With winter well on its way here to the metroplex, our attention turns to our heating bills and how we can lower them. One of the easiest (and most attractive) is installing energy efficient doors.

Whether you are in Dallas, Plano, or anywhere else in Collin, Dallas, or Denton counties, DEEP can provide you a quality energy efficient door to lower your heating bills and beautifying your home. We offer several types of doors, such as fiberglass, wood, and steel. We even offer energy efficient patio doors and storm doors. Please see our doors page for further information on our full line of doors and how they can save you money and beautify your home.

Once you’ve got the right Energy Efficient Door for your home, it’s very important to have it installed properly. You’ll want to have a good seal so air doesn’t leak in and out. When that happens, energy is being wasted which could increase your energy bill. It’s not a bad idea to check all your door and window seals periodically. All of our doors are Energy Star doors, a classification started by the E.P.A. To identify energy efficient products that save money and energy.

Lastly, make sure the glass in your door is energy efficient as well. A double paned glass is a good place to start, but there are other options.

Even though it’s December, adding an energy efficient door will save you money the rest of this winter, and every winter thereafter.

While many people feel that home improvements are best done in the spring or fall, when folks are outside involved in activities and looking at their homes, winter is often overlooked as a time when improvements can be done to prepare your home to look it’s best come spring. A simple, and energy efficient improvement is vinyl siding.

Vinyl Siding for the Winter

Now, many people have preconceived images in their head of somewhat ugly, cheap looking siding, those are visions of the past. DEEP offers three different vinyl siding options for our customers in Dallas, Plano, and surrounding counties: Weatherbarrier, Weatherbarrier Plus, and Weatherbarrier Max. What are the advantages of vinyl siding? Aside from improving the appearance of the home and being nearly maintenance free, vinyl siding offers many other advantages. Vinyl siding is an affordable alternative to other types of siding which offers style, easy care and durability. Because it requires fewer resources to manufacture and maintain, and because it is recyclable, vinyl siding is also an environmentally friendly option, decreasing your carbon footprint and making your home more “green” in the process.

Vinyl siding is comprised of PVC (Poly Vinyl Chloride) resins, combined with other elements to increase durability, flexibility and color retention. Acrylic components help vinyl siding resist denting and exposure to extreme weather conditions, such as colder climates. Titanium dioxide and other chemicals are added to protect the color from sun exposure and to prevent fading and chalking.

Because pigments are mixed with the PVC resins, vinyl siding has a deep, penetrating color that goes all the way through the material, rather than paint on the surface. This keeps scratches and blemishes from becoming noticeable. With wood or aluminum siding, a scratch removes the pigment, allowing the original color to show through the surface color.

Another benefit of this color process is the fact that vinyl siding never needs to be scraped or painted like other materials do. An occasional washing with a hose or sprayer and mild detergent is all that is needed. The water won’t damage vinyl siding, or vinyl downspouts and gutters. Vinyl does not rot, rust or crack the way wood and metal do. With proper installation and occasional cleaning, your siding should last and look great for many years to come.

Perhaps one of the most important advantages of vinyl siding outside it’s relatively maintenance-free good looks is it’s cost effectiveness, usually 25% to 50% that of wood or aluminum.

To see how affordable our three options of siding are for your home in the metroplex, please call us at 972-398-6105.

Dallas Energy Efficient Products is located in Plano, Texas and we serve the entire metroplex, from Dallas to Frisco, Fort Worth to Mesquite. We offer quality products at affordable prices in an entire line of energy efficient “green” products, from replacement windows and doors to radiant barrier systems to reduce your carbon footprint even further.

Treat your home to new products this holiday season, increasing your property’s value and beauty all at once.

Most of us now know what it means to be living “green” and trying to conserve our natural resources.  We want to leave a smaller carbon footprint and be less dependent on fossil fuels.  We want to make this a better world for our children and grandchildren.

We encourage the development of solar and wind power but for most residential use it is still too expensive and space prohibitive.  What we really need to do is CONSERVE what we aleady have and quit wasting our natural resouces whether it be water, gas or electric.  Most tract homes aren’t really built to save energy but to control cost many builders continue to use cheap aluminum frame double pane windows with minumum solar heat gain control and minumum attic insulation and ventilation.  Both that will cost the new homeowners thousands of energy dollars during their stays. Most can’t change everything but we can still make a differance one step at a time.  Changing out a few windows, adding 6-12″ of insulation, updating your a/c system from a 10-12 Seer rated system to 16-18 seer rated.

Using compact flourescent bulbs that use 75% less energy and last 10 times longer. Use of programmable thermastats to reduce usage during the day when we’re not there are just a few of the ways you can make a differance.  Call us at Dallas Energy Efficient Products and we’ll be glad to come to your home and show you how you can save money and have the government help pay for it.  Call us at 972-398-6105 to set an appointment.

Gregg Graham- Owner

Plano, Texas

When getting ready to purchase a new item like windows it is important that you understand the terms and differences in styles of windows.  For instance when someone says U-Factor is important, what do they mean?  U-Factor has to do with the ability of the window to keep heat in the house during winter months.  From a scale of 1-100 the lower the number the better.  The new tax credit requires a U-Factor of 30 or better.  This means that the window as a whole is able to keep at least 70% of the heat inside the house.  Solar Heat Gain Coefficiency is another term you will hear.  It has to do with the ability of the window as a whole to keep solar heat from coming through your window into your house.  Obviously that would be very important here in Texas.  Again, the minimum rating for the tax credit is 30.  Both factors must be met.  You also only get 30% of the cost of materials only up to $1,500.

Windows can be Single Hung meaning that only the bottom sash operates as opposed to a Double Hung where both sashed can operate and tilt in for easy cleaning.  There are Sliders where the sashes operate horizontally rather than vertically. This is typically for a opening that is wider than it is tall.  Picture windows can be helpful to minimize the number of units by combining two units that are side by side and improve visibility.  Picture windows can’t be used in Bedrooms unless there is an operating window also for egress (excape). Casement windows are window in which crank open to the outside. These can be used where maximum visibility is desired and yet ventilation is desired.

There are vinyl windows, aluminum windows, fiberglass windows and wood windows. Most people already have aluminum windows.  They are highly conductive of energy and not energy efficient.  fiberglass windows are strong and can have energy efficient glass but are typically more expensive. Wood windows like Peachtree, Pella and Anderson offer can be a beautiful choice if one wants the look of wood inside and aluminum clad for protection on the outside.  Again, these are on the high end and are usually in upper end homes.  That leaves vinyl windows.  These are energy efficient in their frames and can have high energy efficient glass systems.  They can range from anywhere from $300 a average window to well over a $1,000 a window depending upon the vendor you choose.

Storm windows and solar screens are on the low end of the price range but typically do not add resale value to your home and are stop gap products to help but not completely take care of the problem of energy efficiency in your home.  Replace the glass when fogged is also a get by way of reducing the visibility problem but not really improving the energy efficiency at all.  Also, you are just putting back in rubber seals that will again rot and have to be replaced. With the current tax credit available it only makes sense to invest in something that will not only increase the energy efficiency of your home but improve security, control noise pollution, minimize ultraviolet light damage and build value in your home.  Call today for your free estimate. 972-398-6105.

Gregg Graham- Owner

Replacement windows are a better value than sun screens and glass replacement.  Sun screens are not effective during the winter months and make the house dark.  Glass replacement just puts back into your home the same problems with seal failure and poor energy efficiency.  The overall price of replacement windows has come down and with the help of the new tax credit that the government is offering it is even better. Replacement windows also increase security, add value to your home, reduce noise pollution and with double hungs can make it very easy to keep clean and maintain.

Excluding those that are the cheapest and those that are the most expensive the average cost of replacement windows is around $300-$600. This will depend upon the size,shape and glass package that you get.  Some windows also require tempering which will add to the price.  Replacement windows also normally only take about 1 day to replace.  When you consider the energy savings, the increased home value, and the tax credits NOW is the time to take advantage before the year is up and the weather turns bad.  Please call or fill out our contact form for a free estimate of your home and take advantage of all the savings. Call 972-398-6105 for your free estimate.

Hybrid cars work because they use the best of both worlds. They use efficient gasoline engines combined with electric motors to enhance the performance and use less gas to get you were you want to go. Good replacement windows do the same.  They use the framework of vinyl which is a product that doesn’t transfer heat or cold , fusion weld it to make it strong and then combine it with the best glass systems that make up 85% of the window.

Technology is advancing even in the glass world.  We have had LowE glass for some 15 years or more.  It was first used in the North to help capture the winter sun’s heat in not let it escape back out the window.  When it was brought to the South it was combined with tinted glass and used to reflect the heat from entering during the long cooling season we have.  LowE2 then came out using two coats of Low Emissivity to strengthen the protection from radiant heat.  Glass manufacturers have not developed LowE3 or cubed to enhance it even more.  This combined with exotic gases like Krypton or Xenon have raised the bar of efficiency even higher. New technology does cost more initially but pays higher savings in the long run.  The question you need to ask is how long to you plan on being in your current house? If this is to be you retirement home and you have no plans on moving going with this new technology definantly makes sense as it cost 15-20% more.

As fuel cost continue to increase and when the economy improves this should be high on your list of home improvements.  Think of your windows as a hole would be in your car’s gas tank.  No matter how energy efficient the engine is it can’t perform correctly with the lead.  Your windows are like holes in your house that are leaking your energy savings out. Meet with one of our energy consultants to show you how you can put together a stage program of how to make you house truly energy efficient.

Gregg Graham-Owner  Plano, Texas

You may be asking what exactly will this new economic relief program that President Obama has been pushing do to help me in the next few months.  Good question.  Unfortunately, very little change will be seen by the average citizen.  I believe that it is dangerous to be in a critical condition and sit and wait for somebody else to create a miracle that will make all your problems go away.  I was raised with the mentality that we are personally responsible for our actions and reactions.  Taking the initiative and doing whatever I could do to start making a change for the better was always better that waiting for a handout and program to correct the situation.

This year will be difficult but not impossible to those who believe that the glass is half full, to those who refuse to believe all the media hype about the economic end times.  Now is a good time to sit down and redo our budgets or create one for the first time and see where our money really is going.  To control waste and overspending .  To set financial goals for ourselves and our children.  To teach them control and restraint. How to save and conserve. GET BACK TO THE BASICS.

One way we can do this is to teach our children what it means to go GREEN. Protects our environment and quit wasting energy.  Look around your house and see where you could be saving money and energy.  Let us help.  We can do a basic ENERGY AUDIT and help you to put a program together to save money.  Just call and set an free appointment.

Gregg Graham, Owner   Plano, Texas

For 15 years I worked for Sears and learned a great deal. Having quality products and reliable service, and a great warranty gives peace of mind to customers. We have all bought Sear’s products like Kenmore,Craftsman and Diehard. Sear’s is built around these products. I was in charge of the Home Improvement Division for North Texas and believed that this would always remain the guiding principles in all their businesses but eventually saw that this was changing. Utilizing the best products and what was best for the customer became secondary to profit and hitting the bottom line. Change isn’t always good. I knew there were products out there that were <a href=”http://www.dallasenergyefficientproducts.com/dallas_windows.php”>superior windows and doors</a> and met more of the needs of the customer than Sear’s was willing to meet.

Having an opportunity to start my own company and help create products that were cutting edge and used the most recent innovations in the different products is exciting.  Designing products that meet a wider range of needs and colors and taking a “we can do that attitude” is what makes me tick.  I’m grateful for the learning experience I gained from Sears and hope that they can get back to the quality they used to have so they don’t end up like Montgomery Ward.  Check out my website on Windows and get excited about what they could do for you and your energy bills.  Now is the time of the year to get your extra attic insulation blown in and your Radiant Barrier installed before the hot season arrives.  Call or click for specials on these two products.  Thanks for your interest and God Bless.

For 15 years I worked for Sears and learned a great deal. Having quality products and reliable service, and a great warranty gives peace of mind to customers. We have all bought Sear’s products like Kenmore,Craftsman and Diehard. Sear’s is built around these products. I was in charge of the Home Improvement Division for North Texas and believed that this would always remain the guiding principles in all their businesses but eventually saw that this was changing. Utilizing the best products and what was best for the customer became secondary to profit and hitting the bottom line. Change isn’t always good. I knew there were products out there that were superior and met more of the needs of the customer than Sear’s was willing to meet.

Having an opportunity to start my own company and help create products that were cutting edge and used the most recent innovations in the different products is exciting.  Designing products that meet a wider range of needs and colors and taking a “we can do that attitude” is what makes me tick.  I’m grateful for the learning experience I gained from Sears and hope that they can get back to the quality they used to have so they don’t end up like Montgomery Ward.  Check out my website on Windows and get excited about what they could do for you and your energy bills.  Now is the time of the year to get your extra attic insulation blown in and your Radiant Barrier installed before the hot season arrives.  Call or click for specials on these two products.  Thanks for your interest and God Bless.

Gregg Graham- Owner Plano,Tx.

When you start a new business, a bank requires a business plan for your business for the current year and for the next five years.  Most successful businesses have goal plans to which they work toward. What is the government’s energy goals and plans for the next 5 years???? What plans to they have to wean us off oil and onto alternative energy sources? Does anyone out there really know?  It is not surprising to me that we haven’t made any more significant gains in this area when those leading in the battle can’t agree or work together to meet specific goals.

We might not be able to make a difference at the national level but we can make a big difference on the personal level.  First we need to understand why we need to change before we’ll be motivated to change.  Global warming is not a joke or theory, it is a reality.  This is directly tied into the amount of Carbon Dioxide that is being released in the air.  This is affected by factories and gasoline burning cars that emit carbon dioxide into the air. It is affected by the amount of energy use we consume.  The kind of energy we use in our homes.  It is your Carbon footprint you hear about.  Saving energy consumption isn’t just about saving money it is about controlling waste on natural resources.  Each time we turn off a light before leaving a room or hallway we control waste. When we use programmable thermostats that turn down the use of energy while we are gone. We save.  When we put current energy conservation technology to use in our windows, doors, attics, and A/C systems we start making a difference.

With change comes effort and cost.  That is why so many don’t. They think that they can’t afford to upgrade or take the time to be conscious of developing a plan on how to get there.  They just keep on doing the same old things expecting others to make the sacrifices necessary to make a difference. Start somewhere and create good habits of conservation and recycling. Get an ENERGY AUDIT done to see where your greatest loses are and how to start attacking them.  You’ll be surprised by the difference YOU can make. Let’s make 2009 a fresh start and let’s make a difference you and I.

Stayed tuned as in the next installment I’m going to talk about what I learned from my 15 years at Sears Home Improvement and what I have improved on.

Gregg Graham-Owner Plano,Tx