Tight Home Improvement Budget? Select Projects That Save Money and Offer Tax Credits

KLAMATH FALLS, OR--(Marketwire - April 30, 2009) - Spring is remodeling season, and this year homeowners are looking for home improvement projects that can help them save money as well as improve the overall performance of their house.

During a tough economy, experts say consumers on tight budgets are wise to focus their home renovation efforts on affordable projects that make lasting economic impacts. For example, here are five money-saving ideas that are easy to undertake and won't break the bank, courtesy of JELD-WEN Windows and Doors and Danny Lipford, host of the nationally syndicated television show "Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford":

1. Go low-flow

Inexpensive and a simple do-it-yourself project, installing low-flow shower heads and faucet aerators can reduce consumption by 50 percent and save on water heating costs as well.

Price range: $12 - $200 per unit

2. Shut out the cold

Upgrading old and drafty windows can be a big money saver -- an average savings of up to $450 per year on energy costs according to the U.S. Department of Energy. It can also help come tax time. Homeowners can receive federal tax credits of up to $1,500 for installing qualified energy efficient windows by the end of 2010.

Price range: Starting around $165 per unit for vinyl windows with insulated Low-E glass

3. Keep in the heat

Insulating attic spaces is a good way to keep heat in during the winter and cut down on utility bills. This is a weekend project that can show immediate returns.

Price range: Usually around $50 per roll

4. Light up the savings

If you can change a lightbulb, you can save money by installing compact fluorescent lights (CFLs). Each ENERGY STAR® qualified bulb lasts 10 times longer than regular lights and can save $30 over its lifetime.

Price range: Starting around $2 per bulb

5. Set your favorite program

Programmable thermostats are painless to install and reduce heating and cooling costs to the tune of $180 per year with ENERGY STAR® qualified units.

Price range: $40 to $100

How can new windows save money?

Replacing old, inefficient windows can make a major difference in reducing energy costs, as well as adding other style and performance benefits. A typical home can realize significant savings. In fact, more efficient JELD-WEN windows and doors helped a family in Maine cut their home fuel heating bill by half this past winter, thanks to new JELD-WEN windows and doors that were installed in their 119-year-old farmhouse. Now, the family notices not only a dramatic difference in their energy costs, but in the comfort and style of their home.

Through 2010, window replacement projects also qualify for tax benefits. Under the government's new Economic Stimulus plan, federal tax credits for qualified energy efficiency improvements related to items including windows and doors are available for up to $1,500. JELD-WEN has made it easy to determine the specific requirements and which products qualify for the tax credits by asking for the Tax Credit package or visiting the Web site at http://www.jeld-wen.com/taxcredit.

Quotes:

"Window improvement can be affordable and stylish at the same time, so homeowners do not have to compromise one for the other. More than 50 percent of all replacement windows in the U.S. are vinyl units, which can start in the $165 range for a basic size. JELD-WEN vinyl windows provide high-style features like simulated divided lites, and come standard with Low-E glass for energy efficiency. Overall, vinyl is a great value for the investment." -- Brian Hedlund, product marketing manager at JELD-WEN

"Upgrading old, inefficient windows and doors is a smart renovation project because it provides long-term benefits. New windows and doors are reasonably-priced improvements that offer immediate energy cost savings, lower maintenance and classic styles and designs that help improve a home's market value. That's money right back in a homeowner's pocket." -- Danny Lipford, host of the nationally syndicated television program "Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford" and an authority on budget home improvement tips that pay dividends

"Despite a pullback in the economy, homeowners are still looking to renovate their homes and update them as much as possible. The difference today is that they want effective products, like windows and doors, which maximize their return on investment, make a noticeable impact and continue to save them money year after year." -- Brian Hedlund, product marketing manager at JELD-WEN

Company Info:

Based in Klamath Falls, Ore., JELD-WEN began as a small Oregon millwork plant with 15 employees in 1960 and has grown to more than 20,000 employees in nearly 150 locations worldwide. Today the company manufactures a full breadth of windows, doors and garage doors, and has earned numerous awards and endorsements for reliability, innovation and excellence. For more information about the exceptional value and reliability of JELD-WEN® products, or to find a dealer near you, please visit jeld-wen.com or call 800-877-9482.

Images/Links: http://www.flickr.com/photos/36052101@N02/sets/72157614775764397/

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook and check out JELD-WEN's YouTube Channel.

Video:

Learn how one family was able to save money and reduce energy costs by installing new windows and doors, and view this video for additional tips.

Contact Information: Contact Information: CMD PR on behalf of JELD-WEN 503-274-7006 Twitter @JELD-WEN