A vital program youve likely never heard of has been working behind the scenes to greatly improve the quality of life in Walla Walla.

In May 2013, the city of Walla Walla earned its status as an entitlement city Community Development Block Grant program.

Funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, CDBG helps the least privileged and the most vulnerable in our community.

With CDBG funds, the city has:

While the allocation varies from year to year, the city of Walla Walla received $368,678 in 2016.

CDBG funds are administered by the Citys Support Services Department.

The citys CDBG program has a number of projects and priorities for 2017.

The Home Repair Program, funded by CDBG and run by the Blue Mountain Action Council, provides home loans with no interest, and common house repairs such as roof replacement, heating/cooling system installation and electrical and plumbing improvements, to citizens with low to moderate incomes. CDBG will put $55,750 toward that effort this year.

CDBG will provide a total of $140,000 in funding for the construction of a teen center being built by BMAC.

The center will include a six-bed homeless youth shelter for youths ages 13-17, to be operated by Catholic Charities; The Health Center for Lincoln High School students; and a Childrens Home Society child-care facility.

With $35,000 in CDBG funding, Public Works employees will install a flashing pedestrian crossing at the intersection of 12th Avenue and Poplar Street to help Blue Ridge Elementary School students get to class more safely.

$20,000 in alley lighting will be installed in the Washington Park, Blue Ridge and Edith and Carrie neighborhoods. Homeowners in those neighborhoods can apply for lighting by emailing me at jbeckmeyer@wallawallawa.gov, or contacting Commitment to Community.

Habitat for Humanity will build three new affordable homes for families in the Edith and Carrie neighborhood.

A $31,500 contribution will go toward purchasing the land for the homes. Applications are currently being accepted by Habitat for Humanity for two of the homes.

More information and applications are available at ubne.ws/2oMY96i.

In 2018, approximately $50,000 in CDBG funds will be available for small-business loans with the goal of creating new jobs for low- to moderate-income individuals.

I am now accepting applications for these funds.

The infusion of federal funding into these local CDBG projects wont make headlines, but it makes a big difference to an elderly homeowner who cant afford to fix a roof, or a disabled person who has difficulty navigating a curb in a wheelchair, or a child who has to cross one of the busiest streets on the way to school, or a neighborhood that has been routinely victimized by criminals under the cover of darkness.

To apply for funding, please email me.

Jennifer Beckmeyer is the city of Walla Walla Community Development Block Grant coordinator.

Read the original post:
Community Development Block Grant program benefits Walla Walla's least privileged, most vulnerable citizens - Walla Walla Union-Bulletin

by Jon Wayne Service Company

Call for immediate service: (210) 293-6700

Many San Antonio home owners struggle with the dilemma of whether to repair or replace their current air conditioning system. Obviously, if the cost to get the unit back up and running is minor, then that may be a good option, but here are some factors you should consider before investing more repair dollars into your existing unit.

Heat pump or air conditioner is more than 10 years old. Consider replacing a HVAC unit that old with a high-efficiency model. Installed correctly, high-efficiency units can have a dramatic impact on your electric bill and actually pay for themselves over time.

Equipment needs frequent repairs. Frequent repairs are a sign that your old unit has reached the end of its life and is just worn out. Continuing to pay for more repairs is only prolonging the inevitable. The sooner you replace a unit in this condition, the sooner your energy bills will improve, which can end up paying for the new system and saving you money in the future.

Energy bills are very high. Your air conditioning system makes up as much as 60% of your utility bill each month. Older, inefficient systems use more electricity to deliver the same comfort level as current high-efficiency units do. It is not uncommon for our customers to report dramatic drops in their energy bills after we install their new system. Although each home is different, 50% reductions in utility bills (from the same time period during the previous year) have been reported.

Some rooms are too hot or too cold. These kinds of problems are usually the result of an improperly engineered system when the home was built or when the last unit was installed. A well trained technician can diagnose hot/cold spots in your house and determine if the problem is related to the unit's size (tons), inadequate insulation, improper duct work or some combination of these. You definitely want to have a Jon Wayne technicians perform a Complete Home Evaluation to make sure these problems are dealt with properly.

Home has humidity problems. Poor equipment operation, inadequate installation, improperly sized unit, and leaky ductwork can all cause the air in your home to be too dry in the winter and too humid in the summer. Again you will want a Jon Wayne technician to perform a Complete Home Evaluation to determine the cause and eliminate it completely.

Home has excessive dust. Leaky ducts can pull particles from your attic and crawl spaces and distribute them throughout your home. Sealing existing ducts or, if the duct work in your home is in poor condition, replacing your ductwork can be beneficial.

Heating and cooling system is noisy. Noisy units can be caused by a variety of factors including an undersized duct system or a problem with the indoor coil of your cooling equipment.

No two homes are exactly alike and as such, the only way to really know if repairing your HVAC system is the best option is to have a qualified Jon Wayne Comfort Advisor evaluate your home and explain to you their findings. In addition to a visual inspection of your equipment and attic space, we will also perform a Manual J Load calculation which uses information about your San Antonio area home (overall dimensions, window location, orientation to the sun, etc.) to determine the proper equipment needed to cool your home most efficiently. If serious issues exist (like rooms too hot or cold) we can perform a Blower Door Test which simulates pressure within your home and uncovers problems areas so they can be resolved.

Call for immediate service: (210) 293-6700 or click on jonwayneair.com

Originally posted here:
Repair vs. Replace? - FOX 29

Students often attribute the rise in tuition to the renovations of the Quad residence halls, but what they do not realize are the strides Wake Forest is taking to reduce energy use and become a more sustainable campus.

The most recent completed renovation took place in Kitchin Hall, and as a result of improvements is more efficient in terms of overall energy consumption.

Kitchin feels fresh, secure, put together, just nothing seems wrong with it, said sophomore Mike Yurgelun, a current resident there. I have no complaints.

Were looking for anomalies, said Doug Ecklund the Building Systems Manager at WFU. Theres always an opportunity to do something better.

While students enjoy living in this newly renovated residence hall, they do not realize the long lasting implications these improvements can have on the environment. Some students may take a class or two on sustainability, but many are not exposed to the reality of climate change.

According to the Public Library of Science, more than 70% of primary energy used in education buildings in the U.S. is used for heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC), and water heating. If universities nationwide took steps to reduce their carbon footprint, we could be a part of the effort to slow the warming of our planet.

Students are constantly wanting to move into the newest residence hall just because it has new facilities and they dont care about the energy conservation, said senior Sarah Landis. Things that directly affect people are what students are going to notice more.

Maybe if Wake had some sort of requirement to take a class on sustainability, students would become more aware of how their actions directly affect the environment, said senior Daria Ruiz.

According to World Wide Energy, lately many college campuses are changing over to LED lighting because it not only cuts utility costs, but also provides brighter lighting increasing the safety of students walking during nighttime hours.

The interior lighting is LED, which uses very little electricity, has a one year payback period, and has a 10+ year life meaning were throwing away less light bulbs, said Ecklund in regards to energy consumption in Kitchin.

There is occupancy sensing for these lights, which is important because students tend to leave their lights on when leaving their rooms not recognizing the impact this may have long-term.

I lived in Poteat pre-renovation, Kitchins twin building, and remember a lot of people going to bed with their hall lights on, said Ruiz.

Before and after the renovation during occupied periods, Kitchin is showing a 19% reduction in energy use that can be attributed to the enhancements in the building, said Ecklund. Our goal is to analyze the buildings closely and focus on the worst ones.

According to Ecklund, other improvements made to reduce energy consumption are the installation of variable speed fans on the room heating and cooling units, the installation of reduced flow showers and fixtures and the ability of facilities to adjust room temperatures remotely during breaks.

Landis described her experience living in Kitchin pre-renovation as the air being damp so residents would request individual dehumidifiers, and remembers her suitemate having an insect problem.

The air quality was improved with the installation of basement dehumidifiers and the re-insulation of attic spaces, building piping, and ductwork, said Ecklund in regards to the renovation. The university does a lot to prevent mold growth.

Ecklund explained the Direct Digital Controls (DDC) that is connected to central campus and how it helps facilities monitor and control the efficiency of each building. In each mechanical room there are steam, water, and electric meters.

The retrocommissioning of building systems on campus is coming soon, an initiative to bring back design specifications and to operate as originally intended, said Ecklund about the future of this campus and sustainability.

Although the sustainable efforts are not being recognized as much in residence halls as in food locations such as the Pit, it is a matter of time and spreading awareness for more students to under the implications and take action.

Im glad these renovations can encourage students to act in a way that reduces our energy usage and therefore helps the environment, said Yurgelun.

More here:
Quad renovations promote energy efficiency - Old Gold & Black

by Jon Wayne Service Company

Call for immediate service: (210) 293-6700

Many San Antonio home owners struggle with the dilemma of whether to repair or replace their current air conditioning system. Obviously, if the cost to get the unit back up and running is minor, then that may be a good option, but here are some factors you should consider before investing more repair dollars into your existing unit.

Heat pump or air conditioner is more than 10 years old. Consider replacing a HVAC unit that old with a high-efficiency model. Installed correctly, high-efficiency units can have a dramatic impact on your electric bill and actually pay for themselves over time.

Equipment needs frequent repairs. Frequent repairs are a sign that your old unit has reached the end of its life and is just worn out. Continuing to pay for more repairs is only prolonging the inevitable. The sooner you replace a unit in this condition, the sooner your energy bills will improve, which can end up paying for the new system and saving you money in the future.

Energy bills are very high. Your air conditioning system makes up as much as 60% of your utility bill each month. Older, inefficient systems use more electricity to deliver the same comfort level as current high-efficiency units do. It is not uncommon for our customers to report dramatic drops in their energy bills after we install their new system. Although each home is different, 50% reductions in utility bills (from the same time period during the previous year) have been reported.

Some rooms are too hot or too cold. These kinds of problems are usually the result of an improperly engineered system when the home was built or when the last unit was installed. A well trained technician can diagnose hot/cold spots in your house and determine if the problem is related to the unit's size (tons), inadequate insulation, improper duct work or some combination of these. You definitely want to have a Jon Wayne technicians perform a Complete Home Evaluation to make sure these problems are dealt with properly.

Home has humidity problems. Poor equipment operation, inadequate installation, improperly sized unit, and leaky ductwork can all cause the air in your home to be too dry in the winter and too humid in the summer. Again you will want a Jon Wayne technician to perform a Complete Home Evaluation to determine the cause and eliminate it completely.

Home has excessive dust. Leaky ducts can pull particles from your attic and crawl spaces and distribute them throughout your home. Sealing existing ducts or, if the duct work in your home is in poor condition, replacing your ductwork can be beneficial.

Heating and cooling system is noisy. Noisy units can be caused by a variety of factors including an undersized duct system or a problem with the indoor coil of your cooling equipment.

No two homes are exactly alike and as such, the only way to really know if repairing your HVAC system is the best option is to have a qualified Jon Wayne Comfort Advisor evaluate your home and explain to you their findings. In addition to a visual inspection of your equipment and attic space, we will also perform a Manual J Load calculation which uses information about your San Antonio area home (overall dimensions, window location, orientation to the sun, etc.) to determine the proper equipment needed to cool your home most efficiently. If serious issues exist (like rooms too hot or cold) we can perform a Blower Door Test which simulates pressure within your home and uncovers problems areas so they can be resolved.

Call for immediate service: (210) 293-6700 or click on jonwayneair.com

Continued here:
Repair vs. Replace? - WOAI

Winter was over before Phoenix residents even had a chance to turn on their heaters. Springs has sprung which means the people of the Valley of the Sun have been enjoying near perfection in terms of weather. Conditions wont stay ideal for long. Soon summer will arrive, and temperatures will rocket above 100 degrees. Parker & Sons advises that the best time to have a new HVAC unit installed is BEFORE summer. Parker & Sons offers further advice on HVAC installation.

Homeowners should start by doing extensive research. There are many factors to consider when shopping for a new HVAC system. Older homes may have different heating and cooling needs than newer homes. It is important by buy the correct sized HVAC system. A system which is too small will be inadequate in terms of meeting heating and cooling. A system which is too large will be wasteful. HVAC installers can perform a load assessment on the home to determine what sized HVAC unit is required.

Energy efficiency is an important consideration. The efficiency of an air conditioner is measured by its SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio). As technology improves the minimum required SEER rating rises. Currently, a SEER rating of 13 is the minimum.

Homeowners may have to make a decision balancing upfront cost and energy efficiency. The higher the SEER rating of the unit, the more expensive it is going to be. Many utility companies provide rebates to homes with an air conditioning unit rated about 14.5 SEER.

Finally, Parker & Sons advises homeowners to spend time shopping around and comparing offers. This is one of the primary reasons it is important to spend time shopping for an HVAC unit before summer. There wont be pressure for individuals to make a fast decision. The find a deal that is right for them AND their family.

Here at Parker & Sons, we will walk through the entire process of shipping for an HVAC unit, picking out the right one for you and your home, and installing it for you. We take a no pressure approach to this entire process. We know buying a new HVAC unit is a big commitment. WE just want to be there to help you out. We want this to be a relationship that lasts for years, not just through the sale of an HVAC unit, said Justine Kelly of Parker & Sons.

Read more from the original source:
Parker & Sons Offers Advice on Getting the Most out of HVAC Installation - MilTech

ABOVE:David Finkle, Executive Director of the Strand Theatre in downtown Shelbyville, stands in front of the restoredmarquee along Harrison Street.

SHELBYVILLE, Ind. An effort to restore an historic theatre in downtown Shelbyville is facing scrutiny by inspectors with the state fire marshals office and the Indiana Department of Homeland Security.

Cinema Three at 215 S. Harrison Street closed in 2005 after a new theatre had opened at an old Kroger store on East State Road 44. The building sat vacant for several years until a non-profit group, led by David Finkle, decided to acquire, renovate and operate the theatre in 2008. The group decided to rename it 'The Strand Theatre,'which was its original name when it first opened in 1916.

The first thing we had to do was renovate. It started out as a pretty horrible three-screen theatre. It wasnt going to do what we needed it to do, and we were going to be a live performance venue, not a film venue. Were going to be a multi-use performing arts center, says Finkle.

Little by little, the electrical work was redone, the heating and cooling system sitting at the back of the stage was replaced and part of the front lobby was torn apart and remodeled.

The volunteers then began a plan to expand the size of the theatres stage and cut a six-foot six emergency exit that would lead to the back alley behind the building in case of a fire. That is when Finkle says the issues with the states inspectors began.

This past year in August 2016, we had a new inspector. For some reason, all that work in the past didnt seem to be what he wanted. When he looked at the work for our fire exit, he made requirements of the Strand which were economically infeasible; things requiring us to do that were over triple the cost of the worth of our building, says Finkle, who says previous inspectors from the state office had given their approval. However, the current inspector was requiring the Strand to install a sprinkler system throughout the building.

We said we didnt think that was right, and [the senior staff from the state fire marshals office] was here for a meeting. That meeting ended up in November 2016 turning into an inspection. The outcome of that inspection was they rescinded our Construction Design Release for this new fire exit and the expansion of our stage. We didnt quite understand why, says Finkle.

The Strand asked a local attorney to appeal that decision.

Before it went in front of the judge, the state canceled the [previous rescinded decision], says Finkle, who thought that would be the last issue the theatre would face from inspectors.

Out of the blue, we got a request from the state fire marshals office to do a Construction Progress Inspection. We called around to find out what that was all about and there was not a contractor, an engineering firm, and architectural firm [or] anybody that had ever heard of such a thing, according to Finkle.

In December 2016, Finkle says the same original inspector took another look at the building.

We told them theres nothing to inspect. We havent done any work, says Finkle.

The inspectors issued two new violations against the Strand Theatre. The first was for not having a Construction Design Release for the electrical panels installed in 2009. The second violation was for the replacement of the heating and cooling system in 2015 and 2016 that was also done without a Construction Design Release approval from the state.

We checked with both of our contractors. [They say] theyve never had to go through the state on items like this. Both projects were locally permitted [and] inspected. The local inspectors would have guided us toward that process had they thought it was necessary. We wonder why were singled out on it, says Finkle.

According to Finkle, the state inspector has threatened the Strand Theatre with a $250 a day violation per fine, which would equal $3,500 a week if levied against the non-profit organization. Finkle says the theatre plans to appeal.

93 WIBC attempted to contact James Greeson, the Indiana State Fire Marshal, to ask for his response to the inspections and violations suggested against the Strand Theatre in Shelbyville. An e-mail from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security Public Information Office was sent to 93 WIBC asking to submit questions in writing.

As of Sunday, April 2, the office has yet to provide answers to the following questions from 93 WIBC, which were submitted via e-mail to the return address from the Indiana Department of Homeland on Wednesday, March 29:

1) A representative from the Strand Theatre says that in Dec. 2016, the State Fire Marshalls office performed a Construction Progress Inspection on the property. Are those types of inspections required of every building that is going through ongoing upgrades?

2) Is it common for the Indiana Department of Homeland Security to require the installation of a sprinkler system in order to finish work on a previously approved State Design Release, such as the one granted to the Strand Theatre for the installation of a new fire exit?

3) A representative from the Strand Theatre also says the previous inspector(s) with the State Fire Marshals office responsible for regular inspections of the property did not ask for or communicate the requirement of Construction Design Permits for HVAC work done in 2008 and electrical work done in 2015 and 2016? Were these permits required as far back as 2008?

4) How does the Indiana Department of Homeland Security respond to those who would say that the recent requests made of the inspector from the State Fire Marshals office, as well as the suggestion of a $500 a day fine for violations, put an undue financial burden upon a non-profit organization with limited funds such as The Strand Theatre in Shelbyville seeking to provide an economic benefit to the community?

Finkle says no performances are scheduled after this summer due to the uncertainty whether the non-profit organization running the theatre can continue to operate with the threat of fines from the state, as well as the legal costs of having to appeal any such violations.

We hope to find this is common practice throughout the state, because if that is the case then we just have to do what we have to do, says Finkle. But if it is not common practice, then we might have a little problem.

CLICK BELOW TO HEAR DAVID FINKLE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE STRAND THEATRE, TALK ABOUT THE THEATRE AND THE ISSUES IT HAS FACEDWITH INSPECTORS FROM THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE:

93 WIBCS C.J. MILLER REPORTING.

Twitter: @CJMillerWIBC

Photo Credit: C.J. Miller / WIBC

Link:
Shelbyville Theatre In Conflict With State Over Fire Inspections - 93.1 WIBC Indianapolis

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The Indian River Central School District in Philadelphia will include another one of its facilities in its efforts to make use of green energy sources.

The intermediate school has benefited from geothermal power since its construction in 2002. It also hosts the districts solar panel array, which was completed in October. Theresa Primary School deployed its geothermal system in 2002, and Calcium Primary has obtained about half its power from this clean energy source since 2010.

Officials now plan to convert the high schools heating system from fuel to geothermal energy. Business Administrator Joseph A. Dougherty said the district anticipates using the funds now directed toward fuel oil to cover any increased energy expenses, according to a story published March 25 by the Watertown Daily Times. These costs total about $250,000, budget records indicate.

Geothermal power involves heating and cooling water underground and then using that water to either heat or cool the air, according to the story. The steam is also sometimes used to power electricity.

Noah A. Prior Jr., facilities director for the district, said the high school already is partially powered by geothermal energy. Whats now necessary is to remove the conventional heating system and install the pipes for the geothermal network. The remaining 140 wells have been placed nearly 500 feet into the ground.

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority previously reviewed the intermediate schools energy costs to evaluate the networks effectiveness. Mr. Prior said that NYSERDA determined the districts geothermal system was 99 percent more efficient than the conventional method. Indian River has partnered with NYSERDA on these capital improvements.

Continuing to move in this direction demonstrates the forward thinking of district officials. They have incrementally enhanced their power sources to make better use of green energy. This serves as an example of how well-planned strategies to embrace environmentally friendly technology can be executed by public entities, and we commend the district on achieving its goals.

See the rest here:
From the ground up: Indian River increasing its use of geothermal energy for heat - WatertownDailyTimes.com

Walter Miller Elementary School is the next and last school in the Neshaminy School District that will get major energy system overhauls designed to make the building's heating, cooling and electrical systems operate more efficiently.

The school board recently awarded Harrisburg-based Reynolds Solutions a $3 million contract for the work.

Walter Miller, at 10 Cobalt Ridge Drive South in the Levittown part of Middletown, will have air conditioning installed in all its classrooms, said Reynolds vice president Damion Spahr. The school previously had air conditioning in some offices and other areas but not in the classrooms, he said.

Improvements also will be made to the electrical and other mechanical systems, said Spahr. A lot of the work involves installing controls on the systems that make them run in a way to save energy, he added.

In addition, Reynolds workers, as part of their last phase of work on Neshaminy schools, will install security vestibules at both Walter Miller and Pearl Buck Elementary, also in the Levittown part of Middletown.

Security vestibules involve structural and technological changes to the schools' main entrances that make visitors first enter the main office and have their driver's licenses checked against a criminal database before they are cleared to enter the rest of the building.

This last phase of upgrades at Miller will be similar to work Reynolds alreadyhas done at Albert Schweitzer, Herbert Hoover and Joseph Ferderbar elementary schools, and Carl Sandburg and Poquessing middle schools, said Spahr.

The Miller project should start around mid May and be done by the end of summer, he added.

The entire package of Reynolds' work at the schools will cost $34.89 million. It is being funded with $27.4 million from a $57.9 million bond issue approved in 2015 and $7.4 million in capital reserve funds, said school district business administrator Barbara Markowitz.

The other part of the bond issue paid for Neshaminy's new Tawanka Elementary School in Lower Southampton, she added.

"We've gotten a lot done on time and on budget," said school board member Steve Pirritano of all the upgrades.

"I think we've created a great environment for our children to learn in," he added.

Continue reading here:
Walter Miller Elementary last Neshaminy school to get energy upgrades - Bucks County Courier Times

MILWAUKEE The Yorkbrand ofJohnson Controlswill continue its sponsorship ofBuilding Homes for Heroesthrough 2017 and provide veterans with home comfort systems.

Building Homes for Heroes is a national nonprofit organization that recognizes the tremendous sacrifices of men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces by supporting the needs of severely wounded or disabled soldiers and their families. The organization strives to build or renovate quality homes and gift them to severely injured veterans nationwide, mortgage-free.

2017 marksthe fourth consecutive year that York and Building Homes for Heroes have worked together. Through its sponsorship of the Building Homes for Heroes program, Johnson Controls, along with York distributors and independent contractors nationwide, has donated quality heating and cooling systems, including installation, labor, and on-going maintenance, to over 40 military families since 2014.

"Partnering with our network of local independent contractors to provide our wounded veterans with home comfort systems is another way we give back to the communities where we live and work," saidLiz Haggerty, vice president and general manager, Johnson Controls Unitary Products Group.

Participating York contractors are installingYork Affinityheating and cooling systems for reliable and energy-efficient home comfort. In addition, the company is planning to install smart thermostats as part of its 2017 sponsorship. The newYork touch screen residential thermostatincorporates smart technology to communicate with both conventional and connected HVAC systems. Homeowners can control their system remotely using their smartphone to monitor and adjust settings for up to six zones/rooms to save energy and feel more comfortable. The thermostat is also user friendly, with an easy-to-use touch screen interface and remote programming features that are helpful for the disabled.

"We are honored to play a role in giving veterans a comfortable home," saidJim Probst, president ofGeorge Brazil Air Conditioning & Heating,Phoenix, Arizona. "We've been a part of seven Building Homes for Heroes homes during the three years we've been the local heating and air conditioning contractor for the program. Every time we're contacted to help, we jump at the chance because there's no greater way for us to show these vets how grateful we are for their service."

For more information, visitwww.buildinghomesforheroes.orgor http://www.johnsoncontrols.com.

Publication date: 3/31/2017

Want more HVAC industry news and information? Join The NEWS on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn today!

Continue reading here:
Johnson Controls and Building Homes for Heroes Partner - ACHR NEWS

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) No matter where you live or the season, theres no bigger energy user in your home than your heating and cooling system, so making the most of efficiency tools is a great way to save money. Some of those measure can cost more than you may be able to afford. Solar window film is a product catching on as a more affordable option.

Installing high-efficiency windows can be a great investment but its also expensive and costs thousands of dollars, says Angies List founder Angie Hicks. If youre looking for a more affordable option, window film is a great alternative.

Solar window film is a thin material applied to window glass. Without it, most of the solar energy that hits the glass comes right on through into your home. With the film, most of that energy stays out. How much depends on the type of film you use.

Window film will be a much better option in terms of improving the performance and matching the performance of a new replacement window, typically a fifth the cost of going through the replacement of those windows, said Kevin Koval, owner of SOLARIS window film company.

Homeowner Jay Dunbar said he earned his investment in window film back in energy savings within three years and resolved an issue of uneven temperature in his house right away.

First thing that we noticed, because we had it applied I think it was in late fall, we noticed that when it got cold, all of a sudden our bedroom wasnt 10 degrees colder than the rest of the house, which was very nice, Dunbar said.

You can install window film yourself, but doing that could void your window warranty. Reputable pros will replace your warranty with their own. Theyll also install the film without bubbles, which will prevent cracks or peeling later on. Some will even let you transfer the warranty if you sell your house.

Only a few states actually require trade licenses for window film installers, so you want to do some additional homework to see their affiliations with different trade associations and also what kind of guarantee they have behind their work, Hicks said.

Window film offers more than energy efficiency. It shields you from the glare of sunlight, filters out potentially dangerous ultra violet light and even helps protect your furniture from fading from prolonged exposure to the sun.

Installing film on a typical sliding glass door will cost between $300-500 and an average double-pane window costs between $100-150. Window experts say you can expect energy savings of five to 10 percent.

States that require window film licenses: Arizona, California, Mississippi, North Carolina and Oregon. To determine the trade license status of a building pro, use the Angies List License Check free-of-charge.

View original post here:
Angie's List: An Invisible but Mighty Energy Saver - 41 NBC News