The finishing touches are still being applied, but we got a firsthand look at the Cool Energy House during the 2012 International Builders' Show in Florida last week.

The Cool Energy House is a whole-home remodel with significant style and layout updates that uses innovative strategies and products as a model for energy-efficiency improvements in existing homes.

Among the products featured are Clopay's Canyon Ridge Collection faux wood composite garage doors and LiftMaster's new Model 8550 residential garage door openers with MYQ™ technology.

The architect’s rendering.

The three-car courtyard garage was a 2012 addition to this 1996-spec-built home.

Clopay’s Canyon Ridge Collection is a durable, low-maintenance polyurethane insulated faux wood garage door that will help reduce energy loss through and improve the comfort of this Florida home year-round.

Unlike natural wood, the stained Mahogany composite cladding is moisture resistant so it won’t rot, split, shrink or crack.

The garage door contains Clopay's WindCode® built-in reinforcement system to help protect the house in the event of a hurricane. No posts are needed to secure the door; simply lock and go.

This new generation of garage door opener uses a patented two-way technology that allows homeowners to control their garage door openers, gate operators and light from anywhere in the world using their Internet-enabled smart phone or computer.

The back of the house features two verandas with a spectacular view of the water.

Waking up to a water view.

Take a tour of the Cool Energy House remodel in progress and view the original layout at www.hgtvremodels.com.

Read more about the project.

In its annual list of the Top 50 high performance, eco-friendly residential building products, GreenBuilder Magazine recognized Clopay's Canyon Ridge Collection for its unique appearance, material innovation and design versatility, while also pointing out the extreme durability and energy efficiency the door's five layer construction method provides.

Another common denominator among the manufacturers included on the list is brand trust and market viability.

The editors wrote, "Established companies tend to have in place the distribution, after-market service and in-house research needed to get more efficiency from familiar technology – to create upgraded products that outperform their predecessors."

GreenBuilder's "Hot 50 Products" list appears in the February issue of the magazine and is also available online at www.greenbuildermag.com/hot502012.

Learn more about Clopay's eco-friendly garage doors and about our history of manufacturing beautiful, durable, reliable garage doors in the USA for nearly 50 years.

Clopay will have a big presence at the 2012 International Builders' Show in Orlando, Fla. this week…off the exhibit floor.

Clopay Canyon Ridge® Collection garage doors installed by Florida Door Solutions will be featured on the Cool Energy House (CEH), a remodeling show home project supported by the U.S. Department of Energy's Building America program.

The goal of the Cool Energy House is to demonstrate more than 10 proven, energy-efficiency upgrade measures that together will reduce peak energy consumption of a 1996-"spec-built" home by over 50 percent, while improving overall building quality, comfort, safety and durability.

The home will be open to show attendees and the general public for tours Wednesday through Saturday during the Builders' Show. Courtesy shuttles will be running from the Convention Center.

For more information about the Cool Energy House, visit www.forresidentialpros.com/video/10476087/an-intro-to-the-cool-energy-house-retrofit.

Architect Patricia Gaylor chose Clopay Canyon Ridge Collection garage doors, Design 13 with Mahogany cladding and overlays, factory stained in a Dark finish, for the Cool Energy Home's three-car attached court-yard style garage.

The Canyon Ridge Collection is a line of rustic "faux wood" composite carriage house style garage doors molded from actual wood to replicate the species' natural texture, intricate grain patterns and even the imperfections.

Unlike real wood, it's moisture resistant so it won't rot, split, shrink, separate, or crack, making it easier to maintain long-term.

The durable 1/2" thick cladding is attached to a polyurethane insulated three-layer steel base door for superior durability and energy efficiency, delivering an impressive 19.2 R-value.

Click here to see the variety of Canyon Ridge Collection designs, cladding types and finishes available.

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.