As you prepare your 2011 tax return, don't miss out on a valuable tax credit that is staring you right in the face when you come home every day – your front door. If you upgraded the entry door on your primary residence to a more energy efficient model by December 31, 2011, you may be eligible for a $500 tax credit.

The credit applies to the door only and does not include installation.*

A tax credit is more valuable than a tax deduction because you get a dollar off for every qualifying dollar spent; a deduction only decreases the amount of income that is taxed.

Clopay's Rustic Collection Cherry woodgrain fiberglass entry door qualifies for the energy tax credit.

Here's what you need to claim your energy tax credit:

The professional door dealer who installed your new ENERGY STAR® qualified Clopay entry door should have provided you with a signed manufacturer's certification statement along with a breakdown of the cost of the door(s) and the labor when the job was completed.

You do not need to submit a copy of the certificate with your 2011 tax return, but DO KEEP A COPY for your records.

To download a copy of Clopay's entry door manufacturer certification form, click here.

For a complete list of deductions, visit the IRS website

There are several long-term benefits to upgrading your front door beyond the tax credit, including year-round energy savings, greater curb appeal, and a solid return-on-investment at resale.

Don't miss out on 10 other potential tax deductions most people miss. Read this article.

*Note: If a taxpayer has already taken an Energy Tax Credit from 2006 to 2010, the 2011 Tax Credit may not apply. Consult a tax professional to determine your eligibility for the tax credit.

Thinking about investing in a new front door but not sure which one would look best? Upload a photo of your home to Clopay's new Entry Door Imagination System to try one on.

Which look do you prefer?

Clopay Rustic Collection Cherry woodgrain fiberglass entry door with Prescott sidelites

Clopay Smooth Fiberglass Collection entry door with Cimarron glass and sidelites. Color: Rustic Red.

Clopay Smooth Fiberglass Collection entry door with Cimarron glass and sidelites. Color: Almond.

If you're concerned about your coordinating your home's curb appeal, consider upgrading your garage and entry door at the same time.

Clopay is the only manufacturer in the industry that offers a complete line of ENERGY STAR® qualified entry doors designed to complement our residential garage doors.

Our design tool lets you compare both doors side-by-side to see how they'll look on your home.

Clopay Gallery Collection insulated steel garage door with Clayton decorative windows shown with complementing Clopay Smooth Fiberglass Collection entry door with matching Clayton glass. Color: Sandtone.

In a recent post titled “Elevating Your Overhead Garage Door”, HANDY Magazine blogger Fernando Ruiz offers advice on replacing your garage door with an upscale model that can improve your home’s curb appeal, energy efficiency and perhaps even pay you back at resale.

Read the full article “Elevating Your Overhead Garage Door”.

Ruiz showcases Clopay's Coachman Collection steel carriage house style garage door, an attractive, durable, low-maintenance alternative to a natural wood door.

Unlike wood, steel carriage house doors won’t rot, warp or crack and are a good choice if you do not plan to stain your garage door. And they are insulated to improve the comfort and energy efficiency of your home year round.

Clopay Coachman Collection, Series 1, Design 11 with Arch 4 windows shown in Almond with white overlays.

Clopay Coachman Collection, Series 2, Design 23 with SQ 23 windows shown in White with white overlays.

View more Coachman Collection steel carriage house garage door design options.

Before we officially ring in the New Year, here’s a recap of our favorite Clopay® products and projects from 2011.

Garage Door and Entry Door Replacement Projects Yield the Biggest Returns at Resale: According to the Remodeling 2010-2011 Cost vs. Value Report, garage door and entry door replacement projects deliver the biggest bang for your buck at resale, netting the No. 1 and number 2 spots respectively, in the national average.

Yes, Even a Garage Door Can Be Green

Green Builder Media originally wanted natural wood carriage house style garage doors for its 2011 ReVISION House in Orlando. But when we told them that our Canyon Ridge® Collection provides the look of wood without the upkeep, they were sold.

The moisture-resistant composite polymer cladding won't rot, warp, shrink or crack, and the doors are uber energy-efficient with a 19.2 R value.

Clopay $10,000 Garage Makeover Sweepstakes on Facebook: Gina from Connecticut was the grand prize winner of the "Clopay Garage Door Makeover Sweepstakes".

Not only did the addition of two new energy-efficient Gallery® Collection garage doors in the Walnut Ultra-Grain® finish enhance the appearance of her 60’s ranch style home, the polyurethane insulated doors improved the comfort of the bedroom located directly above the garage.

Social Networking Garage Door Style: Let your social network be the judge of the garage door that looks best on your home. Upload a digital photo to Clopay’s Door Imagination System Facebook app to try on garage doors in all colors and styles. Then share the images with your friends to get instant feedback. http://apps.facebook.com/clopaydis/

Knock, Knock: It's the Craftsman Collection Entry Door

The newest addition to Clopay's fiberglass entry door line complements Bungalow, Mission and transitional style homes, as well as many of our residential garage doors. You’ll love the straight fir grain, the authentic architectural details and the decorative glass options.

New Garage Door Finish Options Coordinate with Other Exterior Home Features

Clopay's Walnut Ultra-Grain paint finish simulates the look of a stained wood surface on a polyurethane insulated steel door for long-lasting, maintenance-free beauty.

Painted white garage doors are a key fixture on the quaint, charming homes Cape Cod, Carmel, Vermont and Northern, Michigan are known for. Thanks to the Canyon Ridge Collection’s durable, low-maintenance composite cladding, you won't be stripping, sanding and painting every season to keep this factory-painted garage door looking good.

We added Bronze to our 1-3/8" polystyrene insulated garage door Models 4050, 4051 and 4053 to match this increasingly popular window cladding color.

The Avante™ Collection Goes Hollywood

The Avante continued its reign as a garage door media darling as TV designers gave it a starring role on home improvement shows like the DIY Network's "Dream House: Log Cabin", "Rescue Renovation" and ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition". Look for it in 2012 on a NASCAR themed edition of DIY "House Crashers".

Energy Tax Credit for Entry Doors: If you upgraded to an ENERGY STAR® qualified Clopay entry door system by December 31, 2011, you may be eligible for up to a $500 credit on your 2011 taxes, in addition to years of comfort and cost-cutting on your utility bills. www.clopaydoor.com/publicfiles/43960%20CLO%20ENTDR%20Tax%20Flyer%20R1_1.pdf.

Specification Innovation: Clopay's online BIM and ARCAT SpecWizard® tools help architects and specifiers configure commercial overhead sectional and rolling steel doors, share info across multiple project teams and resolve potential issues in advance to eliminate costly change orders and delays. www.clopaydoor.com/commercial-door-products.aspx

Clopay Residential Garage Doors Voted #1

Members of the garage door industry ranked Clopay residential garage doors No. 1 for the third year in a row in Professional Door Dealer's annual "Best of Business" poll.

Visit Clopay's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/clopaygaragedoors and website press room www.clopaydoor.com/Pressreleases.aspx for breaking news.

We have many exciting new products, showcase home projects, contests and promotions planned for 2012. Thank you for being a valued customer and we look forward to serving you in the New Year!