<h2 style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt"><font size="3" color="#990000">A healthy home can add to healthy energy savings</font></h2><p><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt; font-size: 10pt">(ARA) – We may be riding an economic roller coaster, but one fact is certain: the weather is about to get cooler. And who wouldn’t like to save a few bucks on heating bills this winter?</span></p><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt; font-size: 10pt"><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">When it comes to winterizing your home, the fundamentals still apply: </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><strong>* Inspect the attic for proper insulation. </strong></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><strong>* Inspect the furnace and replace the filter. </strong></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><strong>* Replace batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. </strong></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><strong>* Clean out the gutters. </strong></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><strong>* Check for air leaks around windows or doors.</strong> </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">There’s an opportunity to do more with winterizing windows and doors, because leaky windows or doors can be symptomatic of larger issues. Take a closer look and determine if proper caulking, more insulation (or weather stripping if it’s a door) or a full replacement is in order. A properly installed and maintained window or door helps seal out air and moisture.<span> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><strong>Tax credits</strong></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">If you’re thinking of replacing the windows and doors in your home, the good news is there’s still time to take advantage of federal tax credits. Under the new American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) economic stimulus plan, homeowners can claim a tax credit up to 30 percent of the cost of qualifying energy-efficient replacement windows and doors, up to $1,500 for units installed in their primary residence in 2009 or 2010.</p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,29,0" width="425" height="282"><param name="movie" value="../images/banners/8c.swf" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="menu" value="false" /><param name="wmode" value="" /><embed src="../images/banners/8c.swf" wmode="" quality="high" menu="false" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="282"></embed></object></div> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Pella offers a wide variety of types and styles of energy-efficient replacement windows and doors that qualify for the tax credits. For example, Pella Designer Series windows and patio doors which feature triple-pane glass are rated No. 1 for energy efficiency among top national brands. In addition, Pella’s vinyl products offer high performance Low-E glass as an option. This highly energy-efficient window is ideal for warm regions, where blocking damaging Ultraviolet (UV) rays is critical. Pella’s product blocks 95 percent of UV light as compared to 44 percent for clear, insulating glass.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Look for the ENERGY STAR as a mark of energy-efficient products, and consult with your Pella expert to help determine which windows and doors qualify for the replacement tax credit. Consult with your tax professional for more information on available tax credits. </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><strong>Healthy home</strong> </p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">No matter where you live, the onset of winter brings the likelihood of spending more time inside. Many elements can contribute to the health and safety of a home – windows being one of them. The U.S. Surgeon General recently issued a call to action to help promote healthy homes </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">How can you maintain your own healthy home? For starters, try these concepts developed by design experts Amy Ellison Ostberg and Michelle Roberts – the <strong>"Seven Design Principles for Healthy Homes."</strong></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">1. Keep it dry</p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">2. Keep it clean</p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">3. Keep it ventilated</p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">4. Keep it safe</p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">5. Keep it free of contaminants</p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">6. Keep it well-maintained</p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">7. Keep it pest-free</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Windows allow natural light and fresh air into the home and provide protection from the elements. Windows can also play a major role in the health of a home. For example, Pella’s Designer Series product helps minimize certain indoor airborne allergens. These windows feature optional blinds, shades or decorative panels between panes of glass to help eliminate dust and dirt accumulation usually rampant on common window treatments. A University of Iowa study found windows with traditional room-side blinds collected 200 times more of certain indoor airborne allergens than Pella Designer Series products.</p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,29,0" width="425" height="282"><param name="movie" value="../images/banners/6a.swf" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="menu" value="false" /><param name="wmode" value="" /><embed src="../images/banners/6a.swf" wmode="" quality="high" menu="false" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="282"></embed></object></div> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><strong>Hunker down and help your immunity</strong></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal&
quot;>As you get ready to hunker in for the winter, don’t let being inside get you down. Flu and cold germs can run rampant in cold weather. Stay warm and help maintain your health by exercising, getting fresh air, washing your hands frequently, drinking adequate amounts of water and allowing yourself plenty of rest. After all, a healthy home also includes occupants that feel their best.</p> <p><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt; font-size: 10pt">Courtesy of ARAcontent</span></p></span>
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