Finally, there’s some good news for U.S. homeowners! Under section 25C of the Internal Revenue Code (I.R.C.), homeowners can receive a 30 percent credit on the costs of "qualified energy efficiency improvements," including solar control window film, made to a primary residence from January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2010.

Only window films that meet the geographic and solar performance criteria will be eligible for the credit, so be sure to ask your local Budget Blinds Style Consultant which film qualifies for your area.

To qualify for the tax credit, homeowners will need to submit copies of the invoice, the manufacturer’s qualification statement and IRS form 5695.

Happiest franchisees: 6 O.C. companies make the list - Jan Norman ...
By Jan Norman, small-business columnist
Budget Blinds, window covering consultants, Orange, #11 among large franchise systems; Sir Speedy, printing and copying, Mission Viejo, #15 among large systems; Aussie Pet Mobile, dog and cat grooming, Dana Point, #16 among large ...
Jan Norman on Small Business - http://jan.freedomblogging.com/

Digital50: Budget Blinds Introduces Budget Blinds® PRO™
With over 1000 design and installation specialists serving nearly 4000 cities throughout the United States and Canada, Budget Blinds® Pro™ Builder provides ...

Budget Blinds to Offer Home Automation
Electronic House - Framingham,MA,USA
The company recently inked a distribution agreement with Budget Blinds, and international retail franchiser of window covering products. Budget Blinds will ...
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Lighten your electric bill with eco-friendly blinds
Murfreesboro Post - Murfreesboro,TN,USA
... by preventing heat exchange by creating a barrier between the window itself and the conditioned, indoor air, Keith Bryant at Budget Blinds explained. ...

Knock Out Window Treatments | delawareonline | The News Journal
Budget Blinds works with leading window covering manufacturers, such as: Castec, ... serving nearly 4000 cities throughout the United States and Canada. ...

Local businesses share new space
Gaston Gazette - Gastonia,NC,USA
Wellman Marble & Granite, Budget Blinds and Closet Tailors will also have ... Sally Noblitt, who owns Budget Blinds with her father Bill Noblitt and sister ...

 Home and Garden Expo to offer green solutions
San Angelo Standard Times - san angelo,tx,USA
Brian Gargan, owner of Budget Blinds, has also seen an increasing interest in green products. "People are asking 'how can we reduce energy costs, ...

Blinds company thrives in Valley
Comox Valley Record - Courtenay,British Columbia,Canada
Kelsey Jacques (left) and Stu Tunheim are celebrating Budget Blinds’ first ... Budget Blinds of the Comox Valley celebrates its first anniversary this month ...

Recession not stopping home improvement | Cincinnati Enquirer ...
“There are people out there that have the money and are willing to spend it,” said Connie Kerth, vice president of Northern Kentucky’s Budget Blinds. “But I think more people are being more cautious shoppers.” ...
Cincinnati.Com - Latest Updates - http://www.cincinnati.com/

Just in Time for Daylight Saving Time

Daylight Saving Time begins on March 8 this year. It’s a welcome event for many, but losing that hour of sleep isn’t so welcome.

The time change has been associated with:

• Slower Thinking
• Slower Reaction Times
• Moodiness
• Exhaustion

What’s a moody, exhausted, slow thinking, sleep-deprived person to do to get more sleep? One suggestion is to create an environment that’s conducive to sleep – dark, cool, quiet and comfortable. The window treatments you choose for your bedroom can help create the perfect sleep environment for you.

“There are wonderful window treatments that block light and prevent heat gain, making them excellent choices for the bedroom,” said Tracy Christman, Director of Vendor Alliance for Budget Blinds.

If drawing the blinds closed doesn’t block light from that pesky streetlamp from disturbing your sleep, there’s still hope. The key to a better night’s sleep may lie with your window treatments – specifically, the features you add to them.

Here are some of the options sleep-deprived homeowners can choose from:

• Add a blackout liner. Blackout liners are perfect for shift workers who sleep during the day and the friend to new parents who want to encourage good sleeping habits for infants and toddlers.
• Add decorative tapes to horizontal blinds to block light that enters through rout holes, or choose routless louvers for your blinds.
• Cornice boxes and valances block light that can enter through the small gap at the headrail of the window treatment.
• Room-darkening multiple-celled cellular shades block light and add insulation between cooled or heated indoor air and the glass.
• Sleep experts encourage troubled sleepers to wake at the same time every day. An additional feature that can help you wake at the same time every day is programmable motorization. Just set the programmable timer to open your window treatments at a specific time in the morning and the light that was blocked all night will help wake you.

Sources: National Sleep Foundation; WebMD.com