The “Light It Up Blue” campaign for Autism Awareness starts Friday, April 1, and runs through Saturday, which is the fourth United Nations Autism Awareness Day. An organization called Autism Speaks is driving this initiative, “Light It Up Blue,” as a way to raise awareness about autism and be part of a worldwide movement to show support for the autism community.

The organization is asking individuals, businesses, schools and other organizations to show their support, which can be accomplished in numerous ways. Use blue light bulbs to light up homes and buildings, wear blue clothing, and take the pledge to “Light It Up” for autism. Taking the pledge, which involves telling others about this campaign, can be done on an Autism Speaks’ web site, http://www.lightitupblue.org

I’ve had the privilege of knowing an autistic child, cared for and taught from the age of three by my occupational therapist wife for many years. It has been so exciting to see this child learn – Learn to communicate and do so many other things most said she would never be able to do. Now she can communicate by signing, often understand what is being said, dress herself, play games and participate in many activities.

This initiative is such a worthwhile cause to spread the word about caring for and helping autistic citizens. At Gorell Windows, we are planning as much possible in a short time span. From changing our web site home page to promote awareness of Light It Up Blue to collecting from our employees to provide financial support to organizations dedicated to helping autistic individuals. We encourage everyone to promote this cause. To help, visit http://www.lightitupblue.org , read about the effort and take the pledge! While you’re there, take a look at some of the amazing photos of how the world will be lit up in blue!

Ever notice that there are practically no window manufacturers that do NOT say their products are “quality” products. Yet, we all know -- many of us from real, personal experience -- that not all windows that supposedly are quality products actually are.

So, how does the consumer know which window products are truly quality products. And, what exactly IS quality. Whose definition of quality should be used? Maybe the manufacturer’s definition is that a quality window operates as it was designed for one year? Or that the exterior frame won’t fade in three years?

Let me throw out a few ideas about window “quality” here, and I welcome comments and discussion on these points. First of all, in terms of time, I believe quality products should provide “decades” of reliable service, not just a few years.

I also think “performance” is a valid measure of quality. In terms of windows, that means a window must offer excellent energy efficiency – again for decades, not just during the first year or two. A well-made window will have the integrity to maintain its original energy efficiency for decades.

Integrity in terms of all aspects of the window is critical. The frame and sash surfaces must hold up to constant use, cleaning and time! They shouldn’t mark or scratch easily, and they shouldn’t begin to fade within a year or two. Most homeowners don’t even realize that, like anything else, there are different grades of frame material. Not all vinyl is the same. A high-grade vinyl material is smooth and nonporous under the microscope. Dirt collects in the pores of poorly made vinyl and the frames and sashes begin to deteriorate and look dirty after a few short years.

Don’t forget the hardware. If latches, handles and locks break or become difficult to use, you are not looking at a window that was made with quality in mind.

You may already know that sometimes you can’t always tell a good quality window from a bad one when you’re looking at samples in a sales presentation or showroom. You can’t even always go by Consumer Reports, which rates only the windows of the largest manufacturers. Plus, although CR is a fine organization, it doesn’t actually test windows over time – and time is the real test of a window.

So how do you know if a window is a good one? With the vast amount of information available on-line, start your research on the internet. See what homeowners and even window and remodeling professionals are saying about manufacturers and the products they make. Ask others you know and trust – especially friends and family -- what their experiences have been with window they’ve purchased. Not only will you learn which products to consider, you’ll also learn which to avoid. You will also want to learn as much about windows in general as you possibly can. There are some very good manufacturer web sites – yes, gorell.com is one of them -- that provide a wealth of information about windows. The more you know, the better you’ll be in a position to make the right buying decision.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy has introduced a new program—the “Save Energy Now LEADER.” It is a public-private partnership with the goal of achieving significant energy savings and carbon reduction across the U.S. industrial sector. Participants in the Save Energy Now LEADER program must commit to reducing the company’s energy intensity—and associated carbon emissions—by at least 25 percent over the next 10 years. LEADERs must also agree to establish energy use and energy intensity baselines, and to develop energy management plans over the first 12 months of the program. Save Energy Now LEADERs will measure and report their energy intensity, energy use data and achievements annually to the DOE.

The industrial sector plays a major role in the health of the nation’s economy and environment. According to the DOE, manufacturing uses nearly a third of U.S. energy, contributes more to the U.S. economy than any other sector (12%) and employs 14 million workers. Boosting industrial energy efficiency is a means to significantly reduce future carbon emissions in the United States.

To date, 105 U.S. companies – including Gorell Windows & Doors -- have taken this sustainability pledge and become a Save Energy Now LEADER. For more information about this program, visit http://www.eere.energy.gov/industry/saveenergynow/

Doing some research on the security aspects of windows, I see that lots of manufacturers say their windows are superb for security purposes. You have to wonder how many of these claims are advertising fluff versus accurate statements that can be backed up. To say anything about a window being a strong product that's effective for security purposes, a manufacturer should have had the specific window tested to the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Specification F588-97, which measures forced-entry resistance.

Some windows are made specifically for security, using laminated glass like the glass in automotive windshields. Laminated glass may "crack" when struck with a sharp or heavy object, but a heavy-duty plastic interlayer sandwiched between the glass planes helps keep intruders or their burglar tools from actually getting through the glass.

Other types of glass are less resistant to intrusion. Many people think tempered glass is ideal for security purposes. It's actually a glass made for safety reasons—so it's pretty easy to get through, but it breaks into small pieces (not shards) that are less likely to injure someone. I experienced this personally just recently. I was carrying a small TV cabinet with glass panels from our house to our car and tripped on our driveway. The cabinet broke into lots of pieces and all the glass panels shattered. I instinctively extended my arms and hands as I fell, and my hands landed right on the glass. I got just a few very small cuts, but it would have been much worse had that glass not been tempered!

The name for standard or regular glass is "annealed." It typically breaks into dangerous, jagged “shards” when broken. There is actually some play in annealed glass as well. It will "bend" a little before breaking. I heard from a co-worker a week ago that an attempt was made by an intruder to break into her sister's home through the windows. The guy used his foot—wearing a steel-toed boot—to try to break the glass to get in. The glass didn't break, and his shoe prints on the glass even led to his arrest!

I was sure the glass in the windows—which are Gorell windows by the way—was laminated security glass, or possibly tempered. Remarkably, it was regular annealed glass. Not that annealed glass should ever be recommended for security purposes (laminated glass is, of course), but it does go to show you that a well-made, tough window that meets tests for strength can be somewhat effective at least keeping the bad guys out. One last thing—please don’t try this at home (i.e., putting your foot through a window to see how strong it is!).

I have been speaking with some new friends that completed a home energy audit. Because I am in a related energy efficient business, it was an easy ‘ice breaker’ topic for them to bring up.

I asked when they did their home energy audit. They explained that it had been about six or seven months prior. I was a little surprised that they had not taken any action with any of the items in the audit. In any event, we started discussing the things the audit recommended.

One of the easy audit recommendations was to caulk and reseal all the openings in their house. This could include the attic, around the garage, windows, doors, and even vents. This is a quick and simple thing to do, but when the energy audit company completed their analysis, there was no next step. As a result, they did nothing.

As I discussed with my new friends, you know all the things that need to be done to make your home more energy efficient, but you weren’t given any idea on what to do next. I gave them a few ideas. First, although caulking and resealing is an easy and inexpensive thing to do, it also needs to be done on an annual basis. Most people forget to maintain it. As a result, if this is the sole focus for making your home more energy efficient, it will be a losing proposition.

One item that does show up on the energy audit is windows and doors. And although there is more investment involved here, provided you select the right window, it should be more of a permanent solution. And many times, if you ask the energy audit company who they would recommend to do the work, they will not only give you the name of a trusted home improvement company, they have probably negotiated discounts for you as well.

So, if you are getting ready to do that energy audit, be prepared to do a few things. See if the energy audit company has qualified and pre-screened home improvement companies you can work with to implement parts of the energy audit. Also, in your mind, establish an ‘energy efficient’ budget for your home. This allows you to make some decisions on what parts of the energy audit you want to tackle first. And it will also help you follow through on your plan to make your home more energy efficient.

We are often asked, "how do I decide if it is time to consider replacing my windows?" I've put together a simple little quiz to help you think about the decision to replace windows now or later.

1. You feel drafts and chills when sitting near your windows. Yes _____ No_____

2. Your heating and cooling bills seem high already and keep rising each year. Yes _____ No_____

3. Your windows are hard or impossible to open for cleaning and ventilation. Yes _____ No_____

4. Your windows' glass is hard to clean to your satisfaction. Yes _____ No_____

5. Your windows need painting and/or puttying on a regular basis. Yes _____ No_____

6. When you touch the glass of your windows, it feels cold (or hot in the summer) to the touch. Yes _____ No_____

7. Your windows are more than 25 years old (which means they're unlikely to have Low-Emissivity Glass.) Yes _____ No_____

8. Your windows' framing material is showing signs of deterioration, rotting, veining, swelling, degrading or paint peeling. Yes _____ No_____

9. Your windows' unsightly appearance are reducing the value of your home. Yes _____ No_____

10. You would like to change the look of your home without doing major renovations. Yes _____ No_____

If you answered "yes" to 3 or more of these questions, you should seriously consider investigating new vinyl-framed replacement windows. They can solve all of the problems addressed by the ten questions above, saving you significant energy while allowing you to easily ventilate your home and clean your windows easily from inside your home. They can change the appearance and ambiance of your home and add value to it. And best of all, they can basically pay for themselves over the years -- from the savings you'll enjoy by reducing your energy bills.

I recently read an interesting article from Forbes magazine—“Ten Best Home Renovations for the Money.” (There’s also a “Ten Worst” list for those who are interested.) The article used Remodeling Magazine’s annual Cost vs. Value Report to gauge just how much of their investment homeowners can recoup on various home improvements.

As you might expect, most renovation projects will not “pay for themselves”—meaning that homeowners generally will not recoup all of the money they spend on home improvements if they later sell their home. Some projects are just “plain dollar drains,” according to the article, and shouldn’t be undertaken for the sole purpose of increasing a home’s value.

The article recommends that homeowners who are going to shell out money on improvements should focus on the home's exterior because it offers more decent returns on investment. For instance, both vinyl replacement windows and vinyl siding were shown to recoup 72% of their cost upon resale.

Any homeowners who ars considering a home-improvement project might want to check out this best/worst list before jumping into a renovation—to ensure they’re undertaking renovations like windows or siding that provide amuch better value. The article is available at http://tinyurl.com/4rw95qd

Until consumers start researching windows when planning to replace their old ones, most aren’t aware of the possibilities of buying windows with “gas” between the panes. Yet gas-filled windows have more or less been the rage over the last several years. So, it’s not unusual to hear homeowners ask WHY do we want gas-filled windows?

Here’s basically what happened. Back in the 1970s and 80s, the window industry raced to see how wide a gap it could make between the panes of glass to improve the thermal efficiency of windows. Company A had ¼” thick glass, then company B developed 3/8” thick glass, so company A in turn released ½” thick glass… and the race was on.

All of these glass systems were produced with “dead” air space; just air that didn’t move. Then the labs began to notice an interesting side effect. Once the air space reached wider than roughly ½”, the air inside it began to move. It was no longer the “dead air” space that was required to improve a window’s thermal performance. In fact, the air movement inside these larger spaces actually began to draw heat out of the home rather than keeping it in! Companies found themselves asking, “What now?”

During those times, to achieve the best performance, sheet glass companies were also rushing to develop glass with very thin, practically invisible metallic coatings because the coatings worked well to reflect heat energy. This new coated glass was more expensive, but also pretty much worthless because the larger air gaps simply counteracted the thermal benefits of the coatings.

Long story short, industry professionals eventually realized that filling the air spaces with a gas heavier than air would stop the movement inside between the panes—and work better with the new glass coatings to greatly improve the thermal performance of double-pane and triple-glass windows.

There are three gas elements that are heavier than air and completely safe—and all naturally existent in the air we breathe. They are Argon, Krypton and SF6. Argon is the most common and abundant of the three. It’s also the easiest to extract, so it’s the least expensive. Krypton is more expensive than argon, but still a pretty affordable choice. SF6, however, is the least available gas of the three and thus is not a viable option.

Now window manufacturers have excellent solutions for homeowners—new Low-E-coated glass panes, combined with inert gases that are heavier than air and result in highly effective double- or triple-insulating glass systems. Windows now can achieve center-of-glass R-values in the range of 10—levels that were unheard of some years ago.