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Insulate and save With home energy efficiency rebate programs "With energy costs on the rise, many Canadians are looking for ways to educe their energy bills," said Mark eres, Energy Efficiency Expert, Owens Corning Canada. "One simple solution for long-term energy savings is to upgrade household insulation. By properly insulating the attic and basement, homeowners can reduce their energy bills by up to 28 per cent." In addition to saving money through reduced energy bills, Canadians can save even more by taking advantage of energy efficiency rebate programs such as Natural Resources Canada's EnerGuide for Existing Houses evaluation service. The EnerGuide for Houses evaluation service consists of a home evaluation, paid for by the homeowner, which will provide information and recommendations on specific energy-efficiency improvements. The government provides grants to homeowners who complete energy efficiency retrofits. The grant amount received is based on the renovation improvements to the home's energy efficiency between the first and second home evaluations. These energy efficiency rebate programs can provide an immediate savings, but homeowners will benefit more in the long term from their energy efficiency renovations. Once properly installed, insulation works to help reduce energy bills for the life of the home. While there's no denying the benefits of these rebate programs, many Canadians are unsure whether their home is in need of energy efficiency renovations. The following are some simple tips for homeowners to assess their home insulation needs: Do-it-yourself home audit tips · Use a feather to check for drafts throughout your home. If air can leak in and out of your home, so can heat. · Measure the thickness of attic insulation­ if the attic was insulated a long time ago, there's a good chance that it needs to be upgraded. If the attic insulation is less than 11" to 13" thick or less than R-40, you should consider adding FIBERGLAS batt insulation to maximize the home's energy efficiency. · Test how well noise carries­ if you find that sounds are carrying well beyond the room they originate, you should also consider adding sound control insulation batts to muffle sounds. A properly insulated home provides greater comfort, can improve indoor air quality and will be more energy efficient. For more information on household insulation, call 1-800-GET-PINK or visit www.owenscorning.ca. - News Canada