(ARA) – Fall colors, cooler weather and crackling fires mean the holidays are right around the corner. As consumers prepare themselves and their homes for colder temperatures, many will seek out energy-efficient products. By making smart decisions, you can be sensible, yet stylish, when the cold weather, family and friends arrive for the holidays.
The first place to start: your windows and doors. Replacing old, drafty windows and doors with fashionable, more energy-efficient ones can help you save energy and lower your utility bills year-round. If you’re an American homeowner, it could even help you save at tax time if you purchase and install before Dec. 31.
Long-term energy savings
“Today’s budget-conscious consumers demand energy-saving products,” says Kathy Krafka Harkema, energy efficiency expert at Pella Windows and Doors. “To help stretch your paycheck and add to the comfort of your home, replace items with more energy-efficient options that help provide long-term savings and a short-term defense against rising energy rates.”
The Energy Star program, created by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy, helps consumers identify energy-efficient products. In 2009, Americans, with the help of Energy Star, saved $17 billion on energy bills and reduced greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of 30 million vehicles, according to the EPA.
Improve your energy efficiency
To help improve your home’s energy efficiency, consider these tips:
* During cold weather, keep window treatments on southern-facing windows open during the day to capture the sun’s heat. Close them at night to help keep heat inside your home. During warmer months, close the blinds, shades or curtains during the heat of the day to reflect the sun’s heat away from your home’s interior.
* Choose double- or triple-pane windows with low-emissivity (low-e) coatings to improve energy efficiency and reduce heating and cooling costs, especially from northern-facing windows.
* Keep window treatments closed when the sun is shining in from east- and west-facing windows to help reduce the heat buildup from solar heat in your home.
Regardless of the type or style of windows and doors you choose, it’s essential that they are installed properly for best performance in sealing out air and moisture.
Short-term style solutions
Pella is teaming up with Lowe’s to make it easy for homeowners to jumpstart their next energy-saving home improvement project. Find a daily energy-saving tip this fall at www.lowes.com/pella and view the variety of energy-saving products.
“Energy-efficient windows and doors are smart and beautiful,” says Shelli Locklear, Pella Corporation national accounts segment marketing manager. “With our Designer Series 750 products, you can create the stylish, breathtaking views you always wanted in your home.”
Pella Designer Series 750 windows and patio doors feature between-the-glass blinds, fabric shades and removable grilles with exclusive snap-in technology that make them easy to change. And, since the blinds are between-the-glass, they don’t accumulate dust, dirt or certain indoor airborne allergens.
Your Lowe’s millwork associate can help you choose the windows or doors that are right for you. Qualifying energy-efficient windows and doors may be eligible for up to $1,500 in U.S. energy tax credits when installed by Dec. 31.
