The federal government has approved Architella shading for 2009-2010's energy tax credit. This is the first time in the history that the United States government has acknowledged the huge, potential energy savings of well made, professionally measured and installed window treatments.
Today's double-pane windows do a good job preventing unwanted air flow. But closed windows still offer little resistance to heat flow. Compared to the well-insulated walls and roofs of modern homes, standard double-pane windows allow 10 to 15 times more heat energy to flow through them.
Windows may make up only about 10% of a home, but up to 50% of the home's heating and cooling energy can still pour through them!
With the right window coverings, homeowners can also reduce solar heat gain in the warmer months. Certain window coverings can diffuse and disperse sunlight deep into a room, optimizing daylight to minimize the need for electric lighting.
While standard, double-pane windows only have an R-value of about two, products like Hunter Douglas' Duette Architella honeycomb shades can add up to four points to a window's R-value, tripling the energy efficiency and cutting heat loss through the window by up to two-thirds!
Rules apply for the tax credits, and here at Quigley Draperies we can talk you through them. Architella shades, for instance, must be mounted inside the window opening. The treatment must be for a primary residence. Only one tax credit of up to $1,500 can be used, total, which means up to 30% of a $5,000 purchase. The tax credit must be used for an existing home, not new construction.
The cost of measuring and installing can not be part of the tax credit, but those who come to Quigley Draperies are in luck - we offer complimentary measuring and design services!
If you can't use the tax credit because your windows need to be outside mounted on the trim, you can still save money. When the shades are lowered at night and opened in the sunlight, your home should cost less to heat and cool. Also, now until April 15, Architella is offering a rebate, regardless of how the units are mounted.
Other window treatments can also help beat the cold. Many sliding doors can be warmed with draperies of tightly woven, multipurpose fabric, lined with classic nap. This kind of lining is three times heavier than a standard lining and has a flannel side to help trap cold air between the lining and decorative face fabric.
Love your beautiful, large windows but hate how cold the room gets when the sun goes down? Large window draperies can be designed to pull back on the wall in the daylight hours and close for warmth in the evening.
At Quigley Draperies we've been helping homeowners save energy for a long time. This year we're celebrating over 80 years in business. We make a point to stay on top of decorating trends and technology improvements that benefit customers, for stylish solutions that make "green" beautiful.
"I'm proud that despite the economic situation we are sustaining," said Sonia. "With locally and family owned businesses becoming a thing of the past, we are thankful for the support and trust the community continues to place in us. In return we're actively giving back through volunteering in the community. We also support our local schools through their scrip programs."
A reputation for helpful expertise and experienced installation helped grow Lange into a business with sustainability. The business now features two large areas that work together to save customers time and money, said Sonia.
The 5,000 square foot showroom is a comfortable, friendly and well lighted design area with many colors and textures of carpet, laminate, vinyl and popular designs of tile installed on walls and floors. There is even bamboo installed in the break room. "That helps customers visualize what can be done," Sonia explained. "I think it also gives them confidence in how much we are able to do."
The 11,000 square foot warehouse, called the Value Center, stocks inventory. "The concept behind the warehouse is to give our customers the best of both worlds. They can shop the showroom and a lot of what we have in the showroom we have in stock. Customers can even shop the warehouse and remnant areas. Scott will order the most popular styles in bulk, so we can pass that discounted price on to the customer."
Customers who are interested in a specific look can shop the showroom and custom order. "If their budget is a priority, they'll show us in the showroom what they like and we try to cross reference something we have in stock that can save them some of that budget."
Lange Flooring Center also caters to cash and carry customers who want to install themselves. "Because we stock so much, it's easy for the do it yourselfer or other installers."
Scott, who bought the business from previous owner Joe Strandberg, had worked for Joe since he was 14 years old. Joe himself worked as an installer when he purchased the business from founder Bob Lange nearly 30 years ago.
Scott and Sonia kept the Lange name because of the decades of reputation associated with it, but dropped the word "carpet" to better reflect what the business can do today. "Here, people can really see that we're more than just carpet."
Paul Vanderwall said he's proud of the transformation his company's inserts can make to traditional masonry fireplaces.
"You may have a house you're planning to stay in a while. It's old and it's dated. We can update both the look and the efficiency of your fireplace."
Paul is co-owner of Vanderwall Brothers, south of Muskegon on Grand Haven Road. He said a properly installed insert can increase a fireplace's performance from 15% to 25% efficiency to as much as 90% efficiency.
"Then we can use cultured stone to reface it," he explained. "So now you've added value to your house, so if there comes a time when it does come up for sale, it will be a selling point.
"Plus, while you're living in your house you get to enjoy your investment."
Paul said the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is offering up to $1,500 in tax credits for qualified fireplace inserts and other products to improve your home.
"This is an investment that, when you use it, will pay you back. Especially wood or pellet." Paul said the fuel for pellet stoves is pelletized wood, "a very green product." Units are attractive and easy to use with little maintenance required.
Paul installed a pellet insert into a masonry fireplace at his own home and is using pellets for 100% of his home heating. "My heat bills are way down."
Paul also recommends gas inserts to enhance traditional fireplaces. "People put them in and, now, they're running their fireplace every day. You don't have to mess with the wood, you're not bringing bugs and dirt into the house, you just flip a switch and you're on your way."
Fireplaces are known for inefficiency, said Paul. "Anything masonry, anything open faced, if you can reach in and touch the flame, it is very inefficient. With the gas product, we take outside air and downburn it, then take it back up. So it makes it very efficient delivering outside air."
Fireplaces can warm every room of the house, with traditional or modern looks. "There are a lot of ventless that hang on the wall, very architectural, an HGTV look," said Paul. Glass fireplaces are becoming popular, without logs, with a colorful ember bed of glass.
"There are plenty of products in here. That's one thing we bring to the table is our variety of choices."
While life events like remarrying or changing careers can happen at any time, most investors follow three main life stages. Some applicable strategies include:
Mile Marker #1: What Is Your Plan? Buying a first home, starting and supporting a family, paying off debt - if you are in your 20s or 30s, your financial obligations may seem larger than your income. But here's the good news! You're in the best position to put the power of compounding to work for you. So fund your IRA and, even if you don't qualify for a deduction, get the benefit of tax-deferred compounding of earnings. Sign up for your employer's retirement plan and get two major tax breaks: contributions are pretax and earnings are tax deferred until withdrawal. Also, make sure your loved ones are protected financially by getting adequate life insurance coverage.
Mile Marker #2: Adjust Your Plan. During your 40s and 50s, you may be in the peak earning years of your career. This is the time to maximize your retirement contributions and make the most of savings opportunities offered by Uncle Sam.
Mile Marker #3: Review Your Plan. With retirement around the corner, start your retirement distribution planning in an effort to maximize income from your retirement plans and minimize your tax burden. Consider rolling over your employer's retirement distribution into an IRA to maintain tax-deferral benefits and postpone paying taxes to future years when your taxable income may be less. Estate planning also offers opportunities to pass your hard-earned assets to your loved ones instead of Uncle Sam.
Regardless of which life stage you're at, it is never too late to start or adjust your financial plan. Your Waddell and Reed financial advisor can help you design a plan that stays flexible as you strive to meet your changing needs.