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Insulate your home

Adding some insulation to your attic, basement and exterior walls can save you a lot in heating costs, and reduce your home's CO2 emissions.

objAction - component TGLEntities.Action
DEFAULTENDDATE 2079-01-01 00:00:00.0
VARDEPLOYSERVER [empty string]
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COMMITMENTID [empty string]
VALUETOPLANET 1
SEQUENCEID 0
ACTIONDIFFICULTYID 3
QUANTITYUNIT insulated house
ACTIONSEQUENCEID 0
COMMENTSCOUNT 6
NAME Insulate your home
WHYHOWDESCRIPTION <h3>How to do it </h3>Either hire a professional or use your own two hands to better insulate your home. The most effective place to put in an extra barrier is the attic. Turn next to your basement, and then to wall insulation in the rest of your house (this is easiest if you're already doing a renovation). Find out where insulation will most impact your home's heating and cooling by getting a professional energy audit. You can find a list of qualified energy auditors in your area by entering the first three digits of your postal code <a href="http://ecoaction.gc.ca/index-eng.cfm" target="newWin" class="GreenLink">here</a>.To save on heating in the winter, put your thermostat down a degree and wear sweaters and slippers in the house. As well, use area rugs on bare floors. Clean or replace the air filter in your furnace monthly to increase its efficiency. <br /><br /><h3>Why you're doing it </h3>Heating and cooling accounts for about 60 per cent of your home energy costs. Proper draft proofing and insulating of your home can reduce your heating bills by 25 per cent and reduce an average home's carbon emissions by 800 kilograms a year, although the savings could be much higher if your home is particularly drafty or poorly insulated. Turning down your thermostat by one degree will reduce your CO<span class="subScr">2</span> emissions by about 100 kilograms a year and save about 3 per cent on your heating bill a month. If you do get a <a href="http://ecoaction.gc.ca/index-eng.cfm" target="newWin" class="GreenLink">Natural Resource Canada</a> approved energy audit and add insulation to your home, you could be eligible for a grant of up to $5,000. There may also be rebate programs in place in your home province.
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ACTIONCATEGORYID 1
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ACTIONEVENTS
objAction - struct [empty]
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SHORTDESCRIPTION Adding some insulation to your attic, basement and exterior walls can save you a lot in heating costs, and reduce your home's CO<span class="subScr">2</span> emissions.
ENDDATE [empty string]
CONFIGURATIONDESCRIPTION Adding some insulation to your attic, basement and exterior walls can save you a lot in heating costs, and reduce your home's CO<span class="subScr">2</span> emissions.
EARTHHOURID 0
LONGDESCRIPTION Adding some insulation to your attic, basement and exterior walls can save you a lot in heating costs, and reduce your home's CO<span class="subScr">2</span> emissions.
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STARTDATE [empty string]
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objAction - function setActionCategoryId
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Output: false
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GETSEQUENCEID
objAction - function getSequenceId
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ReturnType: Numeric
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DisplayName:  
Hint:  
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GETACTIONCATEGORYID
objAction - function getActionCategoryId
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ReturnType: Numeric
Roles:  
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Output: false
DisplayName:  
Hint:  
Description:  
SETACTIONCATEGORYNAME
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Arguments:
Name Required Type Default
ActionCategoryName Required string  
ReturnType: void
Roles:  
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Output: false
DisplayName:  
Hint:  
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GETACTIONGHGPOINTS
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ReturnType: numeric
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Output: false
DisplayName:  
Hint:  
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GETCO2UNIT
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ReturnType: string
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Output: false
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GETEARTHHOURID
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Output: false
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SETMAXQUANTITY
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Output: false
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SETIMAGE
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Image Required string  
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DisplayName:  
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SETACTIONEVENTS
objAction - function setActionEvents
Arguments:
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ReturnType: void
Roles:  
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Output: false
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SETACTIONSEQUENCEID
objAction - function setActionSequenceId
Arguments:
Name Required Type Default
ActionSequenceId Required Numeric  
ReturnType: void
Roles:  
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Output: false
DisplayName:  
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SETVALUETOPLANET
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ReturnType: void
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Output: false
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SETENDDATE
objAction - function setEndDate
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Roles:  
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Output: false
DisplayName:  
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GETCOMMENTSCOUNT
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GETACTIONDIFFICULTYID
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ReturnType: Numeric
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SETBONUSPOINT
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ReturnType: void
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Output: false
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GETIMAGE
objAction - function getImage
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FullPath Optional boolean false
ReturnType: string
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DisplayName:  
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GETLONGDESCRIPTION
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SETCANSTOP
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GETMAXIMUMDURATION
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GETACTIONSEQUENCEID
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GETCONFIGURATIONDESCRIPTION
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SETACTIONGHGPOINTS
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SETWHYHOWDESCRIPTION
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Arguments:
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GETDEFAULTENDDATE
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SETQUANTITYUNIT
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GETDEFAULTQUENTITY
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GETNAME
objAction - function getName
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Roles:  
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DisplayName:  
Hint:  
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SETSEQUENCEID
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ReturnType: void
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Output: false
DisplayName:  
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GETMAXQUANTITY
objAction - function getMaxQuantity
Arguments:none
ReturnType: numeric
Roles:  
Access: public
Output: false
DisplayName:  
Hint:  
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SETNAME
objAction - function setName
Arguments:
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ReturnType: void
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SETACTIONEVENT
objAction - function setActionEvent
Arguments:
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ReturnType: void
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SETISALLCANADA
objAction - function setIsAllCanada
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Output: false
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GETSTARTDATE
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GETACTIONCATEGORYNAME
objAction - function getActionCategoryName
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Roles:  
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DisplayName:  
Hint:  
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SETSHORTDESCRIPTION
objAction - function setShortDescription
Arguments:
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ReturnType: void
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Output: false
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SETLONGDESCRIPTION
objAction - function setLongDescription
Arguments:
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ReturnType: void
Roles:  
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DisplayName:  
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SETMAXIMUMDURATION
objAction - function setMaximumDuration
Arguments:
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ReturnType: void
Roles:  
Access: public
Output: false
DisplayName:  
Hint:  
Description:  
GETCOMMITMENTID
objAction - function getCommitmentId
Arguments:none
ReturnType: numeric
Roles:  
Access: public
Output: false
DisplayName:  
Hint:  
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SETHOWMANYPEOPLEHAVETAKEN
objAction - function setHowManyPeopleHaveTaken
Arguments:
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ReturnType: void
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Access: public
Output: false
DisplayName:  
Hint:  
Description:  
GETSHORTDESCRIPTION
objAction - function getShortDescription
Arguments:none
ReturnType: string
Roles:  
Access: public
Output: false
DisplayName:  
Hint:  
Description:  
SETMINQUANTITY
objAction - function setMinQuantity
Arguments:
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ReturnType: void
Roles:  
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Output: false
DisplayName:  
Hint:  
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SETCO2UNIT
objAction - function setCO2Unit
Arguments:
Name Required Type Default
CO2Unit Required string  
ReturnType: void
Roles:  
Access: public
Output: false
DisplayName:  
Hint:  
Description:  
GETACTIONID
objAction - function getActionId
Arguments:none
ReturnType: Numeric
Roles:  
Access: public
Output: false
DisplayName:  
Hint:  
Description:  
SETDEFAULTQUENTITY
objAction - function setDefaultQuentity
Arguments:
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ReturnType: void
Roles:  
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Output: false
DisplayName:  
Hint:  
Description:  
GETWHYHOWDESCRIPTION
objAction - function getWhyHowDescription
Arguments:none
ReturnType: string
Roles:  
Access: public
Output: false
DisplayName:  
Hint:  
Description:  
GETACTIONEVENT
objAction - function getActionEvent
Arguments:
Name Required Type Default
Id Required Numeric  
ReturnType: string
Roles:  
Access: public
Output: false
DisplayName:  
Hint:  
Description:  
GETVALUETOPLANET
objAction - function getValueToPlanet
Arguments:none
ReturnType: Numeric
Roles:  
Access: public
Output: false
DisplayName:  
Hint:  
Description:  
GETISALLCANADA
objAction - function getIsAllCanada
Arguments:none
ReturnType: numeric
Roles:  
Access: public
Output: false
DisplayName:  
Hint:  
Description:  
GETENDDATE
objAction - function getEndDate
Arguments:none
ReturnType: Date
Roles:  
Access: public
Output: false
DisplayName:  
Hint:  
Description:  
SETCONFIGURATIONDESCRIPTION
objAction - function setConfigurationDescription
Arguments:
Name Required Type Default
ConfigurationDescription Required string  
ReturnType: void
Roles:  
Access: public
Output: false
DisplayName:  
Hint:  
Description:  
GETCANSTOP
objAction - function getCanStop
Arguments:none
ReturnType: numeric
Roles:  
Access: public
Output: false
DisplayName:  
Hint:  
Description:  
GETACTIONSPECIALVALUEID
objAction - function getActionSpecialValueId
Arguments:none
ReturnType: Numeric
Roles:  
Access: public
Output: false
DisplayName:  
Hint:  
Description:  
SETCOMMENTSCOUNT
objAction - function setCommentsCount
Arguments:
Name Required Type Default
CommentsCount Required numeric  
ReturnType: void
Roles:  
Access: public
Output: false
DisplayName:  
Hint:  
Description:  
GETMINQUANTITY
objAction - function getMinQuantity
Arguments:none
ReturnType: numeric
Roles:  
Access: public
Output: false
DisplayName:  
Hint:  
Description:  
SETDEFAULTENDDATE
objAction - function setDefaultEndDate
Arguments:
Name Required Type Default
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ReturnType: void
Roles:  
Access: public
Output: false
DisplayName:  
Hint:  
Description:  
SETACTIONID
objAction - function setActionId
Arguments:
Name Required Type Default
ActionId Required Numeric  
ReturnType: void
Roles:  
Access: public
Output: false
DisplayName:  
Hint:  
Description:  
GETHOWMANYPEOPLEHAVETAKEN
objAction - function getHowManyPeopleHaveTaken
Arguments:none
ReturnType: Numeric
Roles:  
Access: public
Output: false
DisplayName:  
Hint:  
Description:  
SETEARTHHOURID
objAction - function setEarthHourId
Arguments:
Name Required Type Default
EarthHourId Required Numeric  
ReturnType: void
Roles:  
Access: public
Output: false
DisplayName:  
Hint:  
Description:  
SETACTIONDIFFICULTYID
objAction - function setActionDifficultyId
Arguments:
Name Required Type Default
ActionDifficultyId Required Numeric  
ReturnType: void
Roles:  
Access: public
Output: false
DisplayName:  
Hint:  
Description:  
SETCOMMITMENTID
objAction - function setCommitmentId
Arguments:
Name Required Type Default
CommitmentId Required numeric  
ReturnType: void
Roles:  
Access: public
Output: false
DisplayName:  
Hint:  
Description:  
GETBONUSPOINT
objAction - function getBonusPoint
Arguments:none
ReturnType: numeric
Roles:  
Access: public
Output: false
DisplayName:  
Hint:  
Description:  
SETACTIONSPECIALVALUEID
objAction - function setActionSpecialValueId
Arguments:
Name Required Type Default
ActionSpecialValueId Required Numeric  
ReturnType: void
Roles:  
Access: public
Output: false
DisplayName:  
Hint:  
Description:  
GETACTIONEVENTS
objAction - function getActionEvents
Arguments:none
ReturnType: struct
Roles:  
Access: public
Output: false
DisplayName:  
Hint:  
Description:  
SETSTARTDATE
objAction - function setStartDate
Arguments:
Name Required Type Default
StartDate Required date  
ReturnType: void
Roles:  
Access: public
Output: false
DisplayName:  
Hint:  
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objActionImages - struct
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objActionImages - component TGLEntities.ActionImages
IMAGE Images/ActionImages/73.jpg
ACTIONIMAGEID 15
IMAGEDESCRIPTION Description
NAME Image Description
ACTIONID 6
METHODS
SETACTIONID
objActionImages - function setActionId
Arguments:
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ReturnType: void
Roles:  
Access: public
Output: false
DisplayName:  
Hint:  
Description:  
GETACTIONID
objActionImages - function getActionId
Arguments:none
ReturnType: Numeric
Roles:  
Access: public
Output: false
DisplayName:  
Hint:  
Description:  
GETNAME
objActionImages - function getName
Arguments:none
ReturnType: string
Roles:  
Access: public
Output: false
DisplayName:  
Hint:  
Description:  
SETIMAGE
objActionImages - function setImage
Arguments:
Name Required Type Default
Image Required string  
ReturnType: void
Roles:  
Access: public
Output: false
DisplayName:  
Hint:  
Description:  
GETIMAGE
objActionImages - function getImage
Arguments:none
ReturnType: string
Roles:  
Access: public
Output: false
DisplayName:  
Hint:  
Description:  
GETIMAGEDESCRIPTION
objActionImages - function getImageDescription
Arguments:none
ReturnType: string
Roles:  
Access: public
Output: false
DisplayName:  
Hint:  
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SETIMAGEDESCRIPTION
objActionImages - function setImageDescription
Arguments:
Name Required Type Default
ImageDescription Required string  
ReturnType: void
Roles:  
Access: public
Output: false
DisplayName:  
Hint:  
Description:  
GETACTIONIMAGEID
objActionImages - function getActionImageId
Arguments:none
ReturnType: Numeric
Roles:  
Access: public
Output: false
DisplayName:  
Hint:  
Description:  
SETACTIONIMAGEID
objActionImages - function setActionImageId
Arguments:
Name Required Type Default
ActionImageId Required Numeric  
ReturnType: void
Roles:  
Access: public
Output: false
DisplayName:  
Hint:  
Description:  
SETNAME
objActionImages - function setName
Arguments:
Name Required Type Default
Name Required string  
ReturnType: void
Roles:  
Access: public
Output: false
DisplayName:  
Hint:  
Description:  
15

Image Description

How to do it

Either hire a professional or use your own two hands to better insulate your home. The most effective place to put in an extra barrier is the attic. Turn next to your basement, and then to wall insulation in the rest of your house (this is easiest if you're already doing a renovation). Find out where insulation will most impact your home's heating and cooling by getting a professional energy audit. You can find a list of qualified energy auditors in your area by entering the first three digits of your postal code here.To save on heating in the winter, put your thermostat down a degree and wear sweaters and slippers in the house. As well, use area rugs on bare floors. Clean or replace the air filter in your furnace monthly to increase its efficiency.

Why you're doing it

Heating and cooling accounts for about 60 per cent of your home energy costs. Proper draft proofing and insulating of your home can reduce your heating bills by 25 per cent and reduce an average home's carbon emissions by 800 kilograms a year, although the savings could be much higher if your home is particularly drafty or poorly insulated. Turning down your thermostat by one degree will reduce your CO2 emissions by about 100 kilograms a year and save about 3 per cent on your heating bill a month. If you do get a Natural Resource Canada approved energy audit and add insulation to your home, you could be eligible for a grant of up to $5,000. There may also be rebate programs in place in your home province.
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shaunyp6
Oct 26, 2010
shaunyp6

We insulated our basement to save on enegy cost.  In addition we insulated the ceiling and internal walls to save cost and cut down on noise.  i have plans to finish the second part of the basement to finish it off 100%

efficientN
Jul 08, 2010
efficientN

I built a house this year and we built with ICFs Insulated Concrete Forms, which is R40 insulation, as well as installing a 95% efficient on demand propane water heater. Our heat bills have gone down significantly. Using an infrared camera a picture of a house built with icfs and then conventional wood framing were compared and the amount of heat loss on the latter is crazy!
We are so happy with our decisions.

Nevada
Jun 01, 2010
Nevada

I had to have my roof replaced this past winter and had the contractor check the attic. He said I had very little insulation. Believe me it has lots of insulation now. I just couldn't believe the difference it made from saving oil to comfort. I have also replaced most windows and a door. Just have one door and 3 small basement windows to replace before next winter. It definately is worth it.

Recordo
Mar 09, 2010
Recordo

HI its worth insulating your home mainly because it saves you a lot of money and its good for the environment.I am an asthmatic and i am doing my part to save my life and the little life the planet has left so go ahead people do what you have to do to save our planet its the only one we have.

 

Take care until next time

Remember a greener earth is a healthier earth

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