Colorado residents residing within Douglas County  now have one more reason to take advantage of a new energy efficient rebate program. The rebate, is a 20% rebate directly from Douglas county with a maximum of $1,000 returned.  If a homeowner spends money on energy effient windows in Douglas County, 20% of the contracted price is refunded back from the county. It will come in by check ,three to six weeks after the job is completed.

The county does require homeowners to pull permits for the job, however. The contractor also needs to be licensed in Douglas county and most commonly, the contractor will handle the permit. After the job is complete, Douglas county will send a inspector out to review the install and verify new windows were installed. After the inspectors leave, simply fill out the one page form and send in the contract. The county will then send you a check for 20% of the contracted price.

This, combined with the 30% discount applied by the federal $1,500 tax credit, can help the homeowner to save up to 50% of the cost of the windows! What a wonderful time to take advantage of these savings.

As the bill moves through the House and on to the Senate, initial optimism for more tax credits in the future for home owners is positive.

H.R. 5019 Is the bill, and it’ll be great to see the jobs this bill might help create and in Colorado, with so many homes needing renovation, this will be a welcome opportunity for many homeowners and investors.

We’ll keep you posted and provide additional details on the bill as news breaks!

We’re excited to say that we’re starting to see the window industry and the weather starting to heat up. As the busy season approaches. We want to remind you, that if you’re planning to purchase windows in 2010, now is the time to get serious!

In 2009, Denver window companies received a influx of interest late in the year. People wanted to get their hands on the $1,500 tax credit that was available, and had to get their windows installed before the year ended. For many, waiting too long to talk to a window company resulting in missing the opportunity to get in on the credits for 2009.

If you’re thinking of buying new replacement windows, denver area residents should move quickly! This year, many companies are predicting a 2-3 month wait for windows to be installed. This could easily be longer. Don’t wait and miss this opportunity request a quote to speak with a industry expert today!

When President Obama addressed the nation in his last State of the Union address, he mentioned a Philadelphia window manufacturer as proof of the stimulus act at work. And for the most part, many companies effected by the tax credits would agree. The Window industry, has certainly seen a boom in business and is looking forward to that continuing.

“Talk to the window manufacturer in Philadelphia who said he was skeptical of the Recovery Act until he added two shifts due to the business it created,” Obama said.

Although he didn’t mention Northeast Building Products by name, DWM confirmed that it was in fact the Philadelphia-based company with Fran Levin, its executive vice president. Levin says she received a call from the White House yesterday requesting permission for the company to be mentioned.

Following the address last night, she received a call from CNN and Northeast Building Products president Alan Levin appeared on CNN this morning at 11 a.m.

- For more on that story

As the normal slow period during December-January/February begins to fade away. Many window contractors are gearing up for one of the biggest sales year they’re likely to have experienced in recent memory.

Take our Poll, how do you think the tax credits have helped the economy?

Are you in a related industry? Have the credits helped you? Are you a home owner looking for new replacement windows – has the tax credit effected your interest or recent purchase decision? Tell us about it – Comment below!

With the tax credits that have been given to homeowners this year, people are looking even closer than in the past to the quality of windows that they are buying. Something that most windows have in common is the Argon gas. Argon gas is denser than plain air, so in theory the window unit should be more energy efficient. Many people these days are looking very close to the NFRC ratings on the windows because windows that have both U-Factor and SHGC ratings under.30 will give the homeowner up to a $1500.00 tax credit. Upon looking at the NFRC web site there seems to be a 2 to 5 point swing in a window built without gas.  A window with a certain kind of glass pack option rated at a .29 might be .32 with out the gas (The exact window, but with out the gas). The point is, all windows with gas will lose the gas in it at some point and the ratings on your new windows will not be as good tomorrow, as they are today. If you can get a window that has a .26 with out the gas in it, than tomorrow it will still be a .26. If you buy a window that comes with gas and has a .26, tomorrow it could climb to over thirty, which does not meet the requirement for the tax credit.