't even know it! The tax credit is good for up to 30% of the cost of your product but only up to $1500 and this tax credit is set to expire December 31. Below you will find an overview of the federal tax credits for a few energy efficient products.
     Beware, purchasing ENERGY STAR products doesn't necessarily mean that you are eligible for this 2010 tax credit. ENERGY STAR distinguishes energy efficient products which, although they may cost more to purchase than standard models, will pay you back in lower energy bills within a reasonable amount of time, but may not be eligible for the tax credit.

WINDOWS/DOORS/SKYLIGHTS: Energy efficient windows, doors, and skylights can dramatically reduce your energy bills.
*Must have a U-Value of <=.30
*Must have a SHGC of <=.30
*Tax Credit doesn't include installation costs

STORM WINDOWS/ STORM DOORS:
*Must have <=.30 for U-Value and SHGC
*Must meet the IECC

BIOMASS STOVES: which burn biomass fuel to heat a home or heat water. Biomass fuel includes agricultural crops and trees, wood and wood waste and residues (including wood pellets), plants (including aquatic plants), grasses, residues, and fibers.
*Must have a thermal efficiency rating of at least 75% as measured using a lower heating value.
*Tax Credit does include installation costs.

ROOFING: qualified roof products reflect more of the sun's rays, which can lower roof surface temperature by up to 100F, decreasing the amount of heat transferred into your home.
*Metal roofs with appropriate pigmented coatings and asphalt roofs with appropriate cooling granules that also meet ENERGY STAR requirements.
*Tax Credit does not include installation costs.

GAS,OIL,PROPANE WATER HEATERS: Water heating can account for 14%-25% of the energy consumed in your home.
*Must have an energy factor of >=.82 or a thermal efficiency of at least 90%.
*Tax Credit does include installation costs.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CLICK HERE.

Roofing Choices for Energy Efficiency

    

    Roofs seem to be a singularly overlooked element that can make a significant difference in a home's efficiency. Why do roofers always offer dark-colored shingles? Pulling that solar heat into the home might be a good solution for really cold climates, but for most homes, light colors are a better choice because they reflect heat, making it that much easier to cool the interior of a home during warm months.
     Reflective finishes can be applied to some roofing surfaces to reduce roof and interior temperatures. Reducing the temperature of a black asphalt roof helps protect the asphalt from deterioration and also reduces the need to cool the building, thus saving energy and reducing carbon emissions related to the structure.
     If you apply a radiant foil barrier under the roof, it will direct the sun's hottest rays away from the home, considerably increasing efficiency. The same technology helps keep heat in the home during winter months. Radiant foil barrier material costs about 10 cents per square foot before installation; it's an inexpensive fix that makes a big difference in your energy bill. Using the foil requires a vent to carry the deflected heat away from the home. Ridge vents along the top roof line with screened vents under the roof overhang work well with or without the barrier to move breezes up through the roof area and keep hot air from stalling over the house.

The Importance of Window Frames and Sashes

     The energy efficiency of your window doesn't only depend on the glass you have installed, even if it is a triple-pane or gas-filled energy efficient window. In case you aren't familiar with the structure of your window, the sash is what holds the glass and the frame is what holds the sash in place. The frames and sashes on all your windows are also exposed to harsh sunlight and climate changes and if they are made of wood or metal, air flow can increase over time leading to higher energy costs.
      Windows and their sashes can be made from aluminum, wood, a combination of wood and vinyl or aluminum, or solid vinyl. Wood is the oldest type of frame, has moderate insulating qualities, and needs the most maintenance of the three types of windows. It's usually found in older homes and needs to be maintained by painting to prevent damage from moisture and insect infestation.
      Aluminum windows are durable and the least expensive, but they need a "thermal break" to prevent the transfer of heat through the frame. Pre-finished aluminum clad wood windows are similar to wood windows, and have the recycling aspect of aluminum, but don't need as much maintenance as wood.
      The American Chemistry Council states that vinyl window frames require three times less energy to manufacture than aluminum frames, and using vinyl window frames will save the United States nearly 2 Trillion BTU's of energy/per year. BTU's are short for British Thermal Unit's, which are a basic measure of thermal heat energy. Vinyl windows are excellent in terms of energy efficiency and require little to no maintenance over time. They have an excellent combination of durability, cost, insulating value, strength and aesthetics. For more information,click here.

What Makes a Replacement Window ENERGY-EFFICIENT?

        Many people wonder what makes a replacement window more energy efficient than another, especially if they can't see any distinct differences? Basically, how well an energy-saving window performs depends on the construction of the window frame and the spacer material that separates the individual frames of glass inside the pane and the glass itself. Energy-efficient windows include modern technologies to reduce air flow and heat loss. These technologies include glazing, low-E coatings, low-U values, and gases such as krypton or argon between panes. There are many different types of Energy Efficient Windows advertised these days, but most of them barely make the Energy Star standard. Here are 5 categories of what to look for when shopping for an Energy Efficient Replacement Window:

 1) Multiple Panes of Glass: Two panes of glass, with an air or gas-filled space in the middle, insulate much better than a single pane of glass. Some Energy Star qualified windows include 3 or more panes for even greater energy efficiency, increased impact resistance, and sound insulation. 

 2) Improved Frame Materials: Vinyl and Fiberglass frames reduce heat transfer and help insulate better. 

 3) Low-E Glass: Special coatings reflect infrared light, keeping heat inside in the winter and outside in the summer. They also reflect damaging ultraviolet light (UV rays), which help protect your interior furnishings from fading away.

 4) Gas-Filled Windows: Some energy-efficient windows have argon, krypton, or other gases between the panes. These odorless, colorless, non-toxic gases insulate substantially better than regular air. 

 5) Warm Edge Spacers: A spacer keeps a window's glass pane the correct distance apart, today's warm edge spacers reduce heat flow and prevent condensation. We use a Duralite Spacer System which improves the total window R-value which reduces heat loss and saves money on energy bills. 

  To find out more information about Suburban's highest energy-efficient window, The HEAT MIRROR Replacement Window, please click here.

5 Things You Can Do to Conserve Energy!

1) Insulate your walls and ceiling. This can save 20-30% of home heating bills and reduce C02 emissions by 140-2100 pounds/per year. 

2) Modernize your windows. Replacement windows that are argon filled and double-glazed, such as Suburban's Heat Mirror window, can save: 2.4 tons of CO2 for homes with gas heat, 3.9 tons for oil heat, and 9.8 tons for electric heat, per year. 

3) Paint your house a light color if you live in a warm climate to reflect heat and paint your house a dark color if you live in a cold-climate to retain heat. 

4) Buy energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs for your most-used lighting sources. Although they cost more initially, they save money in the long run by using only 1/4 the energy of an ordinary incandescent bulb, and they last 8-12 times longer. 

5) Plant trees around your home where shading is necessary. Each tree you plant can absorb 25 pounds of CO2 from the air annually. 

*For any questions about how to conserve energy in your home, please feel free to contact Suburban Windows & 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. 

 

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.

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.