Greet holiday guests with a warm, stylish, sensible home

(ARA) – Twinkling lights, fragrant wreaths and freshly baked cookies help set the stage, but holiday guests truly feel at home when you provide a warm, cozy environment.

As you prepare yourself and your home for colder temperatures, look for energy-efficient products that offer energy savings blended with tasteful designs. By making smart decisions, you can be sensible, yet super stylish as cold weather, holidays and dear friends arrive.

The place to start: your front door. Create a welcoming first impression by replacing an old, unsightly entry door with a stylish, more energy-efficient one. Pella Windows and Doors offers ENERGY STAR-qualified entry doors that can help you save energy and potentially lower your utility bills.

Save energy, save money

“Consumers continue to search for value – durable products that are built to last and help save energy,” says Kathy Krafka Harkema, Pella’s energy-efficiency expert. “Today’s budget-conscious homeowners are looking for ways to cut their utility bill while adding to the look and comfort of their homes. By replacing old windows and doors with today’s more energy-efficient options, you can gain long-term energy savings and a short-term defense against rising energy costs.”

The U.S. Department of Energy says replacing single-pane windows with ENERGY STAR-qualified windows can help a typical U.S. home save between $146 – $501 dollars a year in energy costs.

In the market for home improvements? Consider new Pella 350 Series vinyl windows that feature an exclusive energy-saving system that makes them the most energy-efficient line offered by Pella.

Create a cozy, energy-efficient home

During cold weather, keep window treatments open during the day to capture the sun’s heat and close them at night to help keep heat inside. During warmer months, close the blinds, shades or curtains during the heat of the day to reflect the sun’s heat away from your home’s interior.

Another smart energy investment is choosing double- or triple-glazed windows with low-emissivity (low-e) coatings to improve energy efficiency and reduce heating and cooling costs.

Regardless of the type or style of windows and doors you choose, it’s essential that they are installed properly for best performance in sealing out air and moisture.

Stylish, durable fiberglass or steel doors

Looking for a new front door? A wide variety of doors from Pella, fit for any style home, now feature ENERGY STAR performance innovations.

* Want the look of wood without the work? Architect Series wood-grain fiberglass entry door systems are available in premium wood-grain fiberglass and offer exceptional energy efficiency and the ability to protect your home from the elements with little maintenance.

* Need the flexibility of fiberglass or steel? Entry door systems in fiberglass or steel offer an extensive array of finishes. These new entry doors are available in factory prefinished stained or painted options.

* Looking for quality at a competitive price? Encompass entry doors include popular options in low-maintenance fiberglass or steel panels to meet virtually any budget. For more information, visit Pella.com.