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utting a finger on what conâ€" sumers desire is always a tricky â€" task. However, Mercedes Homes believes they have it right again with the awardâ€"winâ€" ning builder‘s recent unveiling of its new Bungalow Series. The exciting new bungalow series from Mercedes Homes boasts four fabulous new designs and eight different front elevations. Located in the friendly community of Waterdown, the homes are a welâ€" come addition to the very successful Windemere Collection. All designs have tremendous street appeal and possess a relaxed California flair, popular with today‘s new home buyers. "This is what a large share of the market is looking for," says Larry Szpirglas, president of Mercedes Homes. "With this design, we are confident we have something capaâ€" ble of pleasing everyone." ADVERTISING FEATURE Discover 19 breathtaking open concept designs â€" vaulted ceilings create a welcoming, open feeling as you stroll through the stunning yet entirely functional layout. Spacious kitchens provide home gourmets with plenty of workspace. Buyers can choose between two and three bedroom designs, but Szpirglas feels in either case that the master bedroom is large and more than capable of accommodating the needs of even the most discriminatâ€" ing buyer. oneâ€"floor plans are attractâ€" ing a lot of attention," notes Joe Castellano, sales supervisor. ~‘"They really appeal to the older crowd who are downsizing their housing requirements from homes in the 2,400 square foot range to 1,500 to 1,800 square feet." Castellano says the broad appeal of these well constructed, carefully finished bungalows is drawing buyâ€" ers from all over, including Oakville, Burlington, Cambridge, and the Toronto area. Another major plus for prospecâ€" tive buyers is the role they play in the planning phase of their new home. During the preâ€"construction stage, a personal meeting is schedâ€" uled with the builder to discuss wall placement and other such consideraâ€" tions which can usually be accomâ€" modated without additional cost. Then there is the quality of mateâ€" rials and attention to detail evident throughout the construction phase. Prices start at $159,900, GST included. "Beat the rush and come see us soon, because at this price buyers are getting tremendous value for their dollar," advises Szpirglas. For more information, call 689â€" 4828, or Castellano Real Estate Ltd., at 522â€"2269. Site hours are Monday to Thursday from 1 to 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. and by appointment on Friday. indows account for the greatest amount of heat loss â€"almost 25% â€" in the average insulated home in Canada. Since window techâ€" nology has advanced dramaticalâ€" ly in recent years, it makes sense to look into purchasing high perâ€" formance or energyâ€"efficient winâ€" dows if you‘re renovating your home or building a new one. High performance windows should be considered especially for large, northâ€"facing or exposed windows in an electrically heated home. In these situations, you may find that such windows can help you save energy, reduce your heating bill, reduce damage and maintenance costs due to condenâ€" sation, and make your home more comfortable. Energyâ€"efficient features Generally, windows that can be classed as high performance incorporate one or more of the following basic features. New program rates energy efficient windows i eous item, together with a reasonable ”mdhmmmflwflbmbhmmwrflb.mpu i a ical error, advertising goods or services at the wrong price, ooottormnnynotbesdd.Am-ndnginmfymoflutoulmdnuybommmmyfim‘ Lowâ€"E (emissivity) coating: An ultrathin, almost transparent film applied to window glass, a lowâ€"E coating acts as a heat barriâ€" er that keeps heat in during the winter and out during the sumâ€" mer. In winter, the coating reflects heat from warmed objects inside a room back into the house; in summer, heat is radiated to reduce heat gain. As an added benefit, lowâ€"E coatings also block most of the incoming ultraviolet light that fades carpets, drapes, and furniture. Multiple glazing with two or more layers of glass (or plastic members for inner panes): Glass in itself has no insulation value; it‘s the air between the panes of glass that provides insulation. In triple glazing, a second air space is added that increases a winâ€" dow‘s insulation value. Insulating gas: Replacing the air between panes with an inert (harmless) gas, usually argon or Krypton, cuts down on the amount of heat loss through conâ€" vection and conduction. The insuâ€" lation value of a window that is both lowâ€"E coated and gasâ€"filled is substantially increased. Insulating spacers between the layers of glass: Inserting nonâ€"conâ€" ductive or insulating spacers between the panes instead of aluâ€" minum spacers reduces heat loss and the potential for condensation around the edges of the panes. The style of window and the materials used for frames and sashes also influence window performance. Fixed (nonâ€"openâ€" ing) windows are the most inherâ€" JEAN WRIGLEY Sales Coâ€"ordinator ently energy efficient; other styles are awning, casement, turn and tilt, single or doubleâ€"hung, .and horizontal slider. Wood, wood clad, vinyl, fiberglass and PVC (polyvinyl chloride) frames tend to provide the best insulation. To boost their energy performance, aluminum frames are now availâ€" able that have a "thermal break" (nonâ€"conductive space) separatâ€" ing the inner and outer parts of the frame. Since windows incorporate a number of elements that can be combined in various ways, how can a homeowner compare differâ€" ent models for energy efficiency? The Canadian Window and Door Manufacturers Association (CWDMA) has initiated a volunâ€" tary, national certification proâ€" gram that can potentially make comparison and selection much easier. Under this program, window certified by the CWDMA will bear both a permanent label showing a certification reference number and a temporary label. The temporary label will show the unit‘s overall energy rating (ER) according to the CSA Standard Energy Performance Evaluation of Windows and Sliding Glass Doors (A400.2â€"93); it will also identify the window‘s performance rating according to the CSA Standard, Windows (CAN/CSAâ€"A440â€"M90), which provides tests for air and water tightness, wind load resistance and other factors. Compliance with the Canadian General Standards Board‘s sealedâ€"glazed unit and slidingâ€"door Standard will also be cited if it applies to the unit. The temporary label will allow builders, architects, and consumers to compare windows and will enable building inspecâ€" tors to confirm that windows meet specified levels of perforâ€" The most prominent feature of the temporary label is the ER number. According to the rating system provided in the A440.2 Standard, a window‘s ER number represents its heat loss (a negative number) or gain (a positive numâ€" ber) over the heating season for an average home in an average Canadian location. While an ER is based on average climatic conâ€" ditions, a companion User Guide in the same volume (A440.3â€"93) indicates how to determine an energy rating value (ERS) for a particular location, window size and window orientation (north, south, east or west). Published by: