subject: Cash for Caulkers program [print this page] Cash for Caulkers program Cash for Caulkers program
A major part of the utility bills can be attributed to the consumption of energy, used to condition the temperature of the house. The heating or the cooling effects of the electronic devices prove in-effective if counteracted by the outdoor weather. As a result the electrical devices use more electricity leading to unnecessary wastage of electricity and an increase in the electricity bills.
To reduce the counterproductive effect of the environment, home improvement measures have been devised. These measures not only restrict the degree of heat exchange but also allow you to minimize energy wastage and thus maximize savings.
However, before employing these measures it is advised that the users get an energy audit of their house done. This exercise will help them identify the spots that are the major sources of heat exchange in the house. Not only this, it will also enable them to make the necessary amends and improvements that need to be integrated in the house.
To encourage people to make their homes more energy efficient by employing such measures, the US government has come up with a number of policies and incentives. The policy named 'Home star' or 'Cash for Caulkers' as it is more commonly called is one such example.
Under the 'Cash for Caulkers' program, people who opt for home improvement solutions are refunded half of the total cost incurred up to $12,000. This program thus aims at eliminating the apprehensions that people generally have due to high initial cost of installing these solutions.
Installing Vinyl windows provides for one such approach to improve upon the energy efficiency of the household. They are derived from Poly Vinyl Chloride or PVC that lends it with properties like resistance to corrosion, low maintenance and durability. The low cost of the constituent material brings down the total price of vinyl windows.
Vinyl windows offer many a benefits as compared to its traditional counterparts such as wood and steel windows. The air-tight double-panes of these windows restrain the air flow from either side and thus maintain the customized indoor temperature. Vinyl windows thus reduce the energy bills considerably and are more efficient than the regular storm windows.
One more added advantage of vinyl windows is that they can be custom-made to mould around customer requirements that is not an option with the traditional variants. The ease of installation of these windows also gives them an edge over wood and steel windows.
Home improvement measures like these are a smart way to reduce expenditure and at the same time make a contribution to saving the environment. Moreover, with programs like 'Cash for Caulkers' for financial assistance, it is definitely a sensible decision to make.