Feb 13 2008
As the housing economy slows and energy costs accelerate, Americans are looking for home improvement projects that work to add value to their home and add to their monthly savings. In a national study conducted by Kelton Research, over two in five (44%) homeowners surveyed said that if presented with the free services of a contractor, window replacement would be more important than a variety of popular home improvements like a kitchen remodel, installing new carpeting, landscaping the yard or building a new deck.
"A majority of American homeowners (51 percent) said their windows aren't 'green' or energy-efficient enough," said Elaine Sagers, vice president of marketing, Pella Windows & Doors. "That fact combined with this new sense of practicality about home improvement projects tells us that many consumers are truly looking for ways to reduce how much their house actually costs them in monthly bills and upkeep."
In the study, over half (51 percent) of Americans said that of anything in their home windows offer the most potential when it comes to energy efficiency -- even more than other products including lights (48 percent), insulation (48 percent) and heating systems (43 percent).
Nearly two out of three (65 percent) homeowners believe that energy efficiency is the most important quality to consider when choosing new windows. The virtues of 'green' energy-efficient windows easily won out over other qualities like durability, safety, ease of use, soundproofing and clarity.
"We have long recognized the priority homeowners, builders, and contractors and architects put on energy efficiency when it comes to choosing windows and doors, said Rob Jablonski, Pella's vice president of engineering whose team is focused on designing and testing innovative energy-efficient solutions. "That's why innovation and the environment are so important at Pella. We are continuously striving for ways to make Pella windows and doors the best they can be in terms of quality and energy efficiency."
Pella's history of quality and innovation is evident in the many awards it has earned. For example, Pella was named a 2007 ENERGY STAR(R) Partner of the Year in the windows category. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Energy (DOE) commended Pella for its industry leadership in reducing greenhouse gas emissions by manufacturing and educating consumers about energy-efficient products.
Despite many Americans' worries about energy efficiency, drafts and other issues, some homeowners are still reluctant to initiate a window replacement project.
More than four in 10 (44 percent) said that suddenly coming into some money like winning the lottery or landing an inheritance would motivate them to replace at least one window in their home. Yet among those who have experienced a window replacement project in their home, 60 percent said the entire project cost about what was expected or even less.
Other concerns about replacement included the perception that the process seems too daunting, that it's too time intensive and not knowing where to go for help. Contrasting that among the recent replacers, nearly half (45 percent) of homeowners who hired a professional to replace their windows noted the quality of the installer's service was better than expected.
Despite the dread of ripping into home improvement projects for many people, two-thirds of homeowners surveyed agree it's not okay to delay window replacement.
And, after all was said and done, among those who did replace, their energy efficiency priorities were met as savings, style and comfort added up. Almost half (49 percent) reported their utility bills actually went down after their last window replacement project. They also found their homes more comfortable (48 percent), more valuable (38 percent) and their new windows aesthetically more pleasing (48 percent).
Chicago Tribune features writer Lou Carlozo's window replacement experience is a prime example of a painless replacement project. Carlozo recently replaced the windows in his 1920s Victorian bungalow home just a few miles from Wrigley Field on Chicago's North Side.
One month after having six new Pella wood windows installed in his home Carlozo says, "the glow has hardly faded from our new windows. My wife Amy and I feel like we've made the right move to protect, beautify and conserve energy."
"The windows look incredibly beautiful and our old house looks like it has a new life," said Amy.