(NC)-How times have changed. It wasn't long ago that the colour pink was only associated with 'sugar, spice and everything nice'. These days, the colour pink reminds us of so many different things and it won't be long until this cotton candy colour will be getting everyone to think green.
And it all starts with a little PINK in the attic.
By upgrading the amount of insulation you have in your attic with PINK FIBERGLAS® insulation, you can help save money on your home's heating and cooling costs while helping the environment by conserving energy in the home.
"If you're looking for an easy way to create a comfortable environment that can help you conserve energy in the long term, then an attic insulation retrofit is right for you," says David Flood, Energy Efficiency Expert, Owens Corning. "Lower energy bills, increased energy savings and a warm and cozy home can all make for a happy homeowner."
And if you think attic insulation benefits end there, they don't. Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) has created a program that provides homeowners with grants in varying amounts if they take on retrofits that help increase the energy efficiency of their home. In addition to basement and exterior wall retrofits, attic insulation upgrades also qualify under the government grant program and can provide a return of up to $600.
Using a 1,200 square foot attic in Toronto, an average attic insulation retrofit requires an initial cost of $750 for about 25 bags of Owens Corning PINK R-20 insulation (prices may vary by province). A $600 government rebate can help pay for most of the project and the remaining costs are tremendously outweighed by the long-term savings on heating and cooling costs - that's true payback.
"You can top up on your attic insulation yourself," says Flood. "It's simple. Laying additional batt insulation will only require a couple of hours. You can pick up Owens Corning PINK batt insulation at your local home building supplies store at noon and can complete the project by dinner time."
If you would like to qualify for a government grant to top up your attic insulation, follow this simple process:
• Arrange for an accredited energy adviser to do an audit of your home and highlight areas that may need improvement
• Insulate your attic to the optimal insulation value of R-50 in order to qualify for a government rebate
• After you complete your insulation top-up, have a second energy audit performed to quantify the overall improvement in energy efficiency. The amount of the grant will depend on the level of improvement.
• Work with your energy advisor on completing the grant application form
• Sit back and relax in your new and improved home - the money is on the way!
With home sales continuing to slide, you can improve and increase the value of your home with easy insulation retrofits in the meantime. You'll see so much pink that you'll quickly learn, PINK is Green.
For more information on insulating your attic, visit www.pinksavesenergy.ca. More information on government grants and incentives can be found on www.oee.nrcan.gc.ca.
The colour PINK is a registered trademark of Owens Corning
© 2008 Owens Corning
- News Canada