As a matter of fact, there are some fantastic financing options available these days. Gorell offers a wide variety of financing programs for home improvement projects. Many homeowners are taking advantage of some great low interest loans, some of which are locked for the term of the loan. Others are looking to enjoy the energy-efficiency benefits of their windows today, but want to defer payments for a few months or even up to a year!

When we hear about the construction or housing industry being down, it’s usually more in reference to new home construction. Unfortunately, the recovery of this segment of building may take a while. An article posted June 10 on Window & Door magazine’s web site predicts that it could take several years.

 

There are currently too many existing homes on the market, mortgage money remains tight, unemployment is close to double digits and many employed homeowners—unsure of their job future—are not thinking about investing in new homes now.

 

The home-improvement business, on the other hand, is expected to recover much sooner, as early as this year. Homeowners not planning to build new homes soon may be deciding to do something with their present homes to make them better and nicer places to live in.

 

A smart home-improvement idea is to replace windows. It’s a good decision, economically and otherwise. New windows add to a home’s value. Remodeling magazine reported in January that 77.2% (national average) of the cost of replacing windows is recouped when the home is sold. And that doesn’t factor in the big 2009-2010 federal energy tax credit of up to $1,500. (See http://www.gorell.com/pages/energy_tax_incentive_act.htm for more details on the tax credit.)

 

Premium-quality replacement windows also save homeowners money because of lower home heating and cooling bills. Window replacement also contributes to a cleaner environment and reduced dependency on foreign oil. 

When Gorell Windows and Doors was started 15 years ago, it was classified as a start up business or small business.  I was doing some research and found that 50% of small business fail within the first year.  After 10 years, only 29% of start up business are still around.  After 15 years of being in business, Gorell has certainly defied the odds.

Gorell continues to carve its own path in the industry.  When many window companies are laying off or cutting back on their product offerings, Gorell is actually in a hiring mode as well as expanding its breadth of product offering. 

Wayne Gorell, who has been in this busines for 40+ years, acknowledges the 15 year anniversary by saying this.  'According to industry publication sources, there are over 6000 window companies in the United States, of which, approximately 2000 go out of business every year, and about 2000 more start up every year.  Gorell has not only weathered different economic storms over the past 15 years, but we have continued to expand.'

Gorell continues to be innovative by introducing more product offerings than any other company in the industry.  Gorell recently kicked off a new glass package called Eco Master available exclusively on its 5100 series.  Gorell will also be making the Better Vue screen standard on all its products, July 1st.  In addition, over the past year, Gorell has introduced new energy efficient glass packages, an unlimited amount of exterior color options, and newly designed products.

Gorell has won the National Energy Star Partner of the Year a record six consecutive times and has been named the National Sustained Excellence Energy Star Partner a record four consecutive times.  In addition, Gorell was the first vinyl window company to have its products Green Seal certified.

After 15 years, Wayne Gorell says he isn't ready to rest.  He is continuing to make his mark on the industry by setting even higher standards and expectations for windows being manufactured across the United States.

On June 1, the U.S. Energy Tax Credit reverted to the original window and door criteria established in February as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.  In April, the government had announced that it would allow any ENERGY STAR qualified windows or exterior doors purchased between January 1 and May 31 of 2009 to be eligible for the $1,500 tax credit.  The main criteria now is that windows and doors must have a U-value (U-factor) of 0.30 or less and a Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) of 0.30 or less. Note: Not all ENERGY STAR qualified windows and doors meet these criteria.

So if you purchased ENERGY STAR qualified windows or doors between January 1 and May 31 of 2009 -- regardless of their U-value and SHGC ratings --  you are eligible for a tax credit up to $1,500. If you purchase them from June 1, 2009 to December 31, 2010, you are eligible for the same tax credit as long as they meet the 0.30/0.30 criteria. There are other criteria, by the way. See ENERGY STAR's web page www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_tax_credits for more details.

For windows and doors qualifying from January 1, 2009 to May 31, 2009, you can use (for tax purposes) the ENERGY STAR labels that came with them. You can also use applicable Manufacturer's Certification Statements for this period. 

From June 1 to December 31, 2010, you cannot use the ENERGY STAR labels for tax purposes; you can only use applicable Manufacturer’s Certification Statements from the manufacturer.

Gorell's statements for both time periods are available on its web site, http://www.gorell.com/pages/energy_tax_incentive_act.htm

I was reading some statistics the other day and saw that 22% of the energy expended in the United States is used by homes, costing American households $215 billion. Pretty astounding.

I think many Americans now realize the impact that building products like windows and doors can have on our economy—and their wallets. But it’s probably hard for consumers to determine what truly makes a product “green” or “energy efficient.” What manufacturer doesn’t say their products are “green?”

When measuring how green windows and doors really are, there are several factors that need to be considered, including the energy efficiency and sustainability/lifespan of the product, how environmentally friendly the manufacturing processes used to produce the product are, and what overall impact the product has on the environment (i.e is the material recylcable or reusable?).

There are many reputable green organizations out there to help homeowners make the right buying choices if they’re concerned about being green. I’m listing a few web sites here that can be especially helpful in finding out whether a product is truly “green.”

www.greenseal.org

www.energystar.gov

www.greenbuildingpages.com

www.efficienctwindows.org

 Why Would You Laminate Glass 

Why would you laminate glass?  What is laminated glass?  What does it do?

When you hear the word laminate, you don't immediately gravitate towards glass, maybe paper or an ID card, but glass?

Laminated glass describes a polyvinyl butyral interlayer (PVB) that is sandwiched between two pieces of glass.  If some sort of projectile hits laminated glass, it can break, but the broken glass makes a spider web pattern, and actually stays in tact.  A common type of laminated glass most of us come in contact with everyday is an automobile windshield.

But why would you put laminated glass in a window?  There are many reasons to do this; one of the major reasons is security.  Depending on the thickness* of the PVB interlayer, it is very difficult to break through laminated glass.  In fact, it can take 30 hits with a baseball bat to puncture a hole in some types of laminated glass including Gorell's Armor Glass Plus, Armor Max Plus, and Armor Impact Plus.

Another great benefit of laminated glass, is the safety factor.  As we have mentioned already, when this unique glass breaks, it forms a spider web pattern, but stays 'in tact.'  This type of glass is also used in hurricane/impact windows.  Laminated glass is able to withstand multiple projectile hits, just like a hurricane would produce. 

It also has great ultra violet and solar protection.  This means anything behind a laminated glass window has extra protection against fading, things like drapes, carpets, paintings, and furniture.  As a testament to its fade protection, our most treasured document, the Declaration of Independence is behind laminated glass.

Also, with this special glass, you also have a more effective sound transmission class.  This essentially means, the outside noise you would normally hear with an ordinary window is dramatically reduced with laminated glass.

Finally, if the laminated glass is coupled together with some sort of high performance glass such as Gorell's, Armor Glass line of products, you also gain great energy efficiency/savings.

 

*There are various thicknesses of the PVB interlayer, the minimum thickness recommended by this author is .060 or greater.  Anything less, such as a .030 will not offer the same type of benefits described above.

What makes a window move up and down?  How come some of the older windows need to be propped up with a cut off broom stick?  Why are some windows easy to open up and difficult to close?

These are some of the questions you might ask when you are selecting new replacement windows for your home.  The answer to the above questions is balances.  What is a balance or for the purpose of our discussion, specifically what is a window balance?

A window balance is located inside the window, and its primary function is to operate the sash of the window up and down.  There are different types of window balance systems available, I am going to discuss three, block and tackle, spiral, and constant force.

The block and tackle balance system has been around for years.  Many 'old line' window companies started using these decades ago.  The concept is a rope and pulley system, even the 'new versions' operate under the same premise, rope and pulley.  By operating on a type of rope and with having several moving parts, this type of balance is susceptible to breaking down over time.  Also, the tendency for this type of balance is to work easy going up or going down.  But it just doesn't have the easy of operations in both directions.

The spiral balance was introduced to replace the older designs of the block and tackle design.  This balance has a tendency to break down over time even more quickly than the block and tackle.  It needs to be lubricated with grease, and as the window remains closed, the spiral balance is open and unprotected from the environment.  This means dust, dirt, pollen, etc. sticks to the grease of the balance.  When the window is operated, all the elements of the environment act as drag on the balance.  This makes the window extremely difficult to operate in both directions.  If all this wasn't enough, the spiral balancer has different colored tips based on the weight of the sash.  So if a balance goes bad, you need to color match the tips otherwise the window will not operate properly.

There has been a newer type of balance introduced to the market, and it is called constant force balance.  This balance has very few moving parts.  It is self lubricating and many of the constant force balances are Teflon coated.  This makes operating the sash easy both up and down - most of the time, you can operate a constant force balance window with one finger. 

Another great benefit is it doesn't matter how heavy or light the sash is, the balance keeps the force of opening the window or closing the window 'constant.'  So, in this world of green and energy efficiency, you can have a triple glass window, and not have to worry about how difficult it would typically be to operate.  The triple glass gives you great energy efficiency thereby making it more of a green or environmentally friendly product.  And the constant force balance system gives you easy operation. 

Guess which balance system is in my house!

The tax credit for several home improvements including windows was part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 implemented back in late February. In the window industry, this act caused lots of confusion as requirements for windows qualifying for the tax credit, were vastly different than qualifying a window for Energy Star.

The Energy Star criteria has been the benchmark in the industry for many years. It seemed that the right arm didn't know what the left arm was doing in this case. You would have thought the different branches within the government would have consulted each other, in this case, the lawmakers and the Dept. of Energy. Unfortunately, this didn't happen, and there was a lot of confusion that arose.

Here is the challenge that came up, in order for windows to qualify for the tax credit, the windows needed to achieve an overall u-value of a .30 or less, and achieve a solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) of a .30 or less. The numbers are not particularly unfair to window manufacturers, but they are a bit unfair to homeowners.

For example, a person living in the north, would want the SHGC to be higher (have less performance). The reason for this is in the winter, homeowners want more of the sun's rays to come in and heat the house. This results in using the home's heating unit less.

In southern climates a SHGC of a .30 or less makes sense because homeowners in these climates, want to keep the sun's rays from heating the house up for the majority of year, thus relying less on their air conditioning units.

And what if you purchased windows earlier in 2009 before the tax credit was announced, or if you had windows in process when the announcement was made, that were Energy Star qualifed, but didn't fit the .30/.30 criteria?

Well the IRS has just announced that Energy Star qualified windows purchased through June 1st, 2009, would also qualify for the tax credit. On June 1st, the IRS will release another statement clarifying their position, but it is almost certain that the .30/.30 qualification will be back in full effect.

Many window manufactures didn't have windows that could get to the .30/.30 qualification, and many still don't. From a homeowner perspective, if we are in the market to improve our homes, we are going to look at the tax credit qualified windows first. T

his has resulted in many window manufacturers to implement new glass packages, new window packages, and more R&D to make this happen sooner rather than later. Initially, this could result in higher costs to homeowners, but in the long run, in my opinion, it will result in better performing windows using less energy. This will reduce the use of natural resources whether domestic or foreign - and it will help us become a greener nation.

The use of inert gases (argon and krypton) is something most homeowners find confusing as they're trying to learn about windows. I'll try to briefly explain a little about these gases and why they are used. First of all, both are completely safe. In fact, each one is present naturally in the atmosphere. Argon actually makes up about 1 percent of the atmosphere; krypton is there in trace amounts. 

The reason some window manufacturers insert an inert gas into the air space of double-pane windows (or into the two air spaces of triple-pane windows) is to make the window more energy efficient.  In windows with just air between the panes, heat causes currents (or movement) of the air and allows for conduction of heat and cold.

Argon and krypton, on the other hand, are denser than air.  When they are used between the glass panes of a window, the currents are much slower, as is the conduction of heat and cold. This helps to keep heat from being conducted from the inside glass of the window to the outside glass in cold weather. In warm weather, conductivity of outside heat is slowed to help prevent it from reaching the inside pane. This keeps your home cooler in warm weather.

At Gorell, we use argon or krypton (and sometimes a unique blend of the two) in all of our windows that are made with Low-E glass. The combination of Low-E-coated glass and an inert gas between the panes is very effective for manufacturing windows that make homes more comfortable and energy efficient.  It also helps qualify Gorell windows for the ENERGY STAR label, ensuring less home energy consumption. Depending on the price of energy, that usually means lower energy bills!

The Energy Tax Credit There has been a lot of discussion surrounding the new tax credit available for homeowners that replace their windows and doors with more energy efficient products. The exact wording of the language written in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is a bit confusing.

However, let me highlight the points of this tax credit for you by going through a summary from Energy Star’s website, www.energystar.gov. To qualify for the tax credit, windows, doors and skylights placed in service after February 17, 2009 must have a U-Factor and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient equal to or less than a .30. You can find the U-Factor and SHGC performance numbers on the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC website) www.nfrc.org.

Qualifying products purchased between February 17, 2009 and December 31, 2010 are eligible for a tax credit equal to 30% of the product cost. The maximum amount of homeowner credit for all improvements combined (including roofing, insulation, HVAC, water heaters, windows, and doors) is $1500 during the years of 2009 and 2010. So to summarize, windows and doors with a u value and SHGC equal to or lower than a .30 will qualify for the 2009 and 2010 tax credits.

Let me provide you with a couple of examples. If you ordered windows and the total cost without installation was $5000, you would qualify for a $1500 tax credit, the maximum allowable. As 30% of $5000 is $1500. A different example would be if you purchased $3000 worth of windows, your total tax credit here would be $900 or 30% of the cost of the windows.

As far as Gorell Windows and Doors, I am proud to say all of our best selling products with standard insulated glass, low-e and argon qualify for the tax credit. Ask a Gorell accredited dealer about specific details. Also, the US Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency, has again named Gorell the National Energy Star Partner of the Year for the sixth consecutive year as well as the Sustained Excellence Partner for the fourth consecutive year. Gorell is the only window and door manufacturer in the country that has earned these two awards this many times.

Finally, if you are looking for window and doors that not only provide superior energy efficiency but also are environmentally windows, Gorell Windows and Doors is also proud to be the only vinyl window company in the country to be Green Seal certified.

At Gorell, we are committed to providing you with the window and door technology of tomorrow – today!

If you’re interested in considering “green” products for your home or personal use, you’re probably finding that it’s a little confusing out there. There are many organizations looking to position themselves as the ones with the authority to determine what’s green. When it comes to windows, which organizations should YOU look to if you want to purchase Green products? An excellent and broad-based organization that certifies products as Green is Green Seal.

Green Seal may not be a household name, but it is a national, independent non-profit organization. It’s also been around for close to 20 years, and Green Seal is highly respected by experts in the environmental field. Here’s what Green Seal says about its organization: Green Seal provides science-based environmental certification standards that are credible, transparent, and essential in an increasingly educated and competitive marketplace. The organization’s industry knowledge and standards help manufacturers, purchasers, and end users alike make responsible choices that positively impact business behavior and improve quality of life.

For a product to earn Green Seal certification, it really does mean something. Green Seal uses stringent standards to ensure that certified products have attained high levels of performance and quality. The organization is all encompassing. It evaluates products in terms of material extraction, manufacturing processes, usage recycling and disposal. The Green Seal certification process is also comprehensive. Windows can be certified only after rigorous testing and evaluation. The process even includes on-site plant visits by independent examiners. For windows, criteria used for Green Seal certification includes window performance ratings pertaining to U-values and Solar Heat Gain. Green Seal also looks at the manufacturer’s product packaging and labeling, as well as its manufacturing and testing procedures.

For a window to receive the GreenSeal, it must do the following: • Save energy compared to traditional windows. • Have a lesser adverse impact on the environment, and • Be manufactured using quality control practices. At a time when so many companies claim that they and their products are “green,” the Green Seal program stands out as an excellent program for separating true green products from those that have merely jumped on the bandwagon. So if you want “green,” energy-efficient windows for your home, look for the Green Seal certification. It’s an excellent measure of how environmentally preferable a product truly is.

In fact, Green Seal was recently recognized on NBC’s Today Show in a segment addressing “green washing” and how to determine if products are truly better for the environment. To learn more about Green Seal and its certification program, visit www.greenseal.org and look for windows that have earned Green Seal Certification.

ENERGY STAR is a dynamic government/industry program designed to help individuals and businesses protect the environment through superior energy efficiency. The program helps consumers quickly and easily identify energy-efficient products that help save money and protect the environment.

Not all windows qualify for the ENERGY STAR label. They must first be tested by an independent laboratory to meet stringent criteria pertaining to energy efficiency and light transmittance. The ratings they achieve differ because of variables such as the glass used, style, and product design and construction.

The insulating properties of the entire window determine whether or not a window can be ENERGY STAR labeled. Windows with clear single-pane glass can’t achieve the ratings necessary to qualify for ENERGY STAR labeling. High-performance glass systems, which consist of double- or triple-insulating glass, low-emissivity (Low-E) coatings and an inert gas between the glass panes, are typically necessary for windows to comply with ENERGY STAR requirements.

ENERGY STAR labeled windows help reduce energy costs, increase a home’s comfort, and protect against UV damage. These products are also better for the environment—because they reduce fossil fuel burning and green house gas emissions—and for the country because they reduce the America’s dependency on foreign oil.

R-values, whole-product U-values and center-of-glass U-values can be confusing for both professionals and homeowners. It’s important to recognize that, when selecting windows and doors, the only performance criterion that should be considered is whole-product U-value.

Whole-product U-values are an indication of the performance of the product’s glass and its other components and characteristics. The thermal properties of the frame, spacer system, weather stripping and even grids, if the product has them, all have a bearing on the product’s whole-unit U-value. Whole-product U-values are the only form of measurement recognized and accepted by the ENERGY STAR program for determining whether products qualify for the ENERGY STAR label.

To arrive at a whole-product U-value, a particular model—in a specified, pre-determined size—is tested by an independent testing laboratory, and measurements are acquired from as many as 20 different locations on the product. In addition to the center of the glass, other locations include various points on the glass and around the sash and master frame.

A related—and often confusing—form of measurement is center-of-glass U-value. This measurement always appears better (i.e., a lower number) than whole-product U-values, because it’s based solely on the most thermally efficient section of the product—ONLY one spot on the glass. The U-value will be the same for that glass, regardless of the type of product the glass is in or what size that product is. It is NOT a measurement of the rest of the product, and does not reflect the thermal efficiency of the frame, spacer system and other components—only a small portion of the glass.

Another, older form of measuring a product’s thermal efficiency is R-value. R-values became well known when insulation manufacturers used them in advertising their products. Basically, R-value is the measure of the resistance of heat flow. R-values are an appropriate form of measurement for products like roof and wall insulation—but not fenestration products. R-values are typically shown as center-of-glass measurements, so they can be misleading as well.