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Did you know you can do your own home energy audit? Homeowners can conduct their own home energy audit at http://hes.lbl.gov. Sponsored by the Dept of Energy, the Home Energy Audit helps consumers identify the best ways to save energy in their homes.
For information on the 2009-2010 Federal Tax Credit, visit http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=tax_credits.tx_index#s1. There are federal tax credits available for certain insulation, windows, doors, HVAC, water heaters, and more. As always, contact the IRS and your tax professional.
To commemorate national Energy Awareness Month in October, the experts at Simonton Windows® have developed a series of window selling tips for remodelers and builders. The list focuses on educating homeowners on the benefits of energy-efficient windows.
Tip #1 – Share facts. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the typical home loses more than 25 percent of its heat through windows. Choosing ENERGY STAR® labeled products for the home can cut energy bills by up to 30 percent. For more details, visit www.energystar.gov.
Tip #2 – Talk investment. Energy-efficient vinyl windows are an investment that provides ongoing payback for homeowners. From the day they’re installed, these windows save on energy bills. And, when it’s time to sell the home, energy-efficient windows are a great selling feature. For more details on the value of energy-efficient windows, recommend that your customers visit Efficient Windows Collaborative, an unbiased information source on the benefits of energy-efficient windows at www.efficientwindows.org.
Tip #3 – Showcase winning products. If the products you sell have won industry awards and recognition, make sure your customer knows about them. Honors like the Builder Quality Award and J.D. Power and Associates rankings are earned by companies that consistently offer high service levels and quality products to building industry professionals who install energy-efficient windows day-after-day. For details, visit www.simonton.com/Company/Spotlight/2009+J.D.+Power+and+Associates+Award.htm.
Tip #4 – Suggest a home energy audit. Homeowners can conduct a do-it-yourself home energy audit at the web site http://hes.lbl.gov/. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, the Home Energy Saver™ is designed to help consumers identify the best ways to save energy in their homes and locate the resources to make the savings turn into reality.
Tip #5 – Sell the $1,500 tax credit. Share information with customers on the Energy Tax Credit glass packages from Simonton that are guaranteed to provide them with up to $1,500 in federal tax credit. Available in 2009 and 2010, this tax credit is a great incentive to replace windows immediately.* For more details, visit www.simonton.com/taxcredit.
Tip #6 – Educate on energy savings. Provide your customers with resources so they can gain credible, third-party information on energy savings in the home. The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy provides a home energy checklist at www.aceee.org. The American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) has consumer information on energy-efficient window selections at www.aamanet.org. And, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) has extensive consumer assistance information at www.nahb.org.
