PARKERSBURG, W. VA. - Homeowners have less than 100 days left to take advantage of the Federal Energy Tax Credit available to them under the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. During National Energy Awareness Month in October, experts at Simonton Windows® remind homeowners that the limited timeframe to gain up to $1,500 in federal energy tax credits will expire on December 31, 2010.

"There are three months left in 2010 for homeowners to save in three different ways when replacing their older windows," says Gary Pember, vice president of marketing for Simonton Windows. "First, when homeowners purchase Simonton Energy Tax Credit (ETC) glass packages in their replacement windows they are guaranteed to qualify for the federal energy tax credits of up to $1,500. Second, those homeowners purchasing 12 or more of these qualifying Simonton products can receive up to $150 toward the preparation costs of their 2010 personal income taxes from H&R Block®. And third, once installed, Simonton ETC glass packages in windows help homeowners save daily by reducing their household energy bills."

According to Pember, the benefits of investing in replacement windows are numerous. "In addition to the financial savings, vinyl replacement windows add resale value to the home and enhance the curb appeal of a house," says Pember. "The low maintenance aspects of vinyl windows also mean minimal yearly cleaning of the units and longer lifespan between window replacements.
"There are so many reasons to replace older windows in a home. If you have windows that are failing, or are older than 15 years, it makes sense to examine them carefully and replace them while these government offers are still available."

Since the federal tax credit incentive was launched in 2009, Simonton has had tremendous success selling replacement windows with the ETC glass packages. "Homeowners nationwide have embraced the opportunity to replace their windows and gain lower energy bills along with tax credit savings," says Pember. "With October being National Energy Awareness Month, now is the ideal time for consumers to meet with a professional window installer to evaluate their current windows and consider upgrading with more energy efficient units."

Simonton Windows produces ENERGY STAR® qualified replacement and new construction windows and doors, including a line of impact-resistant products. Simonton ranked "Highest in Builder and Remodeler Satisfaction among Residential Window and Patio Door Manufacturers" in the J.D. Power and Associates 2010, 2009, 2008 and 2006 Builder and Remodeler Residential Window and Patio Door Satisfaction StudySM. The company also ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction among Residential Window and Patio Door Manufacturers" in the J.D. Power and Associates 2010 Windows and Patio Doors Satisfaction Study SM.

Simonton was also ranked #1 in quality in the 2009, 2007, 2002 and 1998 Brand Use Studies sponsored by Builder magazine and has won three Best In Class Awards from Market Research Associates.

Founded in 1946, Simonton's hallmark has been to deliver its made-to-order products in five days or less. Part of the home and security business of Fortune Brands, Inc. (NYSE: FO), Simonton delivers award-recognized products nationwide to key markets throughout the 48 continental United States. Simonton is a founding sponsor of The Weather Museum and a supporter of Homes for Our Troops. For information, call (800) SIMONTON (1-800-746-6686) or visit www.simonton.com.

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ENERGY STAR is a government program that helps consumers protect the environment through superior energy efficiency and is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

*Homeowners who purchase a minimum of 12 Simonton windows or patio doors that are eligible for the Federal Energy Tax Credit under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 from any of the qualifying product lines from a participating Simonton Windows® dealer between February 1, 2010 and December 31, 2010 will qualify for this offer to receive a certificate good for up to $150 toward preparation of his or her 2010 personal income tax return at a participating H&R Block office in the United States. Qualifying product lines include: Simonton Reflections® 5500 Series, Prism® by Simonton Platinum Series, Simonton Impressions® 9800 Series, Simonton Impressions® 7500 Series, Simonton Impressions® 7300 Series, Simonton ProFinish® Brickmould 600 Series and Simonton StormBreaker Plus® Series 300VL. Offer void where prohibited, licensed, taxed and restricted by law. Redemption forms must be postmarked within 60 calendar days of invoice date. Simonton Building Products, Inc. is not a legal or tax advisor. Subject to complete Terms of Offer available at participating dealer locations and online at www.simonton.com/hrblock.

I. Evaluating "Green" Aspect of a Building Product
• Use Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)

• LCA considers the product's environmental impact from resource extraction through the manufacturing process to installation of the product to ultimate disposal of product.

• In LCA review, vinyl frames for windows:
- Come from roughly 57 percent salt.
- Once chlorine is processed into vinyl, it is chemically locked in to the product more tightly than when it was salt.
- Take very little energy to manufacture.
- Can be made from reground or recycled vinyl.
- When installed the product has a longer life cycle than other frames (such as wood and aluminum) and requires less maintenance.
- Will not rot, decay or attract insects.
- Help save energy because vinyl has superior insulating factors.
- When disposed of, vinyl can safely be reground and reused, incinerated or used as landfill.

II. Green Building Resource Center identifies five basic green building categories. Vinyl windows fit comfortably in two of them.

A. Save Energy - Vinyl windows help save energy by reducing heating and cooling loads (especially ENERGY STAR® qualified windows).

B. Contribute to a Safe, Healthy Indoor Environment - Vinyl windows contribute to a safe, healthy indoor environment by not releasing significant pollutants into a structure.

III. Vinyl by Design^TM identifies two areas showcasing how vinyl windows can be environmentally friendly:
A. Recyclability and Disposal -
1. Recyclable pre-use (i.e.: manufacturing off-cuts and construction site waste)
2. Recyclable in-use (i.e.: recycled vinyl can be used to make vinyl frames)
3. Recyclable post-use (i.e.: removal at the end of a useful life)
4. Reprocessed for recycling using heat with minimal property loss, giving the product a second generation of life in other vinyl products, such as PVC pipe and rigid vinyl products.
5. Disposable in landfills and via incineration

B. Energy Efficiency -
1. Vinyl window frames require less energy than many other alternatives to convert raw vinyl into the frames.
2. A lifecycle study by Franklin Associates has shown that vinyl windows require three times less energy to manufacture than aluminum windows.
3. Multi-chambered construction and corner fusion-welding of vinyl windows give homeowners superior energy efficiency capabilities --- especially when combined with a strong glass package.

IV. According to the Vinyl Institute, vinyl products:
A. Have no adverse impact on indoor air quality (IAQ)
B. Are extremely resistant to the corrosive conditions found in landfills and will not break down or degrade under them.
C. Account for less than 0.6% of landfilled waste by weight
D. Have low toxicity
E. Take less energy to produce than many competing products, and 20% less than plastics. It also saves fossil fuels.
F. Have low conductivity, so finished products like vinyl windows, reduce heat exchange. Vinyl frames featuring air chambers also help in insulation value.
G. With fusion-welded sash and corners offer maximum strength and protection against air and water infiltration.
H. Can be lighter to transport than many other building materials, reducing the amount of fuel and other resources used for such transportation.
I. Have long lifespans. Once they can no longer be used, vinyl can be safely incinerated in state-of-the-art facilities and its energy recaptured and reused

V. Additional Environmental Friendly Factors for Vinyl Windows
A. Requires no finishing
B. Virtually maintenance-free
C. End user uses less energy to heat and cool their home