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

Where did the service go?

In today's economy with homes all over the country in foreclosure and business's shutting down left and right.  Why is the service so often less then satisfactory?  One might think that in struggling times for many people that the service would be better than its been in years.....I'm not seeing it.  What I have noticed is its hard to get service with a smile these days, let alone have someone ask you if your happy with your product or experience.  Its grab your money and run!

In today's world we have so many lines of communication its silly.  There's fax, email, text messaging, home phone's, office phones, portable phones, cell phones, internet chat, answering machines, mail and last but not least face to face communication.  So what can possibly be our excuse for not providing service 10 times better than say 30 years ago?  Having listed all these ways to get in touch with someone, it seems hard to believe any excuse I hear for people not getting back to you or fulfilling their obligations.  Is technology to blame here?  I see people all the time screening calls with call display or saying its Friday and I will get back to them on Monday.  Back in the day people were lucky to have a phone at all and a car to get them to work, but they still managed to give good service.  Now certainly not everyone was inclined to give good service back in the day and there is a good chance they are out of business now if they didn't.  So I say go to work tomorrow and every day after that with the intentions of blowing your clients away with good service.  We all know that when we have a good experience we tell a few people, but when we have a bad experience we tell everyone who will listen.  This is the time to grab your share of the pie and run your ass off with it!  Use these communication tools as a way to leverage your business, not as excuses to procrastinate.

I may sound harsh by suggesting that most service needs to improve because certainly there is business's out there doing a great job!  Keep it up for those of you that haven't forgotten true service, because I know your customers won't forget it.

I can only hope my competition doesn't read this...and neither does yours!

Have a great day!

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

"We Insulate your wallet"

Asbestos and who is at risk?

Why should I be concerned about asbestos-contaminated vermiculite insulation?
A mine near Libby, Montana was the source of over 70 percent of all vermiculite sold in the U.S. and Canada from 1919 to 1990. There was also a deposit of asbestos at that mine, so the vermiculite from Libby was contaminated with asbestos. Vermiculite from Libby was used in the majority of vermiculite insulation in the U.S. and was often sold under the brand name Zonolite. If you have vermiculite insulation in your home, you should assume this material may be contaminated with asbestos and be aware of steps you can take to protect yourself and your family from exposure to asbestos.

How can I tell if my insulation is made from vermiculite?

Look at these photos and then look your insulation without disturbing it. Vermiculite insulation is a pebble-like, pour-in product and is usually gray-brown or silver-gold in color.
The following photographs show typical vermiculite insulation.

What should I do if I have vermiculite insulation?

YOU SHOULD ASSUME THE VERMICULITE CONTAINS ASBESTOS AND DO NOT DISTURB IT! Any disturbance could potentially release asbestos fibers into the air. If you absolutely have to go in your attic and it contains vermiculite insulation, you should limit the number of trips you make and shorten the length of those trips in order to help limit your potential exposure.

We recommend that you:

• Leave vermiculite insulation undisturbed in your attic or in your walls.
• Do not store boxes or other items in your attic if it contains vermiculite insulation.
• Do not allow children to play in an attic with vermiculite insulation.
• Do not attempt to remove the insulation yourself.
• Hire a professional asbestos contractor if you plan to remodel or conduct renovations that would disturb the vermiculite in your attic or walls to make sure the material is safely handled and/or removed.

For all of your insulation needs call:



250-215-8020
http://www.tlces.com/
terry@tlces.com

"We help you become energy efficient"

The bitter taste of a cheap product or install will always last longer than the sweet taste of a cheap price!

I was in Vernon today to witness a blown insulation job gone horribly wrong. Unfortunately this is very common with insulation here in the Okanagan. As things slow down for just about everyone, homeowners have the luxury of shopping around to find a contractor that best suits their needs. Over the past few years things have been busy for just about everyone and home owners and business owners were lucky to find anyone available. So now that we have options available customers need to educate themselves even further on what products are best for my project and who is going to give you the quality workmanship you deserve?

Every contractor including myself should have some sort of biased point of view as to why their products and services are better than the rest. So how does the customer know fact from fiction?
Start with the wonderful tool you are using right now...the Internet! The Internet has plenty of unbiased articles for customers to educate themselves so they can make the right choices. Also ask as many questions as possible and check for references and testimonials.Here is an example of poor work and a big mess to correct: At the top are some pictures i took today on my camera phone (sorry for the poor quality) of a fibreglass blown insulation job gone wrong.

The picture on the top is a return air duct for the air conditioning that is completely blocked with insulation leaving this business with poor air quality, an air conditioning system that won't function properly and random pieces of insulation falling on customers. In the picture on the bottom you can see the air conditioning duct has been stepped on and pushed through the ceiling. This is typical craftsmanship from a company who hasn't properly trained their staff and obviously didn't take the proper measures to make sure the job was done properly. In addition to these errors they also neglected to properly block the insulation around the hatch leaving me covered in fibreglass when i opened the hatch to the attic.

So what Insulation is the best choice for your project? The answer varies from house to house and project to project. There is many choices from Urethane spray foam, Reflective foil insulation, batt insulation and blown insulation. They all have their ups and downs and are better used in some places than others.

Lets take the attic for example: You could use the old school method and batt your attic, however the insulation coverage is much better if you blow in some insulation and for you real green thumbs reflective foil insulation can be added as well. Now you have another decision to make....do i use cellulose or fibreglass blown insulation? 95% of insulation contractors will only offer you fibreglass for one reason only; it’s cheap making profits high!

Cellulose is about two times the cost in material but has many qualities that make it the greener smarter choice. Cellulose is first off 100% recycled newspaper treated with borax to make it fire resistant. Cellulose is also a more dense material giving you higher R-values per inch and in turn making it safer than fibreglass by not allowing the fire air to breath and therefore smothers the flame giving you more time to save your home and make a safe exit in case of a fire. Check out this link of a burn test to see what i mean.




Another thing you may not know is that fibreglass in most cases contains formaldehyde and is often extremely itchy.

Cellulose is often slagged by insulators again because it costs more and therefore they make less. Some of the things you will here is that it settles, well all insulation settles over time. Its dusty...this is true but only during the installation will it get a bit dusty around the hatch.

I have heard every excuse in the book as to why most insulators will try to get you to use fibreglass and i have a rebuttal for them all, but then again i must be bias as well seeing on how this is what i do for a living. So don't trust me, do the homework for yourself and once you are educated....TLC Energy Solutions would be glad to help.

Terry Laurin - TLC Energy Solutions

http://www.tlces.com/ 250-215-8020