Maximizing A Replacement Window Investment

PARKERSBURG, W. VA. – Invest now to save later. That theory works well with many purchases, including windows for the home.

“Windows manufactured today have so many more energy-saving benefits to them than windows created a decade ago,” says Don Zeman, a former contractor and host of the nationally-syndicated Homefront with Don Zeman radio show. “Today’s windows offer increased protection from air and ultraviolet ray infiltration into the home, which can save a homeowner significantly on long-term energy bills.”

According to experts at ENERGY STAR^® (the energy saving qualification program run by the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency), up to 15 percent of a home’s annual energy budget can be saved by installing ENERGY STAR qualified windows. An even more impressive figure is that if every residential home window in the United States were replaced with an ENERGY STAR qualified window, our country would save $134 billion in energy costs over the next 15 years.

“ENERGY STAR qualified replacement windows make sense for homeowners in every geographic region of the country,” says Zeman. “Selecting vinyl-framed windows, like those from Simonton Windows, can also help reduce energy bills because the windows feature multi-chambered construction and fusion-welded corners that prevent air and water infiltration.”

In addition to saving homeowners on energy costs while residing in their homes, energy-efficient replacement windows also add to the resale value of a home. “Over the past few years homebuyers have become extraordinarily savvy when it comes to house energy efficiencies and are seeking out properties with energy efficient windows,” says Jason Bishop, a realtor with Celia Dunn Sotheby’s International Realty. “When you consider that almost half of the average home is glass --- and that the glass is in constant contact with the elements --- it’s critical to have a home with energy efficient windows.

“These days homebuyers want to know about the age, energy efficiency and construction of the windows as much as they do the same vital details about the roof and the heating system. Homeowners with a positive energy story to tell about their windows are better positioned for a sale in a difficult market.”

Experts at Simonton Windows recommend purchasing replacement windows with Low-E coatings and energy-efficient glass packages. By inserting harmless gasses, such as Argon and Krypton, between panes of glass during the manufacturing process, a window can help reduce the transfer of hot and cold, saving homeowners on increasing energy bills.

“The other thing that makes vinyl windows so appealing in today’s marketplace is that they contribute to an environmentally friendly home,” says Bishop. “Vinyl windows require no finishing and are virtually maintenance-free. They don’t release significant pollutants into a structure, so they help create a safe, healthy indoor environment. And, of course, they help reduce the heating and cooling loads placed on the home.”

Simonton Windows produces ENERGY STAR qualified replacement and new construction windows and doors, including a line of impact-resistant products. The company was ranked #1 in quality in the 2007 Brand Use Study sponsored by Builder magazine and has won two consecutive Best In Class Awards for being ranked “Overall Top Rated Vinyl Window Brand” in unaided industry studies.

Founded in 1946, Simonton’s hallmark has been to deliver its made-to-order products in seven days. Part of consumer products company Fortune Brands, Inc. (NYSE: FO), Simonton has manufacturing facilities in Pennsboro, Harrisville and Ellenboro, W.Va.; Paris, Ill.; McAlester, Okla.; and Vacaville, Calif.  Simonton is a founding sponsor of The Weather Museum and a corporate partner of Homes for Our Troops. For information, call (800) SIMONTON or visit www.simonton.com. 

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