Spending on home remodeling up 8.2 percent as new construction drops 23.5 percent
WARROAD, Minn., Feb. 16, 2010 – Home remodeling is a bright spot in the troubled U.S. construction industry, according to Marvin Windows and Doors, the nation’s largest maker of wood and clad wood windows and doors.
Year-end figures from the U.S. Commerce Department show [...]

The energy-efficiency tax credit our federal government is offering homeowners will continue to be a driving force for much of the building and remodeling industry, and that’s evident from the focus on efficiency at the 2010 International Builders Show.
The tax credit gives homeowners back 30 percent — up to $1,500 — when they install qualifying [...]

Marvin’s sliding patio and sliding French doors now have an innovative option with the addition of the Low Profile Sill.   Just ¾” off the base flooring, the Low Profile Sill provides an easy transition between indoor and outdoor spaces.  Those looking for a clean look will appreciate the Low Profile Sill’s flush profile.
The Low Profile [...]

Compact fluorescent lightbulbs save energy, but they take a long time to warm up and they’re not easily controlled by a dimmer. Leviton is showing a new CFL dimmer that not only controls the bulbs — it gives them a kick-start so they warm up faster. Most standard dimmers are made to work with incandescent [...]

Check out these facts on U.S. energy use:

Heating and cooling account for about half of home energy use, according to the U.S. Department of Energy
40 percent of residential energy use is from homes built before 1970, according to the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies
Energy-efficient windows can save up to 25% on home heating and [...]

Five generations of the Marvin family have grown up in the beautiful north woods of Minnesota. Their close ties to the land are reflected in Marvin Windows and Doors’ leadership in environmentally responsible business practices.
Producing our windows from sustainably grown wood, using recycled metal and glass, even heating our plant with waste wood and sawdust [...]

Today is Green Day at IBS. And in just a decade, green building has become a powerful force in the building industry.
In 2000, according to the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, green construction starts were valued at approximately $200 million. In 2010, that number is projected to be $60 billion – a 300-fold increase.
Today’s [...]

There’s been a lot of talk about building new, green industry. But America can take some big steps toward a greener future by reinvesting in our existing housing stock to promote energy efficiency.
That’s according to Steven Tourek, senior vice president and general counsel for Marvin Windows and Doors. Tourek is also president of the Tropical [...]

Editor’s note: As part of Marvin Windows and Doors’ ongoing coverage of the International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas, we’re publishing occasional pieces on trends and topics in the building industry. Check here regularly throughout the week for other news, trends, products, interviews and photos from the floor of the year’s largest gathering in the [...]

“Learn From Lou” how simple steps can save money, help you live more comfortably this winter
Warroad, Minn., December 9, 2009 – The first big snowstorm of the season is socking Americans from coast to coast, marking the arrival of winter.
But it’s not too late to take a few simple steps to winterize your home, helping [...]