Letter to TX Senators on Window Film Credit

I am attaching a copy of a letter sent to our Texas Senators on a pending energy tax credit bill:

July 27, 2010

Hon. Kay Bailey Hutchison

284 Russell Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510

Via Fax 202 224-0776

Dear Senator Hutchison:

I am writing to request your support to include a window film tax credit in energy tax legislation that Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) is crafting in Congress. As comprehensive energy legislation is further developed and ultimately considered in Congress, I strongly support the inclusion of language which would amend Section 25C(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code to expand the use of rational retrofit solutions (specifically, highly efficient window film) to improve the energy performance of many existing windows and doors.

Our film was installed on Washington DC federal buildings after 9/11 to provide blast protection, but they also serve a dual role of cutting cuts energy use and protecting homes and businesses from window breach by hurricanes, tornadoes, etc. Our films would have avoided millions of dollars in damages to coastal buildings caused by Hurricane IKE. In fact, our film saved homes on Galveston Bay that had installed it before the storm.

On top of that, our films are carbon negative – they save more energy than it takes to produce them. While past legislation has limited the tax credit to the more efficient double-paned windows, it is needed on single-pane windows as well to “armor” them from solar heat and storms. It does the same for double-paned windows.

Even NASA astronauts have used our film in their homes instead of relying on outdated plywood.

As you know, the American economy has been in turmoil for quite some time now. With the unemployment rate hovering around 9.5 percent and a faltering economic recovery looming over our heads today, many individuals and small business owners in my community continue to struggle to make ends meet. Cutting their energy use helps America cut back on importing foreign oil. In addition, installing energy efficiency products like our film also creates new jobs.

I believe it’s now more important than ever for the federal government to create economic opportunities and incentives for our nation, ultimately stimulating the economy and fostering greater confidence amongst consumers and small businesses.

In fact, taking such action at the federal level to enact a new window film tax credit is a rational step forward that should be part of any discussion related to improving our economy. As a small business owner in Houston, Texas, a tax incentive for the window film industry would help

to create and sustain thousands of manufacturing and retrofitting jobs in both the commercial and residential building sector.

Meanwhile, American consumers – from Florida to Hawaii – would see direct benefit from such action, as they would be well-positioned and encouraged to install window film on existing glass - an affordable, effective energy saving solution that provides much needed hurricane protection that works 24/7 and costs a fraction of expensive shutters and impact glass.

Taking into account the important role window film serves in terms of benefiting the American workplace and securing a clean energy future, I remain hopeful you will act expeditiously to pass a window film tax credit this year. I cannot overstate how critical it is for our elected leaders to embrace policies that put our country back on a path to stability.

Thank you for your attention to this very important request and I look forward to hearing back from you on this matter.

Sincerely,

Michael Fjetland, President

Armor Glass International, Inc.

NASA Astronauts Pick Armor Glass - Bonnie is Coming Our Way

What a great job this is.

One day I am talking to a NASA astronaut as our team is installing our hurricane film on his house - and getting to ask him about his experience flying the F-22 - and the next day I'm talking to a retired Space Station executive who tells me about dropping a piece of plywood on one of his sprinkler heads, causing a water gush.

What other job lets you do that? What other job lets you meet our cutting edge people and talk about the fascinating technology from plasma engines to the comparisons between the F-22 and F-35 latest fighters?

These are just a couple of our clients who have chosen to protect their homes and families with Armor Glass security films. Last week we were doing the same for a retired couple in Harlingen and a builder with a vacation home in Port O'Connor. A homeowner in Sugar Land tried to give his plywood away to my team as they were leaving - he said it was blocking his parking space in his garage. LOL.

What other job lets you do that? I love this job.

Armor Glass will be sponsoring a new radio program I will be announcing soon called "The Global American" on 1110 AM Saturday mornings at 9 a.m. starting August 7th.

The fierce rains of last night have given way to a sunny morning, which is deceptive because Tropical Storm "Bonnie" is heading our way.

It may or may not become a hurricane but it isanother reminder to "Get Prepared" and protect your house like our friends at NASA are doing...

Another Storm Coming Towards Gulf

We have a good chance of another depression getting into the Gulf of Mexico and heading our way. It could be here early next week.

Stay tuned!

Get Solar Relief + Security as Temps Hit 100+

This past week the gauge on my car measuring outside temp gauge hit 111 degrees when I was on the West Loop! I feel like I'm being X-rayed when I walk outside. As summer bores on, people are burning up inside windows that act like magnifying glasses for the sun's rays. But solar film alone doesn't protect their windows from a breach during a hurricane or a burglar.

And plywood is so yesterday. One customer told me that he was pulling a heavy piece of plywood up a ladder, trying to get it on a second story window - and dropped it on one of his sprinkler heads. It broke and a stream of water shot high into the air. It sounded like a great commercial, except it wasn't funny when it happened to him.

The ideal solution is a film that provides both solar relief and security from window breach by wind borne debris in a hurricane - which leads to internal damages and roof uplift/loss.

As we get closer to the peak 2010 hurricane season (August-September), we have been traveling nonstop, showing and installing our solar+security film to beat the heat and retire the plywood for hurricane protection.

Often, air conditioners cannot cope without the help from our film, which cuts 50-70% of the solar heat coming through the glass. That's 50 to 70% less heat your a/c has to air condition.

It is so much better than the other choices - solar screens are not impact resistant, shutters cost ten times more, and so on. It remains the best solution at the least cost - and it even screens out harmful UV (99%).

We have installations booked solid into August. Hurricane Alex has been our only close call so far, but there is plenty of time for more storms to head our way.

Remember IKE? Prepare now.

Burglaries & Hurricane Season 2010 vs 2005

The Weather Channel has an interesting story comparing hurricane season 2010 with the very active 2005 that brought us Rita, Katrina, etc.

The bottom line? That we are behind the number of storms that we had at this time in 2005 but that the peak doesn't come until late August. And they also say that in 2004 nothing happened until August - then all hell broke loose with four major hurricanes that hit Florida.

The Houston Chronicle had an article today about burglaries - one happens every 30 minutes in Houston. They recommend making your windows impact resistant (or replacing them).

So, get prepared. We are not out of the woods yet. The HEAT is back after a couple weeks of rain. Our security film cuts it dramatically.

We are really busy - going to South Texas next week for a couple installations. Every day is a new day. I love this job!

Another Tropical Wave Forming in Caribbean - Bonnie?

A second tropical wave is forming in the vicinity that led to the formation of Hurricane Alex. If it grows into a storm it will probably not happen until it is in the southern Gulf of Mexico. If it becomes a storm it will be "Bonnie."

The problem with this kind of storm is that the preparation time is so much shorter from formation to impact. Remember Humberto in 2007? It went from zero to a hurricane in just 24-hours!

Keep an eye on this thing. The past week Alex dumped rained like crazy as we worked our way through scheduled installations. One day we had to do a third story window from the outside because access was blocked on the inside (it was in an attic). So we had to rent a 40-foot ladder and the guys went up in the rain and did it. Luckily there was no real lightning but we were soaking wet before the day ended.

That's one less person who needs to mess with plywood, especially since he had three floors of windows to cover!

I love this job! Get yourself prepared for more storms. The season is early and already active.

Working 24/7 - Green Security Technology Rocks!

We are being deluged with emails and calls from people wanting to get a quote so they can throw away the plywood, save on their energy bill and get some solar heat and burglary protection at the same time.

We are booking well into July - my office is on the road every day. Our focus is local because of the huge need, but we travel nationally. People need security for their weakest link -their windows- everywhere.

Green Security Technology Rocks!