What It Means To Be An Energy Star Partner

You may have heard of Energy Star but are wondering what it really is about and what being an Energy Star partner means.

For starters, Energy Star is a program developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency or EPA as a way to identify as well as promote products and practices that are proven energy efficient.  Specifically, the Energy Star label or program was established to reduce pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions that are brought about by the inefficient energy use.  Energy Star products are therefore proven to help consumers save money on their energy bills while also protecting the environment, without them sacrificing comfort and performance.

Since Energy Star was developed, the government has partnered with industry members to support the program.  A partner’s tasks include promoting the program and expanding its scope to include not just major home appliances (like refrigerators, air conditioning units, heating/cooling systems) but also new homes and new buildings.  As such, home remodeling companies can be Energy Star partners, too.

For a home improvement company  to be an Energy Star partner, it has to provide home products that help home owners reduce energy costs.  Thanks to major advances in technology, we now have products like solar water heaters, radiant barrier reflective insulation, vinyl siding and vinyl replacement windows.

An attic radiant barrier insulation that is from an Energy Star partner, for instance, is guaranteed to make homes more energy-efficient and to solve the problem of skyrocketing heating and cooling bills.  Many homeowners, as you know, do not realize the importance of proper home or attic insulation  until a product like this allows them to see the significant changes in their homes and in their savings, too.

Home insulation products from an Energy Star partner apply state-of-the-art foil laminating technology that is guaranteed to save homeowners at least 25% on their heating and cooling costs.  These products give homes a longer life as they help prevent mildew, condensation, settling, and toxic molds.  What’s more, these advanced products are non-allergenic, fiber-free, and practically maintenance-free.

Consumers’ Choice Award: What It Means

Not many companies and brands can boast of being given the Consumers’ Choice Award.  It is a distinction given to a special few and only to those who have gained the trust of the public.  This award is something that dedicated businesses should strive hard to get.

But, what is this award about and what makes it a big deal?

For starters, the Consumers’ Choice Award is an annual program that honors businesses in the United States and Canada that provide consumers reliable and satisfactory service.  It is an award for excellence, and winners are chosen by no less than the consumers themselves.

Each year, the Consumers’ Choice Institute, which is the body behind the award, commissions a research group to conduct a survey among consumers in major North American cities.  Consumers will have to identify top establishments from approximately 100 categories of industries.

What the CCA Means to Us

Statewide Remodeling has won the 2011 Consumers’ Choice Award for Business Excellence.  This means that we are acknowledged by consumers as a leader among home remodeling companies and insulation contractors.

The award is a testament that we have delivered on our promise to provide homeowners top-notch products and services.  When it comes to home repairs, home insulation, and home remodeling projects, we use products that are of premium quality and warranted by experts in the industry.  Our team is composed of skilled and professionally trained craftsmen who understand how much you value your home and your family.

We are a home improvement company that takes pride not only in the amount of satisfaction we give homeowners for our home improvement and remodeling services, but also in our efforts to provide environment-friendly and energy-efficient products.  We aim to help families build safe and energy efficient homes, and in so doing, help them save energy costs and help them do their parts in saving Mother Earth as well.

Why Choose a Solar Water Heater?

Getting a solar water heater for your home may be one of the best decisions you’ll ever make.  It is an energy-saving alternative to the traditional electric or gas water heater.  But what makes it so?

The answer is simple.  A solar water heating system uses the energy from the sun to heat water for domestic use.  It then uses a conventional immersion heater or boiler to make water hotter or to keep it hot when the solar energy us not available.

Unknown to many, traditional hot or warm water uses around 7,000 kilowatt hours of electricity every year.  That means a great amount of carbon dioxide, too. It only makes sense to find ways to reduce your carbon footprint and then save on your energy costs by going for solar hot water.

Many homeowners opt for home and bathroom remodeling or improvements in an effort to go green and to lessen their energy consumption.  They make their homes environment-friendly and get to enjoy the money-saving benefits of installing energy-efficient products like radiant barrier insulation, vinyl replacement windows, and energy-efficient windows.

However, you can still do more to make your home more resistant to excessive and costly energy loss.  You can invest on solar energy products for your home.  These solar products include water heaters, window films, and carports.  Through solar panels made of conductive materials, these products can generate electricity simply by reacting to the electromagnetic energy that the sun’s rays give off.  Utilizing the renewable energy you get from the sun, you can stop relying heavily on environmentally damaging fossil fuels – like petroleum and coal.

Home remodeling companies like Statewide Remodeling can show you how to utilize the renewable energy you can get from the sun.  It’s never too late to start converting your home into a place that’s easier on Mother Nature and that’s not too costly to maintain.

Does Siding Affect Energy Efficiency?

The short answer to this question is yes.  In fact, one of the things you can do to effectively make your home energy efficient and to solve the problem of escalating energy costs is to insulate it with vinyl siding.

Replacement siding  is not only done to improve and beautify your home’s exterior and interior.  But, more than anything, it is the ideal solution for any homeowner who wants good insulation from cold or hot weather conditions.  It increases the R-value of a home’s exterior, and this translates to greater thermal efficiency as well as a significant reduction in your energy bills.

As many homeowners know, space heating and space cooling take a big chunk of home energy use.  In fact, heating and cooling costs take up about half of the total energy consumed in an average, single-family home.  Installing insulated products for the home, like insulated siding, will help remedy this. A house siding repair  will mean that you’ll no longer need to work your home heating and cooling systems double time just to attain some level of comfort.

What’s more, with the latest innovations in vinyl siding technology, not only do homeowners get more thermal efficiency, but a bunch of other benefits, too.

For one, this type of siding lowers labor costs as it eliminates the process of priming and painting.  And with innovations when it comes to installing these sidings, installation time is significantly reduced as well.

Vinyl also has maintenance-free benefits, as it is durable and is easy to clean and will not crack or rot even after being exposed for years and years to rough weather conditions.  In fact, home remodeling companies like Statewide Remodeling now offer a lifetime limited warranty for sidings.

Lastly, thanks to advanced technology, vinyl sidings now have a wood-like appearance and the texture of premium and authentic cedar panels.  With this, your house will look much better and much more beautiful than it originally did.

Energy Tax Credit for Homeowners

Homeowners can be given an energy tax credit  if their homes are energy-efficient.  And that’s where the importance of getting energy-saving products for your home comes in.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which President Barack Obama signed  in February 2009, provides that taxpayers can take credit for qualified energy-efficient home improvements installed.   Such improvements include insulation, exterior doors and exterior windows, roofing, heating and cooling systems, and also solar panels.

A qualifying radiant barrier insulation for your home, for instance, will entitle you 10% off of the cost, with a maximum of up to $500.00.  Installing qualifying replacement windows, on the other hand, would mean 10% off, up to $200.00.

We always say “qualifying” because the IRS has issued guidelines and regulations that define “energy efficient” and, in effect, also define qualified products and solutions, such as energy-efficient windows. Basically, energy products are those that are tested and proven to reduce our carbon footprint.  Energy-saving products must have a “Manufacturer Certification Statement,” which you will need in order to claim your credit.

The good thing about remodeling your home to give way to these energy-saving solutions is that, aside from qualifying for tax credit and for being able to help protect the environment, you also get to save on energy costs.  With proper insulation, for example, you no longer have to work your heater or your cooler double time, and you can, therefore, significantly reduce your monthly utility bills.  You can instead spend your money on some other more important things.   There is also one bonus to getting an energy-efficient home renovation.   You get to improve how your home looks.  You get rid of your old and rusty roofing, or those old and rotten doors and windows in the guide of going green!  If you have always wanted to have a newer-looking living space, then you might as well do it, but in an environmentally friendly way.  It’s really like hitting two birds with one stone.

R-Value Explained

If you have been thinking about saving energy by insulating your home, or if you want to know the importance of proper insulation and optimal thermal efficiency in your house, then it is imperative that you know what R-value is all about.

So what do you need to know about the R-value of insulation?

An R-value tells you how much a particular insulation resists heat flow.  As a rule, the higher a material’s R-value, the better its insulating effectiveness.  A material’s R-value depends on its type of insulation, which relies on what kind of material it is, its thickness, and its density.   Also, an insulation’s effective resistance to heat flow may also depend on how it was installed.  An insulation that’s compressed, for instance, will not be able to give you its full R-value.

The amount of R-value you will need depends on:

  • your area’s climate;
  • the type of heating/cooling system you have; and
  • the area of the house you insulate.

That is why you will need to take note of the recommended R-value of the area you are in and the minimum values for various insulation applications in your house.

As homeowner, you should not assume that having wall, basement, and attic insulation already means that you have achieved optimal thermal efficiency for your house.  There is actually more to home insulation that this.

Sure, traditional methods of insulation can protect you against energy waste, but only partially.  To be sure you have achieved highly effective insulation, you should take advantage of the new advances in thermal technology, which will enable you to protect your home against heat infiltration and heat loss on a more comprehensive level.  There’s radiant barrier insulation, for one.  Radiant barrier insulation is much better than traditional forms of insulation because it provides you with protection against radiation, not only from conduction and convection.

To know more about home insulation, contact insulation professionals from Statewide Remodeling.

The Return on Investment for Windows Replacement

Are you planning on installing new windows but are not yet convinced of the benefits you’ll get?  Then perhaps you don’t really know everything there is to know about home windows replacement.

Replacing your old windows not only improves the aesthetic appearance of your home.  Sure, new windows are absolutely more pleasing to look at compared to the cracked, stained, or damaged ones you used to have.  And improving on your house’s appearance will also increase its value.  But more importantly, windows replacement can help contribute to the environment and can help convert your home into an energy-efficient one.

Opting for energy-efficient replacement windows will help turn most of your current energy costs into savings.  That is because installing new windows means getting rid of leaks, cracks, decay and other signs of window damage.  That would also mean better insulation and thermal resistance.  You would no longer need to pump up your heating or cooling system, and this, in turn, would translate to reduced energy bills.

If you are worried about the costs related to window replacement work, including labor and materials, and whether you’ll get a return of investment for this, then you need not worry.  Many published surveys have found that window repair and replacement has about 90% return of investment.  This ROI is attributed to the increased value of your home as well as the amount you get to save on energy costs.

And when you have opted for vinyl replacement windows, you get to take advantage of added benefits.  The benefits include low maintenance, as this type of windows no longer needs stripping, painting or staining.  That also means installation time is quicker and labor costs lesser.  Vinyl windows are also durable, long-lasting and resistant to moisture, rotting and severe weather conditions.  What’s more, vinyl windows are highly customizable as they are available in a variety of styles and colors and can be installed to complement your home’s existing décor.

When Do You Replace Your Windows?

It is quite difficult to figure out when your windows need replacement.  In fact, when it comes to home improvements and remodeling particular areas of the house, homeowners seldom think of their windows.  For them, there are always those other areas that need to be prioritized for repairs.

However, this mindset ought to be changed.  Home window repair or replacement should be deemed just as important as other kinds of repair around the house. This is because windows are a great factor when it comes to your home being energy efficient.

Replacing your home windows into energy efficient ones, or simply repairing them to ensure that they are properly insulating your home, will help lower your utility bills and allow you to save in energy costs.

So how do you know when it is time to go about window replacement or repairs?

1. When your windows get condensation or frost build-up.  If this happens, it means that your windows are not giving your house good insulation.  Extra moisture can get in, and this can cause toxic mold growth, which in turn would jeopardize your family’s health.  This can also cause your window frames to rot and weaken gradually.

2.  When the inside window panes are cold to the touch during winter, or hot during summer.   This is also another sign that your windows are not insulating your home well enough, and are therefore making your heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system work double time.

3.  When there are cracks on the glass or signs of rotting.  This is pretty self-explanatory.  If you take a look at your windows – both from outside and from the inside – and see cracks, broken parts, or sign of damage, or if they don’t close or open properly, then it is time to get replacement windows or do some repairs.

Even without these signs, you can also get home windows replacement when you are no longer happy with how your windows look. Make sure to come visit Statewide Remodeling and consult with our knowledgable staff regarding this important investment in your home.

How Important is Home Insulation?

You have probably heard too many times that insulation is a very important aspect for any home.  Whether you are in the process of buying or remodeling an old house, or building a new one, insulation should be one of your first considerations.

What really makes insulation essential to any home?

The answer is quite simple.  You and your loved ones will be living in it, and you will fill it up with things you cherish.  Naturally, you would want to keep everyone and everything comfortable and free from excessive heat during hot summer months, and from excessive cold during cold winter months.

Properly insulating your home is equal to extending its life as it prevents condensation and mildew, which cause molds and rotting.  Aside from these things gradually destroying your house’s structure, it can also be harmful to your family’s health.

Attic insulation helps make your home energy-efficient, too. If you already do not know, 42% of home energy loss happens through your house’s roof.  So it follows that aside from comfort, proper insulation will also lower your energy consumption and reduce your energy costs.  With attic insulation, you can lower your cooling and heating bills significantly.

New technology in home insulation, like radiant barrier insulation, can even qualify homeowners for Energy Tax Credit.

The great thing about radiant barrier reflective insulation, too, is that it is relatively quick and easy to install.  In fact, it can be installed over your existing insulation, thus eliminating the need for inconvenient and costly removal and disposal of your original insulation.

Good insulation really has many benefits, which you cannot see completely until you’ve really experienced them.  You will realize that whatever you spend for state-of-the-art insulation materials for your home will translate into hundreds of dollars in energy cost savings later on.  Think of insulation as an investment, and of the savings you get as a return of this investment.

Knowing all these benefits, homeowners should make proper insulation of their homes a priority, especially when considering some home remodeling work.

Amazing Energy Savings Results from Statewide Remodeling! [VIDEO]

You may remember our home energy video a few weeks ago where we showed you a homeowner’s attic that was 131 degrees even though it was only in the mid 80′s outside.

This video shows you the actual energy saving results that Statewide Remodeling achieved for this family with 5 energy saving home improvements.

Even though it was 104 degrees outside when we returned to shoot his video, we were able to cool the attic over 20%.

Learn the 5 things we did to lower the attic temperature and improve energy efficiency.


Find out how Statewide Remodeling can help you Go Green and save money on your energy bills.

Next Page »