I have been in this business for 25 years, and I have never seen a government program that offered this much money toward windows and doors replacements! Virginia’s Energy Efficiency Rebate Program offers homeowners an exceptional opportunity to make energy-efficient home improvements extremely affordable.

Just take a look at these figures: the State rebate amount pays 20% of the cost, up to $2,000 per household, on new replacement windows or doors–and that includes the cost of labor to install them. Plus, the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy is paying up to $250 for you to get an energy audit.

And don’t forget that $1500 federal tax credit we’ve all been talking about. So with the 20% from the State of VA and the 30% from the federal government, you can cover your replacement window costs to a total of $3500. That’s pretty good.

I’m on the energy conservation bandwagon too, so if you are interested in replacing your windows and/or doors or improving your energy efficiency with a new awning window, see what finance programs and end-of-year discounts we’re offering.

In order to be eligible for the Virginia Residential Energy Efficiency rebate, you must first register with the program. Start the process by reserving the funds for your window or door replacement project with the Division of Energy. Funds will be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis, so you have to act now, because you won’t want to miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime combination of savings.

I get asked this question very often, in one form or another. So when I came across it again online I tried to respond. Unfortunately the comments were closed, and that’s why I’m posting it now. Here is the rest of the question:

My house is 20 years old and most of the seals have broken and the windows are fogged. We are looking at replacement options and have found that vinyl is a lot less expensive than wood or composite. Our house is worth about $500k and we don’t want to hurt our resell since we will be moving within the next 3-5 years. Will vinyl windows hurt the resell value in a house in our price range?”

Yes, and no.

There are some high quality vinyl windows available today with energy efficient properties that would probably add to the value of your house versus repairing the current wood sashes. It depends on their condition.

But your house is only worth what people are willing to pay for it. I’m guessing that your 20-year-old house in an established neighborhood has a definite aesthetic appeal that inexpensive vinyl windows will not be able to accomplish. Vinyl frames are thicker than those of wood or composite materials like FIBREX. Plus rarely have I seen vinyl windows that actually match or complement the exterior finish of a house that isn’t white, gray or tan. They just won’t look right, and who wants to be the house people point to and say, “There goes the neighborhood!”

You may think vinyl windows are a good choice because of price, and because you’ll never get away from the ongoing, annual maintenance of painting wood windows and the moisture issues that go with them. But there are other options to consider that can be very economical—especially if you buy windows that will qualify you for the $1500 federal energy tax credit (1500 tax credit windows).

With the savings in monthly energy costs, ongoing maintenance expenses and the tax credits available today (check the Energy Star website and my tax credit posts), you stand a good chance to recover your entire replacement window investment in a few years, increase the resale value of your real estate, plus improve your monthly cash flow.

A good resource for resale values is the annual Cost vs. Value Report issued by Remodeling Magazine. Good luck with your project.

The energy tax credit, passed as part of the Stimulus package in February, raised the maximum claim to $1,500, but also raised the energy standards. The new “30/30” standards require all windows and doors to have a U-Value and SHGC of .30 or less.

This new standard exceeds current Energy Star ratings, which was the standard in 2007, and means that many Energy Star windows would not qualify. The IRS and other government agencies were also slow to update their information about the tax credit. Many homeowners bought windows they thought qualified, only to find out they weren’t going to get the credit.

The IRS’ Safe Harbor provision reinstates the old standards to qualify for the tax credit from Jan 1 to June 1 of 2009. If you purchased and installed any window or door that is Energy Star certified or has a Manufacturer’s Certificate validating it’s rating, you qualify for the full tax credit. That’s 30% of the cost of the product, up to $1,500.

This is great news for all those who thought they were going to get the credit, but found out their windows didn’t qualify. The new 30/30 standards will be enforced on June 2, 2009.

Do you think the IRS is doing the right thing? Let me know your thoughts.

And now you can get SmartSun glass on your Renewal by Andersen windows for free. Whether you replace just one window or the whole house, I’ll include SmartSun glass on all of them at no charge. And when you buy 9, I’ll give you the 10th window absolutely free. What’s more, I’ve got finance options that can bring your payments surprisingly low. In fact, the money you’ll save on your utility bills might just completely offset the monthly cost of your new windows.

I’m really excited to bring you this offer. Find out how to get your free upgrade to SmartSun glass right here, and let me know what you think.
http://www.mrrogerswindows.com/contact

What is SmartSun? This short video will tell you everything:

Usually SmartSun glass is a premium upgrade. Like any window out there, the energy-efficient technologies that qualify you for the tax credit are extra. But like I said in the title to today’s post, you can get it for free. Here’s how:

Just buy 9 windows. You get a 10th window free, plus you get the free upgrade to SmartSun glass on every window. AND you get a $50 off coupon. AND you have the option of $99 a month financing. I’m going all out to help you get new replacement windows that qualify for the $1,500 energy tax credit.

You can read more about the offer right here.

How the original tax credit and the new credit relate has caused a lot of confusion with homeowners—and even industry professionals. And since confusion leads to delays and frustration when homeowners are trying to make a decision on their home improvements, I decided to write this post to help answer a couple of your questions.

The original energy tax credit offered in 2006-2007 was worth 10% of the cost for replacement windows, up to $200. If you replaced both windows and doors, you could claim up to a one-time maximum credit of $500 for all products.

That tax credit expired on December 31, 2007. Although Congress and President Bush restored it for 2009, they didn’t go back and help out all the homeowners who made the smart decision to replace their windows in 2008. Bottom line: If you installed windows in 2008, you aren’t eligible for a tax credit.

Then, this February, President Obama and the new Congress passed a new energy tax credit as part of the Stimulus Plan. This credit is worth 30% of the cost of the product, up to $1,500. If you got the credit for replacement windows or doors in 2006-07, you’re still eligible for the entire $1,500.

I hope that clears up some confusion. Let me know what you think about the new energy efficiency tax credit for home improvements. Post your comment, and I’ll get back to you.

Back when the credit was first offered in 2006 and 2007, Energy Star certification was the only requirement. But window technology has improved in the few years Energy Star set their standards. The new tax credit raises the standards a full 25% above Energy Star. That means you can’t trust the Energy Star label on your window to get your $1,500.

By raising the standards, Congress and President Obama have actually done something smart. You’ve got a great incentive to replace your windows with new, energy-efficient ones that will start saving you money on energy bills. Plus, we can finally start reducing our energy consumption and become energy independent.

NFRC: The New Benchmark For Window Ratings

Energy Star plans to raise their requirements in 2010. For now, you can trust the National Fenestration Ratings Council (NFRC) to tell you which windows qualify. The NFRC is non-profit organization that scientifically tests each and every replacement window for energy performance.

If you’ve ever bought a window, you should have seen an NFRC label. That sticker tells you some very important information, including the U-Factor and the Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) of the windows. The standards for the tax credit are based on those two ratings.

Just find the NFRC sticker on any replacement window to check the U-Factor and SHGC for yourself.

A low U-Factor will stop heat loss, which keeps your home warm and cozy, and your energy bills low, in the winter. A low SHGC helps block the sun’s heat from your home so you can use your AC more efficiently and stay cooler for less money. For both U-Factor and SHGC, low values are better. You want a number closer to 0.

To qualify for the energy tax credit, your new windows must have a U-Factor and a SHGC of .30 or less. .31 on one and .29 on the other won’t cut it. Both have to meet the standards. Examine that NFRC sticker carefully, or verify the ratings yourself over at http://www.nfrc.org.

Let’s Start Saving Energy Now…Before It’s Too Late

The price of energy is only going up, and replacement windows aren’t getting any cheaper. The government is only offering this credit for two years. They want you to start saving energy NOW. The Department of Energy says that if every American home upgraded to the new standards, we would save the energy equivalent to what five coal power plants produce. That’s each year.

So let’s help out our country. You’ll also help yourself because you’ll stay more comfortable all year round and save money on your energy bills.

You can make the entire process easy by choosing Mr. Rogers Windows. You’ll find windows that qualify you for the tax credit in all your favorite styles.

Check back in a day or two. I’ll have some more information about the tax credit.

I made this quick video to answer some of the questions:

The energy-efficiency requirements for windows and doors are very specific, so make sure you understand how to claim your energy tax credit. And stay tuned, because I’ll be blogging more about this!