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Live The Geen Life

This year’s big home improvement trend is not the hottest paint color or the newest countertop surface.
With a stagnant economy American homeowners may not be in a buy/sell mode, but rather a remodel and stay put mentality, tackling projects that will add efficiency and value to their home, verses aesthetics. In many areas, that translates into greater energy efficiency and living “green”.
But what is living green? It seems that every isle you turn to in home improvement centers has energy efficient, green materials as options, from flooring to light bulbs, to heating and cooling. Even the bag you use to carry it home in can be green.
In a budget tightening economy, the first area to consider: windows and doors.
In a recent national study, by Kelton Research, 65% of American homeowners believe that energy efficiency is the most important quality to consider when choosing new windows and doors. According to the study, over 51% of Americans said that of anything in their home, windows and doors offer the most potential when it comes to improving energy efficiency, more than other products such as lights (48%) and heating systems (43%).
When it comes to remodeling, the virtues of green are winning  out over aesthetics. In today’s economy Americans are looking for home improvements to add value to their homes and monthly savings to their pockets. In fact, 44% of homeowners surveyed said that window and door replacement would be more important than a variety of other home improvements like carpeting, landscaping, or building a new deck.
When deciding on when to replace your windows or doors consider these signs as indicators that old windows need an upgrade. Poor performance- opening and closing is difficult; air leaks in, out, or around the window; condensation or fogging occurs between glass panes; windows are painted or nailed shut and virtually impossible to open. Looks- chipping, deterioration or water stains on the window or the area around the window (inside or out). Effort- cleaning is a major hassle; replacement parts are hard to find or even discontinued. E-factor- maybe your builder did not give you an upgrade to low e factor windows and your floor is discolored from too much sun.
And finally, don’t get suckered by the $189.00 a window advertising. Remember, you get what you pay for. If you listen to him you will get the lowest grade window available, no E factor, no trim or caulk, just a window jammed in there, (Hope it’s level!)
For a professional install, including all trim work, caulks and finishes, you should expect to pay around $300.00 installation per window. Doors vary depending on size.