Jones Family in Sugar Land to Receive “Energy Savings Makeover” Featuring Simonton Windows

PARKERSBURG, W. VA. – Dancing, shouting and tears. It was a scene reminiscent of national television home makeover shows on June 22nd when the Jones family of Sugar Land, Texas, learned they had been selected to receive the “Energy Savings Makeover” project organized by Houston radio show host Gary Parr.
 
The surprise announcement was made after Parr, host of the KSEV radio show “On the Air,” reviewed more than 800 applications from people in the area volunteering their homes. The makeover will start on July 1st.
 
“We selected this home because it represented a typical Houston area house that can truly benefit from an energy savings makeover,” said Parr. “This family of six spends more than $900 a month on energy bills during the summer. That’s because the home has little insulation, an inefficient HVAC system and old, single-paned aluminum-framed windows. Some of the windows are blocked to keep the sun’s powerful rays from baking the interior of the home. Other windows are inoperable, so the home doesn’t have enough ventilation. We’re going to fix all of these problems and get that energy bill down.”
 
The Jones’ 2,800-square foot two-story home was built in the late 1970’s. The original windows have clear glass with no energy efficiency benefits, so that the family’s air conditioning system must work continually to cool the home. To rectify the problem, twenty windows will be replaced with energy-efficient Simonton windows.
 
“The new windows will be ENERGY STAR^® qualified and constructed with Simonton’s Energy Tax Credit Glass packages,” says Parr. “This means they are certified by the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) to meet a U-factor rating of 0.30 or less, and a Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) of 0.30 or less. These are the energy ratings stated by the U.S. government that are required for homeowners to take advantage of the $1,500 energy tax credit as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. This incredible glass package, combined with the fusion-welded, energy-efficient vinyl frames, will improve the quality of life for the Jones family from the day they’re installed.”
 
In addition to the replacement windows, the Jones family, which includes four adopted children (ages 12-18) will receive a new HVAC system, tankless water heater, programmable thermostat, insulation, solar attic fans and other energy efficient features. The makeover project is expected to be completed before the end of the summer, so that the Jones family will see immediate energy savings and added comfort in their home.
 
Style with Energy Savings
As an extra benefit, the Jones family will have the option of selecting interior stylizing on their replacement windows. They may choose from a variety of rich, durable and scratch-resistant woodgrain laminates and popular hardware finishes in the Decorum by Simonton™ collection on their energy-efficient vinyl replacement windows.
 
Classy interior styling options include Antique Cherry, Maple, Contemporary Oak and Pure White. Decorum by Simonton grid options include Antique Cherry, Maple, Contemporary Oak, Two-Tone Driftwood and Two-Tone Tan. To accent the windows, custom interior hardware finishes are available in Brushed Nickel, Dark Bronze, Oil-Rubbed Bronze and Polished Brass. 
 
Measuring Success
To validate the energy savings, the Energy Systems Laboratory at Texas A&M University will conduct an energy audit on the home before any of the changes are made. They will make recommendations based on their research and will then conduct additional audits throughout the year to provide energy savings details and figures. Direct Energy, one of the largest multi-state providers of retail energy services in North America, will also do a Home Energy Rating System (HERS^®) energy analysis on the home’s design and make recommendations for improvements.
 
Simonton Windows produces ENERGY STAR^® qualified replacement and new construction windows and doors, including a line of impact-resistant products. Simonton ranked “Highest in Builder and Remodeler Satisfaction among Residential Window and Patio Door Manufacturers” in the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Builder and Remodeler Residential Window and Patio Door Satisfaction Study^SM. The company was ranked #1 in quality in the 2009, 2007, 2002 and 1998 Brand Use Studies sponsored by Builder magazine and has won three Best In Class Awards from Market Research Associates.
 
Founded in 1946, Simonton’s hallmark has been to deliver its made-to-order products in five days or less. Part of the home and hardware division of Fortune Brands, Inc. (NYSE: FO), Simonton delivers nationwide to key markets throughout the 48 continental United States.
 
Simonton is a founding sponsor of The Weather Museum and a supporter of Homes for Our Troops. For information, call (800) SIMONTON (1-800-746-6686) or visit www.simonton.com.
 
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Simonton Windows received the highest numerical score in the proprietary J.D. Power and Associates/McGraw-Hill Construction 2008 Builder and Remodeler Residential Window and Patio Door Satisfaction StudySM. Study based on 2,837 new-home builders and remodelers. Proprietary study results are based on experiences and perceptions of new home builders and remodelers surveyed in May through June 2008. Your experiences may vary. Visit jdpower.com.

ENERGY STAR is a government program that helps consumers protect the environment through superior energy efficiency and is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.