Hansons Summertime Fun!

Hello Everyone!

It’s summer time, which means it’s time to get out and have fun with the family! And as always, 1-800-HANSONS is here to make things even more fun! Get a free estimate for new windows, siding, roofing, gutter guards or insulation and get YOUR choice of FREE tickets to the 2009 Michigan Renaissance Festival August 22nd thru October 4th OR if you live in Detroit, Lansing or Toledo, Hansons has your FREE tickets to Disney on Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic at the Palace of Auburn Hills September 30th thru October 4th. Join the celebration as 65 of Disney’s unforgettable characters from 18 beloved stories come to life! Even if you’re not ready to buy, call us now to get our price. If you’re interested, you better hurry! There’s a limited supply of tickets, so set up a free no obligation estimate today! Get your Renaissance Festival Tickets Here OR get your Disney on Ice Tickets Here!

For more information, head over to www.hansons.com

Tax Credits Available For Home Improvement Energy-Efficient Products

By KAREN WORKMAN of the Oakland Press

A new federal tax credit for energy-efficient home improvements could put an extra $1,500 in homeowners’ pockets come tax time next year, but buyers should beware — not every green gadget under the sun qualifies.

How does it work?
The new tax credit is actually an expansion of tax credits first enacted by former President George W. Bush. The old rules allowed taxpayers to receive 10 percent of the price of certain energy-efficient products, up to a lifetime maximum of $500. President Barack Obama expanded the credit with the recently enacted American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Now, consumers can get 30 percent of the price of certain energy-efficient items back at tax time, up to a lifetime maximum of $1,500.

Another change is that for big ticket items, such as wind turbines and solar water heaters, the $1,500 cap does not apply, and people can instead get back 30 percent of the total cost — materials and installation — through 2016. Credits for smaller-ticket items, such as windows, doors and roofs, can be claimed during both 2009 and 2010, and only 30 percent of the cost of materials — not installation — can be claimed.

What qualifies?
Federal guidelines list 15 energy-efficient household items that qualify for the credit. Insulation, windows, doors, roofs and central air conditioners are among the items on the list, but each product has to meet specific guidelines in order to count.

“We offer energy-efficient roofing that you can get a tax credit on, as well as blown insulation,” said Brian Elias of 1-800-Hansons, an Oakland County-based window company that also offers roofing and other home improvement services. “The guidelines for roofing are very stringent.” The law states that eligible roofs are either metal or made of reflective asphalt shingles, which are made of lighter colors. To be even more specific, it also states that roofs qualify “only if such roof has appropriate pigmented coatings or cooling granules.”

As of June 1, the specifications for windows and doors that qualify also became much tougher to meet.

Windows and Doors
Under the old guidelines, a greater variety of doors and windows met the standard for the tax credit.Consumers needed a manufacturer’s certification letter or Energy Star label that showed it met the criteria. A safe harbor provision allowed the more lax guidelines to stay in place through June 1. That was when the criteria became more specific and much tougher to meet. In order for a door or window to qualify, both the U factor and the solar heat gain coefficient must be 0.30 or less. The U factor measures the rate of heat transfer, and the solar heat gain coefficient tells how well the product blocks heat caused by sunlight. The lower each number is, the better the product performs.

Though recent TV commercials have shown several companies advertising all their windows as qualifying for the tax credit, those statements likely will change as the rules change. Less-efficient windows that don’t qualify will continue to be offered through 1-800-Hansons. The company carries two lines of windows — I-Q Glass and the Ultimate Package — that qualify for the credit.“You have to buy energy-efficient windows, and the problem in our industry is everybody says windows are energy efficient, but the government didn’t qualify certain windows for a reason,” Elias said. “The problem for the consumer is they all look alike.” The bottom line for the consumer? Know what makes a product qualify and be sure that’s what is being purchased.

For more information on the tax credits available go to www.hansons.com/Tax-Credit.htm

Reduce Your Need for Air Conditioning

Summer is right around the corner and 1-800-Hansons wants to fill you in on a few energy efficient tips that will reduce your need for air conditioning.

1. Insulate and tighten your house
Improving insulation and air sealing prevents heat from entering your house. Your highest priority should be to check insulation levels and air leaks between your living space and the attic.

2. Consider “cool” exterior finishes
When replacing your roof or painting your house, using light-colored or other “cool” roofing and siding products can reduce your peak cooling demand by 10-15%.

3. Shade or improve windows
To keep high-angle summer sun out, consider horizontal trellises for your east and west-facing windows. Protect south-facing windows with deciduous trees or climbing foliage so you can take advantage of low-angle sun in the winter, when the leaves fall. New windows on those walls that get the most summer sun should have low-e glazings to block unwanted heat gain.

For more information on how stay cool AND save money, go to www.hansons.com

Get Rewarded for Improving Your Home!

You could be eligible for up to $1,500 in tax credits, if you purchase energy efficient windows, roofing, doors or insulation from Hansons in 2009.  Reduce your energy bills while saving on your new home improvements.

Hansons products that qualify for the tax credit include eligible: windows, roofing, doors and insulation.

Head over to the Hansons website for more information.

Top 10 Reasons to Insulate Your Home

We have had a very harsh winter season in regards to weather, so I have been trying to find out what benefits there are to updating my home. Through researching, I have found the top 10 reasons that you would want to insulate your home. Some of these you may know but there were a few that were not so obvious. Hopefully this helps.   

• Save money on energy costs during winter and summer
• More comfort in any weather
• A sound proof, quieter home
• Provide a healthier household environment
• Lower energy consumption
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions, helps fight global warming and climate change
• Help prevent condensation in the home
• Increased resale value of home
• Compliance with building codes
• Government tax rebates

http://www.hansons.com/Insulation.htm

7 Basic Facts About R-Value

Winter is definitely here and so are the cold drafts of air!  For that reason I have been looking into insulation, what I didn’t completely understand was what R-Value really meant.  What I found were some interesting facts regarding the R-Value for insulation that I normally wouldn’t think about:

 

·        R-Value is the resistance to heat flow in your home.

 

·        When there is an air or water leak in the home, the R-Value of insulation is significantly decreased.

 

·        If one type of insulation is thicker or thinner than the other but their R-Value is the same then both products should insulate equally.

 

·        1 inch of insulation is equivalent to 30 inches of concrete.

 

·        For basement insulation, the average R-Value of insulating material in North America is R-12.

 

·        For house insulation, the R-Value varies dependent upon the climate and temperature in specific regions. In Michigan, the R-Value for Energy Efficient Insulation is R-49.

 

·        When insulation R-Value is tested, it is done in a 70°F environment without wind or any other variables; most climates do not have this type of controlled environment.  To the contrary, we need the insulation that can handle the most extremes of temperature change and conditions. This type of testing can result in a higher R-Value rating then the actual effective R-Value.

 

http://www.hansons.com/Insulation.htm

3 Reasons To Insulate Your Home

One of the smartest home improvement projects for your home is insulation.  It not only provides you with comfort year round, it can also save you money on your energy bills and reduce noise levels.  Listed below I have compiled three reasons why you should insulate your home:

 

1.     Lower Your Monthly Energy Costs

During the cold winter months, insulation helps to keep your home warmer by not allowing the heat to escape through the roof or walls.  This in turn allows you to keep the heating costs in your home down.  Insulation can also block out unwanted heat from entering your home during the hot summer months.  This helps you take some of the load off of your air conditioner by keeping your home cooler.

 

2.     Reduction of Noise Provides More Comfortable Living

Insulation provides us with many benefits.  One of the most overlooked is its ability to absorb sound, reducing the unwanted noise from appliances, conversations, audio equipment and other sources of sound that are transmitted through your walls and floors.   It can also make it easier for your air conditioner and furnace to maintain a constant temperature that helps keep your family more comfortable.

 

3.     Healthy home, healthy environment

High quality fiberglass insulation or blown-in cellulose insulation promotes better air quality.  This creates a healthier environment for you and your family because it’s made without formaldehyde. Insulation also helps prevent the growth of potentially hazardous mold and mildew in your walls, air ducts and ceilings that can result from trapped moisture.

 http://www.hansons.com/Insulation.htm