Rural Builder - Summer 2010

as minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit. The Acadia outperforms conventional heating systems by almost 300 percent, and has already lowered home energy bills by up to 70 percent. The system can be installed in new builds or can be retrofit when consumers are considering green upgrades. The Acadia works with the existing infrastructure but for those ready to take the leap and live off the grid the Acadia can work in conjunction with wind and/or solar technologies to enhance their efficiencies.

For more information visit www.HallowellInternational.com

WINDOWS

People considering energy efficient home improvements are sometimes inspired by Earth Day.

Earth Day serves as a yearly reminder of what’s important year round: reducing homes’ carbon footprint while saving money. This year, Mikron Industries, one of the most innovative and customer-focused solutions providers to window manufacturers, offered its EnergyCore window system technology to the best vinyl window manufacturers in the country.

The breakthrough replacement window system is the most important vinyl window innovation in years, designed to help window manufacturers deliver superior thermal performance compared to fiberglass, rigid PVC and wood frame materials. What this means to homeowners is that EnergyCore-enabled window frames improve full window U-factors by almost 15 percent over hollow vinyl window frames.

Windows made with Mikron EnergyCore are the most energy efficient vinyl windows available. In fact, windows using triple glazing systems such as those including Duralite spacers by Truseal, paired with the EnergyCore frame system, will exceed current Energy Star requirements by as much as 50 percent. And with the Department of Energy’s Energy Star standards expected to tighten by 2013, the EnergyCore system is expected to exceed future standards.

“If you’re thinking of an energy efficient remodel or

retrofit at the very least make sure to choose an
Energy Star window,” says David Wemmer, presi-
dent of Mikron. “Energy efficient windows lower
solar heat gain, which is the heat that enters your
home through a window. The U.S. Department of
Energy says that replacing single-pane windows
with new Energy Star windows can save occu-
pants $126 to $465 in annual energy bills depend-
ing on climate zone; so just imagine the savings
in annual dollars from an EnergyCore window
system that outperforms Energy Star by 50 percent.”
“We’re entering a new era of green efficiency with
rapid changes in technology appearing everywhere in
our society. Therefore it is more and more important to
be ahead of the curve in making purchasing decisions
on a range of products in our daily lives; from the kind
of car you drive, to the food you eat and, of course, how
you retrofit your home. Energy usage considerations are
more important than ever,” added Wemmer.

By choosing windows made with EnergyCore technology, homeowners can ensure energy bills will be lower, and that they will continue to exceed standards for years to come. EnergyCore-powered windows are available in tilt double hung, casement; picture, and double slider replacement application styles. The system also features Simulated Divided Lite with trim options to fit a variety of regional architectural design styles. Finishes: Natural Maple, Light Oak, Medium Oak and Cherry, and in a range of popular exterior colors.