Solatube recently announced upgrades to two models of their tubular daylighting devices (tubular skylights).  The upgrades qualify their products for a 30% Federal Tax Credit under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  The two qualifying products are the 160DSe and the 290DSe.  Both are improvements upon the 160DS (the one I installed in my home), and the 290DS.

Solatube is the first company with tubular daylighting devices that exceed low Solar Heat Gain Coefficients (SHGC), and U-Factor ratings specified in the federal Act.     This is why their products qualify for the Federal tax credit!

What are SHGC and U-Factor you ask?  These ratings come from the National Fenestration Rating Council. We demystify both terms in detail for you in a previous article here on GetWithGreen.  Essentially, a low Solar Heat Gain Coefficient means that your window or tubular device will block heat from sunlight.  A low U-Factor means that heat has a difficult time escaping.  These ratings matter to you because the tube from these skylights runs through your attic.  You want to prevent as much heat from coming in during the summer, and limit the amount of heat lost during the winter.    The lower these ratings, the less your attic heats, the more energy you save!

We have much more information on tubular skylight or daylighting systems here on GetWithGreen.com.  Read this related article:

See more on Daylighting Systems from GetWithGreen.com

For those of you striving for LEED certification in your remodel, tubular daylighting products/skylights also satisfy the daylighting credit of the certification process.

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Not that I wanted to post two window rebate articles in a row, but it happens.  Listening to NPR today while driving, I heard Andersen Corp CEO Jim Humphrey give his perspective on the current stimulus package, and it’s applicability for homeowners looking to remodel their windows.

Like Pella below, Andersen is also trying to translate the recent stimulus package into a language homeowners can understand.  This short audio file posted on the NPR website is a quick listen with some good insight for homeowners.  Check it out if you are looking to buy new windows for your remodel.

Andersen Windows Federal Energy Tax Credit interview

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This week Pella summarized some of the new tax credits for energy improvements.  The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) signed into law Feb. 17, 2009 includes tax credits for qualifying energy-saving home improvements. Immediately replacing the previous Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 tax credit for ENERGY STAR® windows and doors, the new stimulus bill significantly raises performance requirements for windows and doors qualifying for credits.

• Eligible window and door products now have to be equal to or below a 0.30 U-Factor and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) of 0.30 for all U.S. climate zones.
  • The U-Factor measures heat transmission through a window or door — a lower U-Factor equals better insulation.
  • SHGC measures how well a window or door blocks heat from sunlight.  The lower the value the better the unit keeps out solar heat.
  • We have some good information on decoding window specifications on GetWithGreen.com
• Between Jan. 1, 2009 and Dec. 31, 2010, U.S. homeowners may claim a tax credit up to 30 percent of the cost of qualifying replacement windows and doors installed in their principal residence, not exceeding $1,500.
• The tax credit applies to the price of qualifying windows and doors, but does not cover installation, on-site preparation, assembly or sales tax.
• You can find the qualifying Pella products at Window Tax Credit.   (How bummed am I that I bought my Pella Designer windows in November of last year!?)

*Please be sure to consult your tax professional to determine if the windows you purchase are eligible for the U.S. tax credit.

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The eco-friendly view from Marvin Windows & Doors.

I was twelve when I ordered my first Marvin Window & Door brochure. I know, starting a bit early right? At the time I was obsessed with designing floor plans and loved to pour over my mother’s Better Homes & Gardens magazines. It’s been a while, but I believe they still have the pull-out tabs where you can request product information. So, for a long time, I would spec out my designs to include the Marvin Windows & Doors that I liked best. Almost 20 years later, Marvin products are still desirable, ever growing, and amazingly eco-friendly. Maybe all that childhood research will someday bring about a beautiful home of my own with Marvin Windows & Doors…till then, here are some green reasons to use Marvin:

Thinking Green: The Marvin green thought, “Always striving for improvement, Marvin Windows and Doors has introduced initiatives that rethink our value chain, improve resource productivity while lowering environmental costs, and implement green practices that make producing beautiful windows an environmentally-friendlier process.”

Good design and careful decisions make a difference in our environment. Marvin has one of the lowest percentages of wood-waste in the industry.

Energy Efficient: Marvin fulfills Energy Star requirements and standards. Click here to read more about Marvin Products and the Environment.

Reduce: The Marvin team is always looking for ways to reduce waste from their production process.

Reuse: Marvin Windows & Doors are built to last and be reused. If still in good condition and working correctly, feel free to reuse it.

Recycle: After your Marvin products arrive, recycle the packaging. Though not meant to be taken apart, if this should happen, the main pieces are made from materials that can be recycled (wood, glass, & aluminum). The windows are made from recycled material (15%-33% crushed scrap glass, aluminum is over 98% recycled, and wood is recycled by finger jointing and edge-gluing smaller pieces).

Forest Management: With properly managed forests, Marvin has found that not only do they have a continual supply of wood, but an excess in wood production. They are committed to supporting the conservation of natural resources.

LEED Certification: By using Marvin products, home owners can receive credits for LEED Certification.

Click here to see a list of green building organizations that Marvin Windows & Doors participate in and support.

For those of you looking to remodel your windows and doors, check out Marvin’s Remodel & Replace page. It has useful information as well as links to additional articles and answers to frequently asked questions.

Marvin Windows & Doors are eco-friendly, sustainable and beautiful. What kinds of experience do our GetWithGreen readers have with Marvin? Willing to share?

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One of the newest trends in home renovation, restoration and building isn?t actually new.  Just an old idea whose time has come back around. 

The salvage and junk yards of our grandparents have become slicker and hipper for the eco conscious and the thrifty alike.  Reclaimed building supply and deconstruction companies now use words like architectural, sustainable, reclaimed and even reincarnation to describe the junkyards of yesteryear.

You can find reclaimed building supply companies in every state and almost every larger city.  Some specialize in period antiques, others in just bathroom fixtures, some carry everything including kitchen sinks.  All it took was a two minute internet search for me to find my nearest reclaimed building supply store.  Who knew one of these gems was hiding in the next town over?

The ReCONNstruction Center of New Britain, Connecticut is different from the rest of the pack.  It is a non-profit group whose mission includes not only salvaging building materials in the name of mother earth, but it also aims to support the local area by providing reasonable prices for the residents and providing a livable wage for it?s employees. 

Driving into the parking lot of the ReCONNstruction Center I spied a neighbor.  Coincidence or a sign of a real tend?  This neighbor has been slowly renovating his 1885 Victorian home with mostly reclaimed fixtures.  My unnamed neighbor allegedly plays hookey from work every couple of weeks to check out what is new in the store.  And it is always changing.

On the day I visited the store, an antique door from the 1700?s ($300) was prominently displayed alongside a new and modern glass sink ($350).   Antique fireplace tiles (25 cents) caught my eye and made me wish for a fireplace of my own.  Full paint cans stacked to the ceiling and priced for pennies almost made me want to repaint the house.  Kerry Ann Kowar, The ReCONNstruction Center?s friendly volunteer coordinator with the displaying skills of one of the Barker?s Beauties in jeans, eloquently described the store?s endless tile samples, bathroom vanities, doorknobs, kitchen cabinets, windows, doors and bins of hardware.

Kerry Ann explained that all of their materials are donated by homeowners, builders and companies going out of business.  Since The ReCONNstruction Center is a non-profit, each donation is completely tax-deductable.

When deciding to make a purchase at a home restoration store, there are a few dangers to consider.  For example, the paint on those beautiful wooden pieces made prior to 1978 can contain lead.  Light fixtures should also to be purchased with caution.  Old wiring may not be up to code and can pose a dangerous fire risk.  Unless you are an electrical whiz, factor in the price of an electrician to bring your new find up to code. 

Whether you are looking to save a few dollars, want to find period fixtures or are looking to save building materials from the landfill, a field trip to your local building materials salvage store is a worthwhile trip.

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This week Pella announced it is now a member of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency?s (EPA) SmartWay Transport Partnership program.

The SmartWay Transport Partnership is an innovative collaboration between EPA and the freight industry to increase energy efficiency while striving to reduce greenhouse gases and air pollution.

Because of three-year commitments to upgrade their trucks with auxiliary power units, energy-efficient tires, enhanced trailer aerodynamics, and other improvements, the EPA estimates SmartWay partners are saving 600 million gallons of diesel fuel ? a cost benefit of almost $2 billion ?and eliminating nearly seven million metric tons of carbon-dioxide emissions that can contribute to global warming.

EPA launched SmartWay in 2004 to address the environmental and economic challenges surrounding growth in the freight industry. Through the program, EPA is now working with more than 600 businesses to improve both their bottom line and the environment by offering technical assistance, tools for evaluating opportunities to lower fuel use and emissions, and help in locating financing for the purchase of fuel-saving equipment and technology.

Pella received the accreditation for its responsible management of transportation partners and private fleet and committing to improve the environmental performance of freight operations.

Pella?s goals as a new SmartWay Partner include:

• Seeking and contracting truck loads with SmartWay Partners.
• Communicating to those in the transportation industry Pella?s status as a SmartWay Partner.
• Developing a ?no idling? policy for carriers parking at Pella sites.
• Incorporating an internal SmartWay Partner educational program for Pella?s more than 50 logistics employees around the country.

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Whether you select Pella, Andersen, Marvin, JELD-WEN, or another brand, windows are almost a certainty in your home remodel project.  Did you know there are rebates and incentive plans in many areas of the country?

Window rebates are most often paid out based on the U-factor or Solar Heat Gain Coefficient by your power or Utility company.  Many times these rebates have a budget, and once they are used up they are gone – so submit yours as soon as you can if there is a program in your area.

GetWithGreen searched the web and found you a fairly comprehensive list of rebates.  Click here for the .pdf list of Utility Programs that Offer Incentives and Rebates for Energy Efficient Windows

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It is time to make THE window decision for your remodel.  If you are looking for energy efficient windows then you will run into many new vocabulary terms:  U-Factor, SHGC, Visible Transmission…   And all you want are windows that will save energy, and look amazing when your remodel is done! 

So what do all these new vocabulary words mean? Turns out this new language does not find its root in Latin.  These terms actually belong to the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC).  Fenestration, when it comes to your home, are windows, doors, and skylights.  The NFRC is a non-profit that develops and publishes standards for fenestration performance.  Windows, doors and skylights are then labeled with a sticker like the one example in the upper right.

Turns out that understanding the terms and acronyms on this label can help you quickly navigate the glassy waters as you are considering one window over another – assuming you are looking for efficient windows that transmit a great deal of light into your home!   Here is your guide for the label, consider yourself now dangerous:

• U-Factor:  Measures how well a window, door, or skylight prevents heat from escaping.  Ratings usually range from 0.20 to 1.20.  The lower the number, the more efficient your fenestration product.  U-Factor will change as window sizes change.
• Solar Heat Gain (SHGC): Measures how well your new window blocks heat from sunlight – keeping your home cooler.  The lower the SHGC, the lower the heat gain through a window.  SHGC ranges from 0 to 1.  SHGC will change as window sizes change.
• Visible Transmittance (VT):  Measures the amount of visible light transmitted through your new remodel window.  This will determine the amount of daylighting you will receive, ultimately reducing your need for lights.  VT is measured between 0 and 1.  The higher the value the more light.
• Air Leakage:  Measures the amount of air that could pass through your window (yes, even when it’s closed).  The lower the AL, the less air will pass through cracks in the window assembly.
• Condensation Resistance:  Measure the products ability to resist moisture on the interior surface of the window.  The higher the rating number, the more resistant your new window will be to condensation forming.  CR is expressed as a number between 0 and 100.

So as you are browsing your Pella dealer, Andersen showroom, The Home Depot, or Lowe’s you now have one more way to compare your window, door or skylight purchase - efficiency.

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GetWithGreen.com set out last week to purchase a tubular skylight. We needed a tubular skylight for a remodel we are doing, and we chose a tubular daylight device because we wanted to reduce the need for electricity to light a hallway.

Using the list of tubular skylight manufacturers GetWithGreen compiled last year, we selected Solatube. Solatube was selected solely because their website provided the most complete information about tubular daylight device. After a great introductory conversation with Marjorie Clark at Sunlight Concepts, Inc. (Solatube reseller and installer), we decided to drive down and make our purchase.

There are many options when purchasing a tubular daylight device. Here are the items you will need to consider:

1. How much space are you attempting to light? The Solatube products come in a 10″ diameter (Model 160 DS) and a 14″ diameter (Model 290 DS). Tricky in their naming, the 160 DS means that it lights roughly 160-200 square feet, and 290 DS means it provides coverage for 300 square feet. For our hallway we decided that a 10″ skylight would fit the bill. The 160 DS retails for $350, and the 290 DS for $450. Your contractor will likely receive a discount on these products.
2. Light or No Light. Solatube sells an optional electrical light fixture that installs inside the skylight for night-time use. This is a really nice option if you are installing the light in a hallway or closet. Since a tubular daylight device looks just like a recessed light when installed, we found this to be a great option! We purchased one. Depending on which one you want, the price ranges from $99-125 MSRP.
3. Diffuser Type. Each product comes with a standard diffuser. A diffuser is the lens that you see when you look up at your skylight. Each diffuser offers a different type of light. Make sure the showroom you visit has different installations so you can see the differences. The standard diffuser was very appealing. Marjorie let us borrow the optional OptiView diffuser so that we can test it after our install. The OptiView delivers a bright light, and will also let off a prism effect on your wall in some cases. We urge you to ask your retailer to borrow the different types.
4. Softening Lens. Once the diffuser is installed, you can purchase an optional softening lens that changes the color of the light. Once again, Marjorie was awesome, and she let us borrow a few different types…three different ones to be exact. They are very easy to swap out once your daylight device is installed. Again, ask your retailer to let you borrow a few to test out. If you decide to purchase they can cost you $15+.
5. Tubing. Your Solatube Daylighting System will come standard with 4 ft of tubing that pipes the light from the roof to the installed “light” in your ceiling. Our installation required 8 ft, so we purchase two 24″ extensions which cost us $21.11 each. The extension allow us to make a slight angle in our way to the roof as well. NOTE: the product also include flashing for the roof. The flashing included pre-drilled holes which we thought was a nice touch.
6. Other. Are you going to install the skylight yourself? The team at Sunlight Concepts charges $250 for installation. Some towns require a permit for installing a product like this.

Check back with us in a week or so, and we’ll let you know how our installation goes. For those of you in the San Jose, CA area, stop in and see Marjorie at Sunlight Concepts. She has all the various products installed in the showroom, and she is super friendly and an absolute pleasure to work with!

See more on Daylighting Systems from GetWithGreen.com

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?(Western juniper) now occupies about 10 times more territory across eastern Oregon, northern California, and southwest Idaho than it did in the 1880s and has muscled out native shrubs, flowers and grasses to achieve a dominance that may last for hundreds of years.? ? ?Oregon?s Agriculture Progress,? Oregon State University Agricultural Experiment Station, 1995- 2005.

JELD-WEN windows and doors has just announded availability of interior and exterior doors made with Western juniper as part of the authentic rustic style JELD-WEN® IWP® Estate collection.

The company is calling these doors an eco-friendly green option for homeowners because juniper is considered a ?water hog,? and the overgrowth of juniper especially in the Western states has been linked to the disappearance of critical water springs in high desert regions, as a single tree can consume 30 to 50 gallons of water per day.

JELD-WEN goes on to say that since invasive juniper outcompetes several native plant species, this leads to a loss of forests and wildlife habitat. So much so, state and local governments have offered programs to help support juniper removal in areas where it is quite literally a growing problem…now this ?throwaway? wood, which might otherwise be burned down to clear land, can be put to productive use.

The company says its Juniper doors deliver unique knots and splits in addition to large, swirling grain patterns. The coloring of the grain can vary from lighter tones to deep cinnamon brown with reddish undertones. The natural beauty of juniper works well for rustic, historic and traditional styles, such as Mediterranean, Old World and Lodge architecture.  JELD-WEN Juniper doors come prefinished and are available as a door only or prehung.

As far as strength, juniper performed well In tests conducted by Oregon State University, when it came to machining, gluing and finishing. Once dried, juniper shrinks and swells less than many other species according to JELD-WEN. 

To close things out, here are some additional Facts from JELD-WEN on juniper:  GetWithGreen.com does note that JELD-WEN did not say exactly what type of forests the wood was harvested from.

JELD-WEN FACT SHEET
Western juniper facts and figures

?If not managed, Western juniper?occupancy ultimately is expected to result in massive watershed degradation, which seriously affects productivity, biodiversity, water quantity and quality and resource values with drastic economic and ecological consequences.? ? ?Western Juniper, Its Impact and Management in Oregon Rangelands,? Oregon State University, February 1993.

?What?s so bad about juniper? The main thing is that it hogs water?its roots reach wide and deep, depleting water from the soil, and its heavy canopy can keep some precipitation from ever reaching the ground?As juniper consumes more of the water and nutrients on a site, other plants languish and die ? a ?slow strangulation.?? ? ?Oregon?s Agriculture Progress,? Oregon State University Agricultural Experiment Station, 1995- 2005.

?(Western juniper) now occupies about 10 times more territory across eastern Oregon, northern California, and southwest Idaho than it did in the 1880s and has muscled out native shrubs, flowers and grasses to achieve a dominance that may last for hundreds of years.? ? ?Oregon?s Agriculture Progress,? Oregon State University Agricultural Experiment Station, 1995- 2005.

?Private landowners, landowner associations and government land management agencies very much want to work with private industry to find ways to rehabilitate areas which are now (juniper) woodlands and lower management costs.?  ? ?Processing and Finishing Western Juniper? (Prepared for Wood Technology Clinic and Show), U.S. Forest Service & Connolly Wood Products, March 1998.

?Historically, juniper control projects tend to be mechanically based. Bulldozing or chaining were popular choices. Junipers were piled, and burned when dry. Both procedures resulted in disturbed soil requiring seeding and they were costly. This approach also resulted in high nutrient losses and scalded or sterile soils after the piles were burned.? ? ?Western Juniper, Its Impact and Management in Oregon Rangelands,? Oregon State University, February 1993.

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