I spent many hours at the Minneapolis Home and Garden Show today and I came out of it with one conclusion- the people that sell replacement windows in the Twin Cities area don't really know much about windows. I asked a ton of questions and I got a ton of wrong answers.
Before I go into this too far let me qualify this attitude of mine. When I visited the Andersen, Preservation, Marvin, and Pella booths there were professionals there and they had good solid answers to every question. I was impressed by their professionalism across the board. Then I went to Western Remodelers.
I decided to tour the show systematically and Western Remodelers was along the first wall I started at. They set the tone for my overall disgust for the multiple sets of crap I had to listen to.
The sales manager for the company engaged me and we made some small talk. Then I asked a couple of questions about energy efficiency and he handed me a white paper from 1994. He cited their contention that anything beyond .30 for a u-factor was a waste of money and that everything I told him from the U.S. Department of Energy was basically crap. He knew more about windows than they would ever know! When I asked him if he was saying that the DOE was wrong he told me I wasn't their type of customer and I should leave! Wow, what a great start. I get some jerk who is stuck in 1994. As far as replacement windows go, anybody who had researched the products wasn't a viable customer....and please, hold the questions.
I went to a few others in the same row and, surprisingly, they sold the same brands but said different things. At Budget Exteriors I was shown a window "that qualifies for the energy rebate in the stimulus package." When I looked at it the u-factor on the label was .32, too high for the energy tax credit. When I pointed that out to him he said " is that right, I'll have to look into that." Wow, people come here for advice!
It was about half way through the show I realized that every booth except the manufacturer booths had doled out some form of misinformation. How does the general public come to any kind of a conclusion at a show like this? I wondered if I was expecting too much or if they just hire street people for this kind of home show? Are replacement windows that complicated?
I guess the bottom line is that I should trust that the general public will figure out what's true and what isn't. When it comes to replacement windows the only people I would trust are the manufacturers and websites like NFRC and the Effient Window Collaborative have. It seems that Billy Bob and Jerry Snyder surely don't know what they are talking about.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
An Easy, Common Sense Choice
I was surfing the Internet today and found a group of ads that was running on almost every search engine I looked at. What got me about the ads was that they were kind of annoying. I ended up looking into one of them and what I found was surprising. It was common sense.
The ad asked "Would you pay $3 per gallon for gas when it's selling for under $2?" My first thought was "What a stupid question." Of course nobody would pay and extra dollar per gallon for gas. I was indignant when I was thinking about it at first. What was the point?
When an ad says something like that to begin with it makes you wonder what the point is going to be. The next line of the ad was "You're Doing It Right Now With Your Heating Bills." Okay, now I'm a little more interested but I want proof. This particular ad was for replacement windows and it went on to make its case!
Think about this analogy. We all drive an extra few miles to get gas where it's three cents per gallon cheaper. We watch the signs and most people notice the fluctuation as the prices go up and down and back up, only usually a little further. Anyway, we may put fifteen gallons of gas in our cars so we probably save a little under fifty cents filling up at the cheaper gas station. let's say you fill up twice a week. By golly you've saved a whole four bucks this month and you're darn proud of it!
There is a replacement window company called Preservation Windows that has a 33% Heating and Cooling Fuel Savings Guarantee. They actually have a money-back guarantee if you don't save 33% of your fuel usage over the previous year. It seems like no big deal unless your an analytical sort like me.
At work today we had a meeting and the question was asked about how much the heating bills were last month for everyone. They ranged from $740 down to $390. One thing they all had in common was that they were their highest heating bills ever. Holy cow. That means these people could save from $129-$244 per month by installing Preservation Windows. No matter how you look at it these folks could save $750 to $1,500 per year by installing these windows.
The bottom line is that people go to great lengths to save $4 per month on gasoline but very few seem to care about the hundreds, if not thousands of dollars they are wasting by keeping their old windows. the next time I hear someone talk about how cheap gas is down the street I'm going to ask them how their windows perform.
The ad asked "Would you pay $3 per gallon for gas when it's selling for under $2?" My first thought was "What a stupid question." Of course nobody would pay and extra dollar per gallon for gas. I was indignant when I was thinking about it at first. What was the point?
When an ad says something like that to begin with it makes you wonder what the point is going to be. The next line of the ad was "You're Doing It Right Now With Your Heating Bills." Okay, now I'm a little more interested but I want proof. This particular ad was for replacement windows and it went on to make its case!
Think about this analogy. We all drive an extra few miles to get gas where it's three cents per gallon cheaper. We watch the signs and most people notice the fluctuation as the prices go up and down and back up, only usually a little further. Anyway, we may put fifteen gallons of gas in our cars so we probably save a little under fifty cents filling up at the cheaper gas station. let's say you fill up twice a week. By golly you've saved a whole four bucks this month and you're darn proud of it!
There is a replacement window company called Preservation Windows that has a 33% Heating and Cooling Fuel Savings Guarantee. They actually have a money-back guarantee if you don't save 33% of your fuel usage over the previous year. It seems like no big deal unless your an analytical sort like me.
At work today we had a meeting and the question was asked about how much the heating bills were last month for everyone. They ranged from $740 down to $390. One thing they all had in common was that they were their highest heating bills ever. Holy cow. That means these people could save from $129-$244 per month by installing Preservation Windows. No matter how you look at it these folks could save $750 to $1,500 per year by installing these windows.
The bottom line is that people go to great lengths to save $4 per month on gasoline but very few seem to care about the hundreds, if not thousands of dollars they are wasting by keeping their old windows. the next time I hear someone talk about how cheap gas is down the street I'm going to ask them how their windows perform.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Preservation Replacement Windows- Simply The Best
If you are like me you're already thing "how can this guy proclaim that his choice for replacement windows is the best?" Stay with me here and I'll make my case. I'll back it up with independent testing data too.
Preservation Replacement Windows feature EnergyMaxx10 high performance glass. Glass is 80-85% of the window unit so it's probably the most important piece of the energy efficiency puzzle.
EnergyMaxx10 uses the SST Warm Edge Spacer System (the spacer system is another subject soon to come on this blog). It also uses two chambers of krypton gas rather than argon. Krypton gas has two and a half times the insulation value as argon, commonly used by other manufacturers. It is more than 100 times more expensive but when the gas chambers total 1 full inch and there are two chambers rather than one you get a heck of a U-factor for the glass in your replacement windows.
One other point that will put things in a context that is easy to understand is that Preservation Replacement Windows already meet the proposed Energy Star Standards for 2015 . It is the first window to achieve that level. In fact, the "off the shelf" Andersen, Pella, and Marvin Windows don't even currently meet the 2012 proposed standards.
The Twin Cities Preservation Replacement Window Dealer of Distinction is Northland Home Exteriors. Northland is located in Oakdale and Forest Lake, MN.
My next blog will be about the SST Warm Edge Spacer system and what it means to the energy efficiency of replacement windows.
Preservation Replacement Windows feature EnergyMaxx10 high performance glass. Glass is 80-85% of the window unit so it's probably the most important piece of the energy efficiency puzzle.
EnergyMaxx10 uses the SST Warm Edge Spacer System (the spacer system is another subject soon to come on this blog). It also uses two chambers of krypton gas rather than argon. Krypton gas has two and a half times the insulation value as argon, commonly used by other manufacturers. It is more than 100 times more expensive but when the gas chambers total 1 full inch and there are two chambers rather than one you get a heck of a U-factor for the glass in your replacement windows.
One other point that will put things in a context that is easy to understand is that Preservation Replacement Windows already meet the proposed Energy Star Standards for 2015 . It is the first window to achieve that level. In fact, the "off the shelf" Andersen, Pella, and Marvin Windows don't even currently meet the 2012 proposed standards.
The Twin Cities Preservation Replacement Window Dealer of Distinction is Northland Home Exteriors. Northland is located in Oakdale and Forest Lake, MN.
My next blog will be about the SST Warm Edge Spacer system and what it means to the energy efficiency of replacement windows.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Preservation Replacement Windows In The Twin Cities Area
Preservation Replacement Windows are a hit in the Twin Cities area because of their energy efficiency. I've received letters and emails from several Preservation customers that have been nothing short of ringing endorsements for Preservation and, in particular, Northland Home Exteriors.
One customer says "I put Preservation Replacement Windows and Siding on my house. My heating fuel usage dropped slightly over 67%." He goes on to say that "the house feels warmer all the time now" and says "when I opened my first bill and compared it to last year I actually doubted that the bill was right."
I wondered if these reports were being prompted by the dealer so I checked Preservation Windows out on the NFRC website where the independent test results can be found. The results astounded me. The Preservation Replacement Windows that were described to me had a U-factor that was the best I've ever seen. Since U-factor is the measure of heat loss I can see why Minnesotans are so excited about these windows.
Visiting the Preservation Windows website I found another little tidbit that was extremely telling. Preservation claims that they are the first window to achieve the proposed Energy Star Standard for 2015. The claim was substantiated by Department of Energy documents and the NFRC data I mentioned earlier.
If you are serious about saving energy with replacement windows you have to look seriously at Preservation Windows. I can't tell you much about pricing but they certainly have an impressive pedigree.
One customer says "I put Preservation Replacement Windows and Siding on my house. My heating fuel usage dropped slightly over 67%." He goes on to say that "the house feels warmer all the time now" and says "when I opened my first bill and compared it to last year I actually doubted that the bill was right."
I wondered if these reports were being prompted by the dealer so I checked Preservation Windows out on the NFRC website where the independent test results can be found. The results astounded me. The Preservation Replacement Windows that were described to me had a U-factor that was the best I've ever seen. Since U-factor is the measure of heat loss I can see why Minnesotans are so excited about these windows.
Visiting the Preservation Windows website I found another little tidbit that was extremely telling. Preservation claims that they are the first window to achieve the proposed Energy Star Standard for 2015. The claim was substantiated by Department of Energy documents and the NFRC data I mentioned earlier.
If you are serious about saving energy with replacement windows you have to look seriously at Preservation Windows. I can't tell you much about pricing but they certainly have an impressive pedigree.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
1935 Minnesota High School Football Champions Were Window Industry Champs Too
I remember when I was a little kid digging through the attic at my home. I found this gold football and a picture of the 1935 Stillwater Ponies State Championship Football team. There were just a handful of players, maybe 15 or so. I realize now that three of these guys were champions of the window industry too. Another was just a beloved champion of life and an entrepreneur but not in windows.
The three guys in that picture jumped out at me because I was working for Andersen Windows at the time and they were all still there too. Arvid Wellman, Bill Hering, and Bob Ludwig made up about twenty-five percent of that team but each of them contributed heavily to the success of Andersen Windows.
Arvid Wellman was the CEO of Andersen Corporation. Everyone in the factory new Arvid and I'd dare say he knew every one of us. He had a tremendous vision for the company and lead us into unprecedented success during the 1980's.
Bill Hering, who happens to be my father, was a great leader too. He was much lower key than Arvid but well respected. He was Production Control Manager which, at the time, was a very hard job. There were no computers so he had to calculate everything by hand. Every part and every component was calculated by Dad and his department. He knew everyone who worked there too.
Bob Ludwig was a Production Supervisor and a real character. People loved working for Bob because he was supportive, fun, and knew how to treat people. Working for Bob was being part of a team. Bob knew every job and never asked anyone to do what he woudln't do, just like the other great leaders at Andersen.
There weren't many window companies back then. The foundation for ongoing success was laid by Fred Andersen and guys like those three. Is it any wonder they were state champions in football? They knew how to lead and they new how to give of themselves. They knew everything there was to know about windows and could do every job in the factory.
That fourth character I mentioned was an affable guy named Bob Utecht. Bob was very successful in his own right. He started Let's Play Hockey Magazine and was the arena announcer for the Minnesota North Stars. He played a role with the famous 1980 Olympic hockey team and was a close personal friend of Herb Brooks, Lou Nanne, and many other Minnesota hockey figures. Bob gave of himself. He too was one of the Stillwater, more specifically Bayport, characters of all time.
I was thinking of those guys this morning and a thought struck me. The top people at my company are just like them - throwbacks to a better time. They give of themselves and they care at the same time they are leading the company.
In a recent meeting Doyle Land, our CEO asked the question "What do successful people have in common?" The answer was "they gave" in every way. "Successful people all give in many ways."
In that instant I understood what I was feeling. It was leadership at its finest. I realized how happy and content I was there. At the same time I realized how lucky I am not to be working at Andersen Windows anymore! To Fred Andersen, Arvid, Bob, and Dad I say thank you for showing us how. I deeply apologize for not being able to continue what you guys started there. I'm okay though, these Land brothers are the real deal!
The three guys in that picture jumped out at me because I was working for Andersen Windows at the time and they were all still there too. Arvid Wellman, Bill Hering, and Bob Ludwig made up about twenty-five percent of that team but each of them contributed heavily to the success of Andersen Windows.
Arvid Wellman was the CEO of Andersen Corporation. Everyone in the factory new Arvid and I'd dare say he knew every one of us. He had a tremendous vision for the company and lead us into unprecedented success during the 1980's.
Bill Hering, who happens to be my father, was a great leader too. He was much lower key than Arvid but well respected. He was Production Control Manager which, at the time, was a very hard job. There were no computers so he had to calculate everything by hand. Every part and every component was calculated by Dad and his department. He knew everyone who worked there too.
Bob Ludwig was a Production Supervisor and a real character. People loved working for Bob because he was supportive, fun, and knew how to treat people. Working for Bob was being part of a team. Bob knew every job and never asked anyone to do what he woudln't do, just like the other great leaders at Andersen.
There weren't many window companies back then. The foundation for ongoing success was laid by Fred Andersen and guys like those three. Is it any wonder they were state champions in football? They knew how to lead and they new how to give of themselves. They knew everything there was to know about windows and could do every job in the factory.
That fourth character I mentioned was an affable guy named Bob Utecht. Bob was very successful in his own right. He started Let's Play Hockey Magazine and was the arena announcer for the Minnesota North Stars. He played a role with the famous 1980 Olympic hockey team and was a close personal friend of Herb Brooks, Lou Nanne, and many other Minnesota hockey figures. Bob gave of himself. He too was one of the Stillwater, more specifically Bayport, characters of all time.
I was thinking of those guys this morning and a thought struck me. The top people at my company are just like them - throwbacks to a better time. They give of themselves and they care at the same time they are leading the company.
In a recent meeting Doyle Land, our CEO asked the question "What do successful people have in common?" The answer was "they gave" in every way. "Successful people all give in many ways."
In that instant I understood what I was feeling. It was leadership at its finest. I realized how happy and content I was there. At the same time I realized how lucky I am not to be working at Andersen Windows anymore! To Fred Andersen, Arvid, Bob, and Dad I say thank you for showing us how. I deeply apologize for not being able to continue what you guys started there. I'm okay though, these Land brothers are the real deal!
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