Custom Craft Exteriors forms its own Green team ...

Custom Craft Exteriors the company commits to taking an aggressive stance and do its part to help by providing its consumers the most energy efficient replacement vinyl and wood windows, exterior entry doors and vinyl siding to help save the environment and gives birth to its own in house "Green Team", Custom Craft Exteriors is committed to make a difference for all future generations in the world around us. More information will soon be available on how our customers will become an integral part of this mission.

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Homes Use Energy Like It's Going Out of Style?

 

The typical U.S. family spends $1,300 a year on home energy bills, and some of that energy is wasted. Heating, ventilating and air conditioning units are inefficient, windows leak conditioned air, and appliances devour energy.

This is money out of your pocket, and it's bad news for the environment—electricity generated by fossil fuels for a single home puts more carbon dioxide into the air than two average cars.

 

The Good News?

 

Well, maybe using so much energy—especially in the form of fossil fuels—is going out of style. Homeowners and renters know that saving energy means saving money, and they're realizing that it does not mean sacrificing functionality. There are many things you can do to save energy, ranging from long-term investments to simple no- or low-cost changes. In fact, simple adjustments—like letting your dishes air dry—add up to significant savings.

Looking for long-term savings? Because we use-and waste-energy in so many ways, there are plenty of options for cutting back. If you replace 25% of your lights in high-use areas with fluorescent's, you can save about 50% of your lighting energy bill. In the market for a new appliance? Invest a little extra money in an energy-efficient product and save more money in the long run. If you're building an addition to your home, double-paned windows and proper insulation will reduce your heating and cooling costs, and strategically placed windows will provide day lighting. From water heating to landscaping, most areas of your home offer opportunities to save.

But we will always need energy, and that's why many homeowners are turning to renewable energy sources for a cleaner, more sustainable choice. This can mean investing in solar panels to supply your home's electricity or purchasing a solar water heater. It can also mean installing ground source heat pumps that use the heat of the earth to moderate the temperature of your home. In many areas, utility companies offer clean energy options such as wind power.

And that's not all. While you're at the business of saving money, you'll help reduce dependence on fossil fuels, which increases domestic security. You'll also help the environment. In 2000, residences accounted for 20% of U.S. energy-related carbon dioxide emissions—that's 313.4 million metric tons of carbon dioxide. Saving energy also goes hand in hand with other sustainable choices, like saving water and using more friendly materials and products, like paint, carpet, and cleaners. This is good news for the environment, but it also improves the health of your home, so you can breathe easy.

 

So, where to start? By now, chances are you've come up with a much better way to spend your money than sending it out your old single-paned windows. So let the experts at Custom Craft Exteriors give you a free in home estimate which will help you determine what changes will save the most energy and money.

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What Did You Recycle Today?

Eco-friendly disposal of remodeling waste

By Ron Cowgil

Everyone knows to recycle glass, plastic and paper products.In fact, new data released by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency shows that Americans recycled and composted approximately 32.5 percent of their waste in 2006.

Despite these glowing statistics dumpsters are overflowing with all kinds of remodeling waste that can be recycled or reused.

Drywall disposal
Drywall and plaster are the most common remodeling waste materials that are improperly disposed of. Drywall can be recycled and made into new drywall products. Gypsum (the white stuff between the paper in drywall) can be reused as a soil amendment, in the production of cement and as an ingredient in many types of commercial products. Since the gypsum makes up approximately 90 percent of the weight of a piece of drywall, if the gypsum can be recovered, the majority of the material can be recycled, including the paper on the outside.

Wood waste
Wood products, such as framing materials, that are removed during a renovation can have the nails and screws removed and be reused for future projects. The moldings, doors and windows can also be relocated. If there is no use for the material, the lumber can be recycled and used for landscape mulch, in particle-board products or even paper products.

Metal materials
Old aluminum siding, copper wire and pipe, cast iron, steel pipe, sheet metal, old electric motors, nails and screws all can be recycled. Metal is one of the few items that you can earn money by disposing of it -- just take it in to a scrap company, and they will actually pay you for the waste. If you don't want to bother with going to the scrap company, just set the metal waste out by the street and it will disappear in less than 24 hours -- like magic!

Appliance awareness
Light fixtures, plumbing fixtures and appliances that are still in good shape may be hard to throw away. You may want to list them on eBay or Craig's List and try to get a few bucks for them. If you don't have the time for that, there are organizations that take donations of appliances and fixtures, such as Habitat for Humanity, local churches or Goodwill. Even though you do not have a use for it, someone else may. If the fixtures are not worth donating, they can be recycled with the other metal waste.

Most construction waste in North America is still disposed of in landfills. Challenges to widespread recycling include collection and separation, low landfill disposal fees and the need for the education of potential end users of the recycled materials. If you want to recycle your next project, check out your options at www.recyclingit.com.

 

Recycling Stats

251 million tons of municipal solid waste was generated by Americans in 2006

82 million tons of that waste was recycled and composted

31 million tons of municipal solid waste was combusted for energy recovery in 2006

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

 

	Ron Cowgill, CR, CKBR is the owner of D/R Services Unlimited, a full-service remodeling firm. He is heavily involved in the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, and hosts Mighty House, a home-improvement radio show on Sundays from 9-11 a.m. on 92.5, 92.7 and 99.9 NINE FM. www.mightyhouse.net

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Rate Relief Bill Credits

The 2008 CARE Assistance & Education programs include a variety of resources to help customers in
different ways, such as:

• Residential Special Hardship Program: Provides one-time grants of up to $1,000 for residential customers with household incomes up to 400 percent of the poverty level ($82,600 for a family of four) who identify a hardship issue. The 2008 program expands eligibility to reach additional
  customers. Begins Jan. 1 and runs until funds are depleted.
•  Summer Assistance Program: Provides bill credits of $30 for summer months, the equivalent of
  running a medium-sized window air conditioner for 600 hours, or approximately six to seven hours
  per day for the three summer months. ComEd applies this credit automatically to Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) participants, but all customers with household incomes of up to 200 percent of poverty level ($41,300 for a family of four) may apply. Runs Jun. 1
  to Aug. 31.
• Power Up Program: Provides grants of up to $400 for residential customers with household
  incomes up to 200 percent of the poverty level who are not approved for LIHEAP. Helps families
  in need to prevent imminent disconnection or assist with the reconnection of their electrical service.
• CHAMP (ComEd Helps Activated Military Personnel): Assists members of the U.S. National
  Guard and Reserve on active duty with managing their electric service bills.
• Weatherization Assistance: Performs energy-saving improvements for all-electric, LIHEAP-
  approved residential customers. Visit ComEdCare For more info...

 

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