More than 25 years ago, the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC)—and McGruff the Crime Dog—designated October Crime Prevention Month. The month-long commemoration reflects the adage that prevention pays off. NCPC strongly believes that everyone can do something to prevent crime, from helping police identify crime problems to starting a Neighborhood Watch program or taking commonsense steps to protect their homes and property.

Crime Prevention month is a good time to evaluate the safety and security of our homes and our families—something that everyone can do to help prevent crime. We’ve all worried about the security of our homes at one time or another…Could an intruder possibly get in? Would your family ever be a victim of burglary or home invasion?

The truth is that most burglars get into homes the same way anyone does—through windows or doors. So taking several commonsense precautions can help keep our homes, and families, safer. For instance, keep windows and doors locked at all times. Don’t have shrubs in front of windows and doors, as they can shield would-be intruders.

Some people may need to take more drastic steps as well. If windows and doors are old, don’t operate or lock properly, or are easy to bypass even when they are locked, maybe it’s time to replace those windows and doors with newer, more secure models. Perhaps even consider laminated glass products that make it virtually impossible for anyone to get through.

For more window and doors security tips, visit http://www.gorell.com/pages/gorell_mcgruff.htm.

With all of the political rhetoric that fills the newspapers and the television, has it made you afraid to spend money? With the housing market still experiencing ups and downs, has it made you throw up your hands and say it just isn’t worth putting another dime into the house? It doesn’t matter what political affiliation you are, all the government arguing - whether it be on the national level or even the state level - makes it difficult to spend money on anything, from true retail goods to improving your home.

I have talked to countless individuals about the economic ups and downs. Everyone is longing for the good times to come again. It seems that ‘bad times’ have lasted a lot longer than the ‘good times.’ I am not sure if this feeling is factual or not. But here is what I am sure of, if we sit on our hands and do nothing, it can be compared to not making a decision at all. And that is the worst thing we can possibly do.

I understand and appreciate that everyone’s situation is different. But if you have the economic means, now is the time to spend. And the best bang for your buck individually and economically is spending in the building products industry. This industry has so many small businesses that employ so many people. The building products industry is truly the backbone of the U.S. economy. There are still tax credits available with different building products and with business still soft, you aren’t going to get a better deal than you are today!

I’m biased towards vinyl replacement windows and doors. There are many great reasons to purchase energy efficient vinyl replacement windows, here are just a handful.

1. Energy efficient
2. Improve curb appeal
3. Can reduce outside noise
4. Make your home more secure and safe
5. Improve the value of your home
6. Certain tax credits still available through the end of the year

There are countless reasons to invest in energy efficient windows and doors. So, don’t let the politicians, the news, even the economy get you down. Do yourself some good and the economy some good, invest in your home and vinyl replacement windows!

Consumers still have a couple of months to qualify for tax credits for making their homes more energy efficient. Here is a quick recap of the 2011 tax credits available for windows, doors and insulation.

Consumers can qualify for a tax credit up to 10% of the cost of qualified replacement windows (new-construction products are not applicable), or a maximum of $200, or up to 10% or a maximum of $500 of the cost of qualified doors. This new tax credit applies to ENERGY STAR labeled windows and doors. Certain types of insulation—such as Radiaflect reflective insulation products—also qualify for a tax credit of up to $500 or 10% of the cost of the project. Products must be installed between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2011 to qualify for tax credits.

There is one slight “catch” however. Consumers are limited to a lifetime maximum tax credit of $500 for any combination of tax credit qualifying products (windows, doors, insulation, HVAC, roofing, etc) from Jan 1, 2006, to Dec. 31, 2011. That means that consumers who have already reached or exceeded the $500 limit are not eligible to claim the credit in 2011. More information on the tax credits can be found at http://www.gorell.com/taxcredits/.

Consumers who are considering making their homes more energy efficient may want to move quickly to get their home improvements completed before the end of the year. After all, who is going to turn down several hundred dollars of “free money” – plus even more savings as a result of a more efficient home!

You've been thinking about finally replacing some or all of your home's windows for a couple of years now. It never seems to be the right time; the economy is collapsing, the economy is at the bottom, the economy is recovering really slowly, and now there's the question on the politics and the election coming up - there is always some reason to put it off. The only problem with that is you're throwing money out your windows by way of your heating and cooling bills. Your family is uncomfortable, hot and sweaty in the summer, and chilly and catching colds in the winter. Some say you're paying for new windows whether or not you get them.

Well the time is now. The economy in the building products and renovation industry is still in the bucket. Prices are low, professional window dealers and installers are hungry and want to give you a great product at a great price. Capacity is wide open, you can get top of the line, highly energy efficient vinyl replacement windows in weeks, not months, right now. Prices are as competitive as I've seen them in years, and the features and benefits available are unprecedented.

While the market is down like this, I'd suggest you look at really upgrading your window purchase. At least consider significant added protection along with great energy saving performance by adding Armor Glass Plus featuring Low Emissivity glass combined with laminated glass in one unit. Laminated glass is featured in windows designed for hurricane protection but they offer much more. Laminated glass protects your drapes and furnishings from fading better than any other alternative. Laminated glass makes your home secure from attempted break ins. That's not to say it is impenetrable, but you would have to find a very dedicated and persistent burglar to get through it, having watched some really burly guys smash it again and again with a baseball bat with no possibility of entrance. And laminated glass is what is used in windows designed for sound control, like they use around airports around the country.

So if you're finally going to investigate new windows, at least take a look at the Armor Glass Plus option. It isn't inexpensive, but it is a great value for what it offers you and your family. Remember a burglar alarm requires you first to turn it on (which most people seldom do) and to pay a monthly fee for monitoring. Then all it will tell you is that someone HAS ALREADY broken into your home. You heard me - someone is IN YOUR HOME!

But Armor Glass Plus has no monthly fee, it's protecting your family 24/7 and your home even when you're away, and it keeps those intruders outside your home. All the while offering all those other benefits. Is there really a price you can put on your family's safety and comfort?

Well, it seems as if the Fall season is blowing in fast…in my area, we went from 95 degrees to first-frost conditions in one just week. With the change in seasons, many people begin thinking about doing a thorough pre-holiday housecleaning—you know, scrubbing walls, shampooing carpets, washing windows, and getting all those other “nooks and crannies.”

With so much cleaning to be done, it’d be nice to have one less item on your “to-do” list, right? If that’s your attitude, you might want to consider easy-cleaning glass in your windows and doors.

Notice I said “easy-cleaning”—not “self-cleaning,” because that’s not exactly true. No glass on the market will actually clean itself for you! But there are options—such as Gorell’s SolarShine—that will keep the glass in your windows and doors cleaner for longer.

So how does this glass work? Basically, it features a “built-in” transparent coating that’s super smooth so that most dirt doesn’t “hold on to” it. It even loosens and breaks down the dirt that does adhere to the glass. The coating uses two natural resources—the sun’s ultraviolet rays and water—to slowly decompose and loosen organic dirt, then rinse it away. Water “sheets” off SolarShine instead of beading, so there will be less spotting and streaking.

Windows and doors with SolarShine—or any similar product—are comparable to self-cleaning ovens. They’re a great help, but they are not magic. These products still require a little work from you. You will need to apply water to your windows occasionally, especially ones that are not exposed to regular rainfall. You basically just need to spray the windows or doors with water, from a hose or spray bottle, then wipe off any debris and let it dry.

Easy-cleaning glass definitely makes window cleaning quicker and easier…and anything that makes that Fall cleaning go a little faster is a good thing!

I saw a segment on Fox News last evening (yes, I listen to Fox News) on a new program sponsored by Darrel Issa, the House Majority Leader. It's called The American Job Creators - What's holding your business back? http://jobs.majorityleader.gov/

Mr. Issa explained that he and his committee are trying to gather information direct from American Business Owners as to what regulations are affecting their ability to grow and prosper in this very difficult economy. The concept is to go straight to the people who really do create jobs and ask them what would help them if it was taken out of the way of their growth.

I believe this is the first step in the right direction in Washington. The Government keeps saying they are going to do this or that, another stimulus or ten, to create more jobs. What most of them don't seem to get is that Government doesn't create jobs, and doesn't spend any money it hasn't taken forcibly (yes I meant forcibly - taxes are not optional) from the taxpayers.

The Government does not and cannot create jobs, only businesses create jobs. Maybe this new program where Mr. Issa can get the information straight from business owners on what he and his committee can do to help their specific business is a very big step in the right direction. I hope those of you that own small businesses that read this take the time and go to the website and fill out the form to tell them what the government is doing to you to hurt your business, I did.

Maybe if enough of us speak up we will get some much needed change in our Nation's Capital.

Jobs. The media is nonstop about what the government can do to improve the jobs picture. All the politicians trying to get a new job, to be the President of the United States are talking about their plans. The current administration is going to do a state of the union address on jobs. What none of them seem to understand is the government cannot help the job picture. The only thing they could do is just please get out of the way of small business. Stop scaring the consumer is the one thing that perhaps they could do.

To put the jobs issue into real perspective let's look at the whole picture. Unemployment is running at just under 9% in most areas, some a little better, some a little worse. Well what used to be considered FULL EMPLOYMENT is a 5% unemployment rate. Much under that and businesses have great difficulty in finding qualified workers to fill positions. For most of my business career of over 40 years, the unemployment rate ranged from about 5% to 7% if good economic times. So the issue is at most 4% of qualified workers who want and need a job. All of this talk and frightening rhetoric is about 4% or less of the work force. In my opinion, if the government stopped some of the new onerous regulations that have been promulgated over the last few years, and promised to stop writing any more for awhile, business would know what to expect and start looking at expansion. A 4% problem is not gigantic, it is fixable. Politicians and media please get out of our way.

So if you are thinking about improving your home's energy efficiency, comfort and value by adding new highly energy efficient vinyl replacement windows, do it. Do it now and stopped listening to all the talking heads. We are not in crisis, we are only hearing all this because that is what makes the news. It's your home, it's your family, take care of them both and all will be well. Seize the day, Carpe Diem!

Those of us with young kids, like myself, know that toddlers can get into trouble anywhere they go. They also have absolutely no concept of fear, or concern for their safety—which leaves us parents watching every move they make and executing many last-minute “saves.” So, when we find a product or a service that helps make our kids a little safer—and gives us one less thing to worry about—it’s pretty much a no-brainer, right?

There’s now a feature like this for replacement windows, called “Window Operating Control Devices” or WOCDs. Have you ever feared that your child may accidentally fall from a second- or third-story window in your home? Been amazed (and terrified!) by how easily your little one could open your windows? That’s what WOCDs help protect against—these tragic accidental falls.

Basically, a WOCD is a ventilation limit latch that is “always on,” which makes it less likely that a child could open a window on his or her own and accidentally fall out. They’re a bright red color and they always stick out—allowing the window to open only a few inches. They must actually be operated to open the sash more than four inches—unlike standard vent latches, which can be toggled on or off. Overall, WOCDs are pretty effective, and they’re a lot prettier than installing bars on your windows to keep your kids in!

So if you’re a parent of a young child, WOCDs might be something to consider for your home—just one more little way you can gain some extra peace of mind (and maybe a whole minute to yourself!).