Happy Thanksgiving

We'd like to take this opportunity to thank our customers for your loyalty and continued support of our business. Our sincerest wishes to you and your family for a Happy Thanksgiving.

CT Solar Lease

Have you heard about this?

The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund and CT Solar Leasing, LLC have combined the power of CCEF's innovative Solar Rebate program and the financial power of leasing to create an unbeatable way for qualifying homeowner customers of CL&P and UI to add solar energy to their homes for the lowest possible cost.

The CT Solar Lease™ works in conjunction with Connecticut Clean Energy Fund’s innovative solar rebate program. The rebate is utilized by CT Solar Leasing to reduce the monthly cost of the lease.

$0.00 Down Payment, Low Fixed Monthly Payments. Your CT Solar Lease™ requires no downpayment and has been designed to provide qualifying homeowners with the lowest possible fixed monthly payment* - less than $120 per month for a typical 5 kw system!

Save On Your Electric BillWith your CT Solar Lease™, you pay a fixed monthly payment. As electric prices are expected to continue rising, your monthly payment stays the same thus increasing the savings on your electric bill.

Get all the details here: http://www.ctsolarlease.com/

Harley

On Monday, July 27th, we lost our beloved Harley. Her frail body could no longer fight the illnesses she had been struggling with for the past 2 years. We are thankful to Dr. Carter for finally diagnosing and addressing those of her illnesses which were treatable, and which allowed Harley to maintain a quality of life for the past year. We are comforted by the knowledge that she is no longer sick.

Harley came from an abusive past and was found on the streets of New Haven. We rescued her from the New Haven Animal Shelter at 6 months of age. She was a sweet and kind spirit who endeared herself to everyone she met. We will never forget her fondness for being pet; she never refused an opportunity! We are hopeful that she has found everlasting petting and peace.

Paint

Do you have trouble picking paint colors? So do we. Here are some helpful tips from the pros: http://www.hgtv.com/decorating/10-tips-for-picking-paint-colors/index.html Maybe it's time to breathe some new life into that drab room. Happy Painting!!

Ask Chris

I am looking to have new energy efficient windows installed in my house, but am somewhat confused by the term ‘Energy Star rated’ and whether these windows will meet current tax credit requirements?

Unlike tax credits for energy-efficient windows and doors in prior years, this years “30/30” criteria is stricter than the government’s Energy Star rating program. Not all Energy Star labeled windows and doors will qualify for the new tax credit. Consumers should look for the manufacturer’s labels on the glass window product packaging. The labels should show that the qualifying replacement glass windows meet or exceed U-factor and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) ratings, also called the “30/30” criteria. In other words, the U-factor rating must be .30 or less and the SHGC must be .30 or less. The U-factor rating measures the passage of heat through the glass or how well a product prevents heat from escaping. The rate of heat loss is indicated in terms of the U-factor of a window assembly. U-factor ratings generally fall between 0.20 and 1.20. The lower the U-factor, the greater a window's resistance to heat flow and the better its insulating value.

The Solar Heat Gain Coefficient or SHGC rating measures the percentage of heat in the room gained from absorbed heat and direct sunlight. Windows with lower SHGC ratings reduce the solar heat gain in the house. The lower the SHGC, the less solar heat the window transmits. SHGC is measured on a scale of 0 to 1; values typically range from 0.25 to 0.80.

The most energy-efficient replacement windows on the market, triple-pane replacement windows with gas insulation (commonly called Insulated Glass Units or IG units), are eligible for the tax credits. Double-pane replacement windows with low-E coating or Argon gas insulation may or may not qualify. Customers should insist on checking for the Energy Star label as well as the U-factor and SHGC ratings on the replacement window manufacturer’s labels before allowing the windows to be installed

Energy-efficient replacement glass windows and doors that meet or exceed the “30/30” criteria now qualify for a federal income tax credit of 30 percent of the cost up to $1,500 per household. The tax credit is available in 2009 and 2010 according to the economic stimulus bill signed by President Barack Obama on Feb. 17.

Tax Credit!

It's that time of year when income taxes are on everyone's mind...and there's some good news:

The 2009 Federal Home Improvement Tax Credit

Beginning January 1, 2009, there are up to $500 in federal tax credits available for homeowners making improvements to insulation, replacement windows and doors, non-solar water heaters, roofs, and certain high efficiency heating and cooling equipment.

Details and forms are here: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_tax_credits. Check it out!

Cool & Useful Tool

HGTV has a fun and interesting tool to estimate the cost of various home improvements. Take a look: http://www.costestimator.com/hgtv/index.jsp Then call Home Enhancers for your free estimate!