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Is the ecoENERGY program
over?
Effective Jan. 28, 2012 Natural Resources Canada ended registration
for the ecoENERGY program. Currently registered homeowners are still
eligible for up to $5000 in grants.
New deadlines for registered participants:
Registration by January 28, 2012
Pre-retrofit evaluation before starting renovations
Retrofit with receipts by March 31, 2012
Post-retrofit evaluation by June 30, 2012
Click for more info.
The Ontario Home Energy Savings Program ended March 31, 2011, but the
province still provides a rebate of up to $150 for your energy audit
(which is required for participation in the ecoENERGY program).
Doesn't every home have some insulation? Is it worth adding
more?
According to a Home Owner Survey conducted in 2006:
- 78% of home owners have not added any insulation to their attic -
they believe their home already has enough
- 80% of homes built before 1980 would benefit from upgrading
attic insulation to R50
- 71% of home buyers would choose a home that reduces their overall
impact on the environment
- 96% of home buyers consider energy efficiency when buying a new
home
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My house is drafty. Will insulation make it warmer?
Draft sources need to be identified (doors, windows, exterior
wall outlets) and fixed with appropriate materials such as
weather-stripping and foam inserts. Your energy evaluator can advise
you further.
A common misperception is that insulation makes your home warmer.
In fact, it prevents the heat generated by your furnace from
escaping. You can set your thermostat lower and still maintain a
comfortable temperature - saving money and energy!
In summer there will be less strain on your air conditioner to
keep your home cool, because insulation prevents summer heat from
getting in.
Do you install fibreglass from inside or outside a house?
Attics are insulated through the attic hatch if there is one,
or from a roof vent. If there are no roof vents we can install one for
you.
Insulation of the walls depends on the construction of the house:
Vinyl siding: can be done from outside when weather is
warm enough (approximately May to October) using a method that does
not require drilling through the siding.
Brick: 2" holes are drilled from inside, on all exterior walls,
between the studs (16" spacing). Additional holes are drilled above windows and below
any fire stops in the walls. A 2" hose with a directional nozzle is used
to blow loosefill fibreglass insulation (also known as fibreglass
wool), ensuring that the cavity is
packed from top to bottom. The holes are then filled with drywall mud which only requires a skim coat and sanding
before you paint over it. You may need to do some light dusting afterward,
but generally our clients tell us they're pleased at how little mess
and disruption there is.
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Why don't you drill smaller holes from outside?
For optimum installation, and to achieve maximum R value in the
wall cavity, fibreglass is blown through a 2" hose using a nozzle
that allows a professional installer to direct the flow and ensure
the wall cavity is completely packed. Smaller nozzles such as those
used for cellulose (paper) are not suitable for blowing fibreglass,
nor does a one inch hole allow the flow of material to be directed
top to bottom.
How does insulation work?
Heat flows naturally from a warmer to a cooler space.
In winter, heat moves directly from your home's heated living spaces to
the outdoors and to adjacent unheated attics, garages, and basements
- wherever there is a difference in temperature.
During summer, heat moves from outdoors to the house interior.
To maintain comfort, homeowners replace the heat lost in winter by a
heating system, and use air conditioning to remove the heat gained
in summer.
Insulating attics, walls, knee walls, basements, and crawlspaces
decreases the heating or cooling needed by providing effective
resistance to the flow of heat (thermal resistance, or R value).
This, of course, reduces costs of heating and cooling the home.
Batts, blankets, and loose fill fibreglass all work by limiting air
movement. This reduces loss of interior heat in winter and limits
summer heat from moving indoors.
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Why do you recommend fibreglass for home insulation?
ThermalMaxx Insulation uses only fibreglass insulation from
Guardian and Owens Corning (batts, blankets and blowing wool) because of
its properties:
Guardian and Owens Corning fibreglass
insulation products are fire-proof, formaldehyde-free,
emission-free, mold and mildew resistant,
and do not support vermin.
Fibreglass insulation does not sag or settle and retains
its R value extremely well. It is available in different formats
for effective application in insulating attics, walls and
basements.
NO chemical emissions
Unlike some other insulation materials it does
not require treatment with fire retardants or anti-fungal chemicals.
PINK® fibreglass from Owens Corning does not contain penta-brominated diphenyl ethers (Penta-BDEs)
nor does it present a risk from Volatile Organic Compound
emissions (VOCs) or create a dusty environment during installation.
(For further reading on health risks associated with Penta-BDEs
click here.)
NO urea formaldehyde
Unlike the
foam insulation banned by Health Canada on Feb. 9, 2009,
fibreglass does not contain urea formaldehyde.
NO loss of R value
Fibreglass is stable, not subject to loss of R value through
deterioration or settling (as cellulose does).
Clean indoor air quality
Once installed,
fibreglass does
not release fibers into the environment nor affect air quality -
in fact it has earned third party GreenGuard certification for
indoor air quality. (See the
GreenGuard
website to learn about other certified products you may
wish to choose for your home.) Click for
Guardian fibreglass certifications.
Non-organic
Fibreglass is completely non-organic, resists mold and
mildrew, and does not provide sustenance for vermin.
Does not attract insects
Some species of ants are know to burrow into foam insulation:
acrobat ants and
carpenter ants for example.
Fire-proof
Unlike cellulose, which is regulated in Canada under the
Hazardous Products Act, fibreglass is fire-proof.
A
U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety & Health
Administration bulletin gives the following caution: "All organic
(materials), whether or not they contain fire
retardants, should be considered combustible and handled
accordingly."
Fibreglass insulation materials are non-combustible.
This natural fire resistance is unaffected by moisture,
evaporation, or time, which makes both Owens Corning and
Guardian insulation
very reliable products.
PINK® is green!
Owen Corning uses the highest recycled glass content in
making
PINK® fibreglass.
Home owners appreciate the qualities of fibreglass and know it's
a tried and true solution. In fact, Owens Corning research shows
that home owners prefer PINK® fibreglass insulation 7 to 1.
How safe is fibreglass?
Fibreglass is very safe. It is fire-proof, provides clean indoor
air quality and is endorsed by Environment Canada. It does not
contain urea formaldehyde or chemicals. We recommend the North American Insulation Manufacturers
Association website for answers to many more questions about fibreglass.
Click here to view their FAQ page. Also check
Guardian's formaldehyde-free fact sheet.
How does fibreglass compare to cellulose
(paper) insulation?
Unlike
cellulose, fibreglass insulation will not hold
water, thereby resisting any permanent loss of R-value. Plus,
when properly installed, fibreglass insulation will not
settle or deteriorate, thus ensuring that the insulating value
is maintained. In fact, with regard to thermal resistance, settling, water vapor
sorption, fire safety, and resistance to corrosion, fibreglass is
rated superior to cellulose by NAIMA, the North American Insulation
Manufacturers Association.
Click to
download the report.
Is there 'off-gassing' from fibreglass?
No. There is no off-gassing with fibreglass insulation as it
does not contain VOCs, penta-BDEs, hydrochlorofluorocarbons or other
gasses or compounds. Note that the US Dept. of Energy states
that "Over time, the R-value of polyurethane (foam) insulation can
drop as some of the low-conductivity gas escapes and air replaces
it. This phenomenon is known as thermal drift." Unlike
foam, fibreglass does not deteriorate.
Why was Retrofoam
insulation banned?
Click to read the Health Canada press release regarding the
Feb. 3, 2009 cease and desist order against Retrofoam Canada for
Retrofoam insulation which contains urea formaldehyde - banned in
1980 under the Hazardous Products Act.
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How can I have my
home's air quality tested?
For lab analysis of air samples, asbestos, toxic
chemicals, molds, indoor air contaminants, welding fumes, etc.
contact
OshTech Inc., 400 York St., Ste. 100 in London. Phone
519-642-1122.
Where can I
have vermiculite tested for asbestos?
As above - contact OshTec. Inc.
Visit the
Health Canada website for more information on vermiculite
insulation and asbestos.
Why is PINK® insulation an environmentally sound choice?
 Owens Corning PINK® fibreglass products
as well as Guardian fibreglass insulation have been awarded
GreenGuard® Indoor Air Quality Certification. They are both
rated child-safe and school-safe. In addition, Owens
Corning has recycled more scrap glass than any other fibreglass
manufacturer in North America. PINK® insulation is made with over
50% recycled glass content.
Insulation manufacturing uses a substantial amount of energy. Yet,
according to the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association
(NAIMA), a typical pound of insulation saves twelve times as much
energy in its first year in place as the energy used to produce
it.
ThermalMaxx Insulation is a relatively new company. Why should I
choose you?
ThermalMaxx Insulation Inc. was founded in 2008, but with over 21 years experience
in residential insulation (London, Ontario and area) we offer
thorough industry knowledge and high standards.
A professional installer (not a commission salesperson) will
assess your insulation needs and provide a written estimate of
costs.
We don't hire seasonal or 'summer' crews - you are guaranteed
expert installation by qualified professionals. We are bonded and
insured for your protection and have Better Business Bureau
accreditation.
 We're
a small company, building our reputation one home at a time, proud
to offer the Forest City and area fair pricing on 'green' insulation
solutions endorsed by Environment Canada. Call 519-659-8861 today
to arrange a free, no obligation estimate and let us show you how to
save on heating and cooling costs by making your home more
energy efficient!
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