Friday, December 11, 2009
by Chris.Zorzy
Don’t look now, but energy prices are on the rise again. While we sincerely hope that the cost of heating oil and natural gas do not approach the record high levels we experienced last year, there’s just no telling how much we will be paying to heat our homes next winter.
Which makes it more important than ever to do all that we can to make our homes more energy efficient. If we can reduce your energy use by 40% while fuel prices rise 40%, we can at least stay even!
The problem many homeowners face is not knowing where to start. Should we add insulation to the attic? The walls? Replace drafty windows? Buy new doors? All of these projects will improve a home’s efficiency. But who can afford to tackle them all at once? We need to prioritize which home improvement will provide the best return on investment — the “biggest bang for our buck.”
Now there is a way to find out which home weatherization project is the best for any given home. A professional “Home Energy Audit” provides a thorough examination of a home that reveals where energy loss is occurring, and at what level.
Here at A&A Services, our Home Energy Audits are remarkably comprehensive, and include such sophisticated procedures as a “door blower test” in which we overpressurize the interior of a home in order to unmask hidden “leak points.”
Another test we run is an infrared scan that shows “hot spots” where energy is escaping, even if it is through solid walls!
The result of our Home Energy Audit is a written report that shows where a home is well insulated, and where corrective action needs to be taken. Decisions can then be made on how to proceed in order to make the changes necessary to reduce energy loss, and cut energy bills.
Our Home Energy Audit normally costs $499, but we are currently offering the service at a reduced rate of $299. (If you decide to go ahead with an energy saving project with us, the cost of the Home Energy Audit will be deducted from the project price.)
If you are interested in having A&A Services conduct a Home Energy Audit on your home,
please call (866) 453-5223 or Email us
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Tuesday, December 01, 2009
by Chris.Zorzy
During the lengthy economic downturn we have been experiencing, almost every home in America has lost part of its value. The real estate market, which ultimately determines home values, has been unable to support the high home prices that we once took for granted.
But every cloud has a silver lining. If you purchased your home 10 or more years ago, its value is almost certainly much higher than your purchase price. In addition, with a decade or more of mortgage payments behind you, the equity you have built up is likely to be significant.
Now signs are pointing to a rebound in the real estate market, with lower mortgage costs and reduced home prices making it attractive for first time buyers and those seeking to move up. This will help to drive up home values across the board. Will you be ready?
The homes whose value will make the strongest return are those that have been well maintained — even improved — by their owners. If you have ignored important maintenance issues like roofing, siding, windows, landscaping, etc., your home’s market value will reflect it. The “bounce” you may expect to see with the recovery of the real estate market will not be as high as you hope.
Even if you are not planning on selling your home, maximizing its value is still important. Your home is still your biggest investment, and you want the equity you have to be as large as possible. If your property value lags behind because of the condition of your home, your equity will also fall short and your investment will be worth less.
All of this makes now the perfect time to “catch up” on home maintenance issues, before the market rebound pushes prices higher. Add in the 30% energy tax credit that the federal government is offering and it makes terrific economic sense to upgrade certain aspects of your home (windows, doors, roofs, siding all fall into the energy tax credit basket).
If you need assistance in evaluating the condition of your home and deciding which projects make the most sense, call (866) 453-5223 or email us
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Sunday, November 01, 2009
by Chris.Zorzy
If you think the big stimulus package (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) passed by Congress is only for banks, we have some surprising news for you. There are provisions in the bill that offers some strong incentives for homeowners to make energy-efficient upgrades to their homes.
The incentives come in the form of tax credits that can be taken for making changes that make your home more energy efficient. The list of qualifying home improvements is limited, and the products you install in or on your home must meet certain standards.
But the reward is fairly significant. For example, if you replace your existing windows with replacement windows that carry a “U-Factor” ( a measure of thermal efficiency) of 0.30 or better, you can take a tax credit of 30% of the cost, up to a maximum of $1,500.
Similar tax credits are available for exterior doors, roofing and insulation products. You can take the tax credits on home improvements made in 2009 or 2010.
Savings On Top of Savings
The tax credits are intended to make it easier for homeowners to make their homes more energy efficient. By offering savings (in the form of tax credits) up front, the government is actually “doubling up” on the overall savings you’ll realize.
How is that? Making your home more energy efficient has ALWAYS been a great way to reduce your home heating and cooling costs. Simply replacing drafty old windows with thermally efficient new windows has been proven to cut home heating costs by 40%.
So the savings you get from the tax credits are really just the start. You’ll continue to save on your monthly energy bills year after year.
Products Must Qualify
Not all home improvement products or projects will qualify for the energy tax credits. The windows, doors, roofing and insulation you install must meet strict standards for energy efficiency.
The good news is that A&A Services installs replacement windows, doors and roofing that meet these government standards. And when you combine our value-driven pricing and superior service with significant tax savings, you come out way ahead!
For additional information about the energy tax credit please contact us by calling toll-free (866) 453-5223 Or Email us.
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Thursday, October 01, 2009
by Chris.Zorzy
The 30% Energy Tax Credit that was included in the recently enacted stimulus bill is a boon to homeowners who want to save money by reducing their energy consumption. The Energy Tax Credit is like have a “30% Off Sale” on home improvement projects that can immediately start reducing your monthly expenses.
But — and this is a big “but” — not all home improvement projects or products qualify for the 30% Energy Tax Credit. The federal government wants to be sure it rewards only those projects that will have a significant impact on energy consumption.
Here are the three most common (and effective) energy saving home improvements, and the qualifying standards for each:
Exterior Windows
- U factor of 0.30 or lower
- Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) 0.30 or lower
- Not all ENERGY STAR labeled windows and skylights qualify for tax credit.
Exterior Doors
- U factor of 0.30 or lower
- Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) 0.30 or lower
- Not all ENERGY STAR doors will qualify.
Attic Insulation
- Must meet 2009 IECC & Amendments
- Must be expected to last 5 years OR have a 2 year warranty.
- Primary purpose must be to insulate
The federal government has set the bar pretty high with these standards. The good news is that, if you make these upgrades to your home, you are going to immediately reduce your energy costs significantly, and you will continue to see such savings year after year.
Here at A&A Services, ALL of our replacement windows and doors, along with our eShield attic insulation system, meet the standards for energy efficiency required for the 30% Energy Tax Credit. We also have all the forms and documentation you’ll need to claim your tax credit.
If you want to start paying 40% less to heat and cool your home, and you want to save 30% (up to $1,500) to do it, now is the time to take advantage of this government tax break.
Call A&A Services toll-free at (866) 453-5223 for additional information.
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