Kelowna Insulation Choices Get Better

Insulation material choices increase with more Eco friendly materials to choose from. 

One of the latest and greatest materials comes from recycled blue jeans.  Yes those dirty old jeans can be recycled and put to good use.  However the unfortunate problem in today's market is that the vast majority of the public aren't willing to anti up the extra 10% or so to have such products installed.  I don't blame the public as I have always thought that recycled products should cost the same or less than competing products.  That being said, if the government would stand behind and support more products like recycled jeans then perhaps the costs would be more equal.  The truth is that most Eco friendly materials actually perform better as well.  If the education on such products was endorsed than perhaps more people would see the big picture in regards to their ROI.  Recycled news papers also known as blown cellulose is another great example.   Cellulose out performs fiberglass in terms of performance, safety, air quality, R-values per inch and its 100% recycled.  Again your only talking a small increase in price to use a superior product yet most of us have the horse blinders on and only think about the upfront costs.  What makes it more difficult to promote these products is the advise that 90% of the insulation contractors are giving.  If you were to contact 5 companies for insulation quotes you may have one that will offer you a recycled product other than fiberglass.  Being a customer listening to 4-5 companies that slag products like cellulose, you are likely to think that if most companies offer fiberglass and are telling you its better......well than it must be better...not so true.  Business owners will stick with the demand and that's the cheaper products because we as consumers are so price focused.

Keep this article in mind the next time you make a purchase no matter what it is.  The cheapest quote or material will often result in you getting the worst product, with the worst return on investment.  Like Mike Holmes says "Pick the quote in the middle, ask questions and qualify your contractor by getting referrals."

Have a great weekend!

Terry Laurin
www.tlces.com
250-215-8020
“Helping you become Energy Efficient”

Hats Off To All Earth Day Participants

Earth day is celebrating 20 years of over achieving!  Hats off to all earth day participants and those who take a green approach to every day living.  I found this great article that everyone can use on a daily basis to fight climate change.

Earth Day Canada celebrates its 20th anniversary

Apr 13, 2010 Kelly McMath

Twenty years ago, Canada began celebrating Earth Day. Today more than six million Canadians participate in Earth Day events.

 

 

So many events are held across the country that April is now known as “Earth Month.” When Canada celebrated its first Earth Day in 1990, the most publicized environmental issues included:

• Global warming
• Ozone depletion
• Air quality issues
• Deforestation
• Ocean pollution
• Waste management

In 2010, these issues continue to compromise the future of generations to come. Environment Canada reports that total greenhouse gas emissions rose 26 percent from 1990 to 2007, 33% above Canada’s Kyoto target.
Everyone can make a difference. Earth Day provides the opportunity for positive actions and results.

Ideas for taking action on Earth Day

To help make a positive difference in the fight against climate change, consider taking action on Earth Day.

• Spearhead or participate in a neighborhood clean-up.
• Instead of driving, walk, ride a bike, or take public transit.
• Eat meat-free for Earth Day. Reducing the amount of meat consumed by North American families can help diminish the methane gas emissions associated with domestic livestock farming. Methane gas is the third-highest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.
• Reduce power consumption for the day. Try to use as few electronic devices as possible, turn off lights when not in use, and hang clothes outside to air dry.
• Get involved in a tree planting. Trees offer shade, improve air quality and offer a natural habitat for local wildlife.
• Host an Earth Day event and teach adults and children different ways to reduce, reuse and recycle items from their homes.

Earth Day Canada’s Top Ten Actions to help the environment

Make a greater effort in helping the environment with these lifestyle changes suggested by Earth Day Canada:

Read more at Suite101: Earth Day Canada celebrates its 20th anniversary http://greenliving.suite101.com/article.cfm/earth-day-canada-celebrates-its-20th-anniversary#ixzz0lxO53gcb

Terry Laurin

www.tlces.com

250-215-8020

“Helping you become Energy Efficient”

Utility Increases and more grant money will motivate BC residence to become more energy efficient.

Keep an eye out for some major changes this year with Utilities such as BC Hydro making a near 10% increase.  The other big news is that the Eco energy program is looking to announce a new government grant budget any day that could help renovators subsidize their costs even further through the yet to be announced budget.  In my industry "Insulation" some customers will essentially be getting 50% off! 

To keep updated on the latest government grant table visit www.tlces.com and sign up for their newsletter.

For all your insulation needs call TLC Energy Solutions at 250-215-8020

Terry Laurin

www.tlces.com

250-215-8020

“Helping you become Energy Efficient”

Water efficiency and your home!!!

We need to invest in efficiency because that is where the long-term results can be found. Efficiency means using water more wisely -- by fixing leaks, replacing old appliances and fixtures, and taking other common sense steps in our homes and our communities. For example, if one homeowner fixes a leaky toilet in her house, she can save between 30 to 500 gallons of water a day. And if Metro Atlanta scaled it up and fixed the leaks in all of its water pipes, the region could save between 30 and 60 million gallons a day.

Now, let's be clear: water efficiency does not mean telling people to shower just once a week, or to plant a cactus in their front yards.

Water efficiency does not mean turning the water off. It’s not about water use restrictions – because that just brings temporary results.

Click here to see the site where we pulled this great information from

Terry Laurin
http://www.tlces.com/
250-215-8020
“Helping you become Energy Efficient”

TLC Smart Insulation Tips

Attic insulation

Either in cold or hot climates, the attic's insulation is critical. Install insulation to a level of at least R-40.
If you have a flat roof or a no-open attic space, consider some structural approaches to solve their deficits in terms of insulation.

Walls

Walls insulation (and floor insulation, in cold climates) isn't less important than attic insulation... A two to four inches of plastic foam insulation added to the outside of your walls can make a little miracle in your heating and cooling needs

Crawl spaces, basement and slab insulation

The insulation of basements, slabs and crawls is also crucial in cold climates.
Do not forget to also apply a ground-moisture or vapour barrier if that space is damp.

Vapour Barriers

If the insulation material is water absorbent (e.g. cellulose) and there isn't vapour barriers and the ventilation is insufficient, moisture and other negative consequences can be unstoppable.
You should use vapour barriers to keep moisture away from bulk insulation materials and to maintain their performance. Use non-combustible barriers to protect loose-fill insulation.

A proper Installation

Be aware with the quality of the installation.

- If the insulation doesn't fill small gaps, its efficiency will diminish drastically. Materials should be well fitted, and leaks sealed and avoided. Corners of walls, ceilings and floors should be properly insulated, and it shouldn't be allowed gaps around obstructions. Similarly, the holes, joins and ends of the insulation material should be well sealed or closed. Sprayed-on foams or loose-fill insulation are, in many situations, excellent solutions because they eliminate voids, and edge and other gaps.

- Do not compress bulk material insulation. They should be fixed with their normal thickness to perform well.

- In outside applications, foam insulation requires an adequate covering, to protect it from degradation (e.g. from the sun) and possible physical damages (e.g. caused by lawnmowers). Foam insulation should also be protected from fire and heat in outside applications (a drywall layer is a common protection).

Reflective insulation Cares

Reflective insulation is important in hot climates. But the quality of its installation is also very important.
- Maintain an air space of at least 0,8-1,2 inches (2 or 3 cm) next to the shiny surface of the reflective insulation.

- Dust settled on the surface of the reflective material will reduce its performance. To avoid it, keep the reflective surfaces downwards (or keep them vertical).
- In walls and under floors, when dealing with porous materials, use perforated reflective foil. It will prevent rotting, by allowing materials to dry.
Window and door Frames
Qualified windows is crucial to get high energy savings. Pay also attention to possible thermal breaks connected to windows and doors. They are responsible for important heat losses.

For all your insulation needs contact:

Terry Laurin
TLC Energy Solutions
250-215-8020
http://www.tlces.com/
terry@tlces.com

No more renovation tax credits and HST on the horizon

Many people are up in arms trying to figure out how the HST will affect them across BC. From what I understand the majority of the public perceive this to be a negative and maybe I don’t fully understand it yet, but so do I.

When I started TLC Energy solutions (Okanagan based Insulation Company) 4 years ago, up until now it’s been an asset to not have to charge PST. Several home owners I have come across didn’t know PST was exempt from insulation and as a result they moved ahead faster knowing their project was going to cost 7% less than expected. Now with HST being introduced, my customers will have to pay 12% HST instead of 5% GST. This carries through every industry and product across BC including new homes....wow!

The government claims it will be easier on business owners like myself because there will be HST rebates coming back to me. Didn’t they forget a step there when the customer buys from me because he can afford it in the first place. With more costs in my opinion comes less spending which then results in businesses sinking and fewer jobs to go around.

The most ironic part of this whole thing is that the Fed’s are giving the province in the area of 1.6 billion dollars to introduce the HST. Hmmmm where might they get 1.6 billion dollars...oh I know YOU and ME!

Another words we are paying the government to raise our taxes! Something tells me that 1.6 billion is more of an investment by the fed’s as they milk this cash cow.

If you or someone you know is considering upgrading their insulation, doing a home renovation or purchasing a new home, it might be wise to get it done before July 1st 2010.

Terry Laurin
TLC Energy Solutions
250-215-8020
http://www.tlces.com/
terry@tlces.com

Don't overlook the insulation in your home

It is all to common for people to overlook the insulation that is going into their home or that is currently in their home.  In new home construction this is obviously the best time to oversee the quality of work and products that are being installed.  There is so many decisions involved in building like wall colors, flooring, appliances, fixtures etc...that often the most important decisions are forgotten and overlooked.  Insulation is one of them.  Many but not all builders now days are trying their best to lower costs to ensure they can still turn a profit.  This means that they are shopping around for the cheapest quote out there.  This reminds me of a couple sayings, "The bitter taste of a cheap product or install will always last longer than the sweet taste of a cheap price" or "All cars have 4 wheels, but they are certainly not all the same".

The cost difference in a higher quality insulation product is very marginal.  It also doesn't cost much more to put in extra insulation and the easiest, most efficient spot to do so is in the attic.  An important thing to remember is that code is the minimum that we have to achieve...since when did the minimum sound like a good idea in terms of energy efficiency in your home.  A home for most people is the biggest investment you will ever make, so take the time to ask your builder/contractor what they are installing.

TLC Energy Solutions takes pride in the products and services we provide our customers.  We offer the most eco-friendly materials available in the market today, that also out perform and offer superior safety for your home.  Insulation advice is always free as our goal is to lower your carbon footprint that you will leave behind on this planet.  As a result, TLC Energy Solutions is changing the way people think about insulation.

Terry Laurin
TLC Energy Solutions
250-215-8020
http://www.tlces.com/
terry@tlces.com