We can’t say it enough – we’re proud that we’ve been doing this for so long – with such great success. In the 30+ years we’ve been in business, we’ve learned a few things here and there, and are excited to share them with you.
Check 'em out: "The product itself I'm very pleased with. I've already noticed the difference in the sound. We live in a quiet neighborhood and now it's even quieter." – Alice, Arlington, VA (windows) "We have used Thompson Creek before and they had an excellent product and excellent workmanship then so it was a no-brainer to use them again." – John, Crofton, MD (windows)
Summer is practically here. Warm air plus humidity usually means thunderstorms in the mid-Atlantic area. While Mother Nature frequently gives us spectacular light shows during these storms, she can also pack a powerful punch. Besides lightning, the dangers of thunderstorms also include tornadoes, strong winds, hail and flash floods.
Much of Maryland is now under a “drought watch” issued by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE). The Eastern Shore was placed on a drought watch in mid-April, and in early May added central and western Maryland. This includes Garrett, Allegany, Washington, Frederick, Carroll, Harford and Cecil counties, along with the portions of Montgomery, Howard and Baltimore counties that are not served by the Baltimore City or Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission public water systems.
How well are your windows protecting your home? Is your home older? Do you have original windows? Are you seeing signs that they are not doing their job efficiently? If you are thinking about replacing the windows in your home, consider the following:
Getting started is easy. You can use anything from a large trash can with holes cut in the base to a compost tumbler sold on many home improvement websites.
FALSE. You can do many things to make the car you have now more efficient.
This is the time of year when we start to make summer travel plans. We put so much thought into our trip that we sometimes forget that we have to prep the house too. There are many things you can do to make sure that your home is not costing you money while you’re away. Here are some tips you can use to prep your house next time you go on a trip.
Earth Week and Green Week had many of us thinking about what we could to conserve our planet’s resources. But we all wonder, “Can one person REALLY make a difference?” Here are some steps you can take that are easier than you think, and may even save you money.
Happy May Day! What better way to celebrate than with Tuesday's Tips! If you're using an electric oven, turn it off ten minutes before the end of the cooking time - it will still keep to the same temperature for this time period. Awesome right?
If you look at most home improvement and replacement projects, “energy-efficient” is at the top of the list of features most manufacturers tout. But what does energy-efficient mean when it comes to replacement windows? When properly selected and installed, energy-efficient windows can reduce your heating, cooling and lighting costs. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends that to achieve improved window performance you need to pay attention to three areas:
*Please note our doors come in a vast variety of colors and there are only a select listing shown here. With all available design options, there are thousands of door combinations available. If you don't see your desired color here, please contact us. We probably have it!
Tip:Turn off your lights and dine only by candlelight. OR - switch to CFL bulbs. A little pricier upfront - but they last longer and are kinder to the environment. A standard 60W bulb can be replaced by a 15W to 18W CFL, while a 100W bulb can be replaced by a 20W to 25W CFL.
Tip: Turn off your lights and dine only by candlelight. OR - switch to CFL bulbs. A little pricier upfront - but they last longer and are kinder to the environment. A standard 60W bulb can be replaced by a 15W to 18W CFL, while a 100W bulb can be replaced by a 20W to 25W CFL. A CFL bulb uses 75 percent less energy and lasts up to 10 times longer than a regular, incandescent bulb.
Tip:If your house is dry in the winter – this may sound weird, but rather than dealing with a loud and annoying humidifier, just leave your tub full. You are saving water that you would have used to fill the humidifier, and dispersing much more moisture into your air. And – you're stretching the dollars it cost to heat the tub water originally. Win-win!
Tip:Automatically switching monitors to sleep mode or manually turning monitors off saves energy, but using screen savers doesn't reduce energy use. For energy savings and convenience, consider turning off both the CPU and the monitor if you're not going to use your PC for more than two hours. Roughly 75 percent of the electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off.
Tip:The energy performance ratings of windows, doors and skylights can tell you their potential for gaining and losing heat, as well as for transmitting sunlight into your home. When purchasing replacement products, be sure to look for the NFRC label. The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) is a non-profit organization created by the Department of Energy and the window and door industry. The NFRC provides consistent ratings on windows and doors relating to the energy performance of that product. The NFRC label on a window or door informs consumers about a product's U-factor, which takes into account a product's ability to block warming caused by sunlight, light transmittance and air leakage through cracks in the product's assembly.
Tip:Add up home appliances, heating and lighting, and you've got nearly one-third of U.S. carbon emissions (28%) – significantly more than transportation. That shows how important it is to reduce home energy use through smart home improvements and energy efficient products.
Tip:The average U.S. household spends $1,900 on utility bills for heating, hot water and electricity. Most can cut energy consumption – and cost – by as much as 25% by caulking, adding insulation and taking other simple conservation measures. And just imagine how much you could save by adding energy-efficient replacement windows and doors – even better siding can help!
Tip:Energy Star is a label on energy efficient products – appliances, electronics, building products, heating & cooling equipment, lighting and fans, and plumbing supplies – that meet government standards for energy efficiency. These products use significantly less electricity than similar products, meaning they cost less to run.
Tip:Whether it requires an investment or not, going green can lower energy costs. Making your home a little warmer in the summer and a little cooler in the winter can cut heating costs significantly, without costing a dime. Lighting consumes a lot of electricity, so choosing more efficient bulbs, even if they're more expensive, will pay for themselves, typically in a year or so. And the biggest potential is in your windows and doors. If you have single-pane windows, upgrading to efficient double- or triple-pane windows with low-e coating will result in savings on your energy bills of up to 30%. Thompson Creek's double-pane vinyl windows are 78.57% more efficient than a single pane wood window.
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