Scrolling Screens. Phantom Screens now offers retractable screens for double French doors. The PVC-coated fiberglass mesh screens roll into low-profile housings when not in use. Housings, slide-bars, and tracks are made of extruded aluminum for smooth operation. According to the maker, the screens can be adapted to virtually any door size. They come in eight colors and cost $800 and up installed. Phantom Screens, 888/742-6866, www.phantomscreens.com
Weathertight. Do your clients want a little extra protection from the elements? Simpson says its new WaterBarrier option helps the company's Performance Series French doors stand up to severe weather. The upgraded units have a one-piece acrylic-latex-primed medium-density overlay with a PVC glazing bead on the exterior. Simpson backs them with a five-year warranty; prices start at around $1,200 without hardware. Simpson Door Co., 800/952-4057, www.simpsondoor.com
More for Less. Andersen's new 200 series hinged-panel doors deliver high performance without a high price, the company says. They come with full-perimeter weather stripping, three different tempered-glass options, adjustable hinges, and a choice of three exterior colors (interiors are white). Prices start at $1,830. Andersen Windows, 800/426-4261, www.andersenwindows.com
Heating & Cooling
Stay Cool. With oil pushing $100 a barrel, energy conservation is on everyone's mind. One way to cut consumption and lower cooling costs is to turn off the AC and use a whole-house fan like the AirScape 1.7. Features include automatic dampers to prevent heat loss in the winter and a housing that fits inside 16-inch on-center framing. The two-speed motor produces a maximum of 1,700 cfm, yet consumes only 140 watts of electricity. Prices start at $770. AirScape, 866/448-4187, www.airscapefans.com
Cool Customer. Conventional air-conditioning systems are limited by the length of their refrigeration lines; if lines get too long, the system loses efficiency — or won't work at all. This can be a real problem in large homes, or in cases where the homeowner wants the outdoor unit far away from the house. Chiller systems like Unico's UniChiller RC offer a solution. These products use a refrigeration cycle to make chilled water, which can be pumped greater distances than refrigerant; the water is sent to one or more air handlers and the cool air is distributed by conventional or mini ducts. The system can also be used for heating (the refrigeration cycle is simply reversed). Prices for the UniChiller start at about $5,000 for a 3-ton unit. Unico, 800/527-0896, www.unicosystem.com
Small Package. Need an air conditioner for a tight spot? Sold in 1- to 3-ton sizes, Coleman's new 13 SEER [mc]2 MicroChannel Mini-Cube is the smallest 13-SEER air conditioner available and uses less refrigerant than other models, says the maker. Its footprint measures 213/4 inches square; heights range from 22 1/2 inches to 30 3/4 inches. It costs $640. The Coleman Co., 877/726-5362, www.colemanac.com
