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personality in an unusually shaped room of your home. If your personal tastes
trend toward the dramatic, consider flooding your living space with light
through large scale windows, which can serve double duty as a design focal
point.
While obeying style and personality guidelines are important, make sure new
replacement windows are energy efficient.
All high quality replacement windows will carry the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency
’s Energy Star label, which explains how well the window can keep a home warm in
winter and, most especially for those of us who live in the Houston area, cool
in summer. Just as when you choose other products, it always pays to read the
label.
After all, while you want new windows to accentuate your living space, you also
want to make a wise financial decision, especially in today
’s uncertain economic times.
“Today’s budget-conscious consumers are placing a priority on energy-saving products,” says Kathy Krafka Harkema, energy efficiency expert at Pella Corporation. “To help stretch their paycheck and add to the comfort of their home, consumers
can replace items with more energy-efficient options that help provide
long-term savings and a short-term defense against rapidly rising energy
prices.
”
Luckily, replacement windows can deliver on both.
Cost vs. Value
While replacing old windows can offer both energy savings and a more beautiful
living space, many consumers may wonder if now is the right time to invest in
replacement windows. The answer largely depends on their motive for wanting to
do so.
Thanks to the economy, you may not see an immediate return on your investment if
you
’re renovating to increase your home’s resale value,
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although the Houston area is in much better shape than the rest of the nation.
According to a recent report from
Remodeling Magazine that compared job costs and resulting resale values, adding upscale wood
replacement windows to a home in the Houston area will recoup 74.7 percent of
its cost, as compared with only 71.5 percent nationally. Upscale vinyl
replacement windows, by contrast, recouped 78.9 percent of its cost versus the
national average of 76.5 percent.
But increased resale value isn’t the only reason to replace your home’s windows. As stated above, new windows can also cut your heating and cooling
bills and, quite possibly, qualify you for sizable tax credits.
“Homeowners should contact a professional remodeler for advice on installing tax
credit-qualified improvements in their home,
” urges National Association of Home Builders Remodelers Chairman Greg Miedema,
CGR, CGB, CAPS, CGP.
Miedema, who is a remodeler from Tucson, Ariz., in addition to his work for
NAHB, believes that a licensed home remodeler can help a homeowner find the
best method of saving energy and money while increasing a home
’s beauty.
Window manufacturers recognize that homeowners want to save money, which is why
they are working hard to provide consumers with the very best in replacement
windows.
“Today’s homes have more windows, and therefore glass, so it’s important to design products with high thermal efficiency,” explains Shawn Aherns, senior marketing manager at Andersen Windows Inc. “We want homeowners to enjoy their windows and save energy at the same time.”
Saving energy, saving money and increasing the enjoyment of your home. That
sounds like a resolution for 2010 that
’s a win-win all the way.
Happy remodeling!l
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