Increase The Value of Your Home By Going Green

Are you thinking of renovating your home this spring? If you are, you might be considering specifically green updates and upgrades that not only can save you money and protect the environment, but also can increase the resale value of your home. Green home features and building designs are becoming increasingly popular. New homeowners or those in the market to buy a new house are looking for features that are eco-friendly and wallet-friendly.


The first step in ensuring your home is eco-friendly and efficient, is making sure that it’s well sealed and properly insulated. A poorly insulated home will drive heating and cooling bills through the roof. A well-insulated home will allow you maintain your home’s temperature easier. Your energy bill will decrease since your furnace and air conditioner won’t have to work as hard – proper insulation prevents hot air from entering your home in the summer months, and also prevents the comfortable, cooled air in your home from escaping.


While any new insulation properly installed can increase the value of your home, there are insulation products that are a notch above the rest when it comes to being green and eco-friendly.


Blown Cellulose


Cellulose has the largest amount of post-consumer recycled content in the industry - up to 85% recycled newspaper. Paper is the largest component of landfills and producing Cellulose insulation diverts waste from the landfills thus saving valuable space.
Cellulose takes less energy to make than any other insulation material. In green circles this is known as “embodied energy” which is the energy required to transport raw materials and the energy used to make the final product. Fiberglass, the most widely used insulation, has 10 times more embodied energy than cellulose.
Making cellulose insulation from newsprint prevents the release of greenhouse gases such as methane, which is released as newspaper decomposes in landfills.


Walltite Eco Spray Foam


Walltite Eco is made from renewable vegetable oils and recycled plastics, and blended into a high performance spray polyurethane foam.
Monthly energy and utility savings of 40% or more can be achieved when compared to the traditional fibreglass products. The cost of insulating with spray foam insulation can often be recovered in less than 5 years, simply through energy savings alone.
As a lower density, closed-cell foam, it takes less material to produce the performance you need. It burns less fuel during transportation because it’s transported as a liquid, then expands over 30 times its volume during application.
Walltite Eco contains significant rates of recycled content. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is among the most common plastics used for packaging, bottles and containers. Post-consumer and post-industrial recycled material is processed to make raw material for new applications.


Choosing one of the two types of insulation above is a huge step towards making your home the most efficient and green that it can be. It might not make as big of a visual impact as a new kitchen or deck- but buying trends in the house market show buyers leaning towards greener features that will save them money in the longrun.

Georgian Insulation Systems, the area’s leading insulation contractor will work with you to achieve the highest level of efficiency in your home. Call us for a free estimate on your project.
1-866-576-9338

What Are the Signs of Insulation Problems in the Winter?

This winter's temperatures were all over the place. One day it would be in the minus 30’s and the very next week it would rise back up to the pluses. Maybe these temperature extremes made you realize that your insulation isn’t up to par. In order to provide a comfortable environment throughout the varying temperatures, your home needs to be well sealed, well insulated, and properly ventilated.

More extreme temperatures often see higher energy bills. The bigger the difference between your indoor and outdoor temperatures, the more energy is needed to regulate the indoor temperature. This is only exacerbated by poor insulation and poor ventilation.

So what are some signs of inefficient insulation during the different seasons?

Signs of Insulation Problems in the Winter:

1. walls cold to touch
   
2. cold floors
   
3. high heating costs
   
4. uneven heating levels within building
   
5. mould growing on walls
   

Signs of Insulation Problems in the Summer:

1. uncomfortably hot inside air
   
2. high cooling cost
   
3. ineffectiveness of air conditioning system
   
4. mould growing in the basement
   

If you have any of these problems, you should look into inspecting the insulation system in your home.

CIMAC lists these points as being part of an effective insulation system.

Effective Insulation Systems:

• have an air barrier which prevents the movement of interior or exterior air through the system
  
• have carefully filled cavities which leave no gaps in or around the insulation and do not compress the insulation
  
• have a minimum of thermal bridges. These are parts of the wall that, with a lower R value extend from the warm side to the cold side of the insulation (giving heat an easy escape). Structural members in the wall will often act as thermal bridges.
  
• have a vapour retarder such as polyethylene sheeting, which prevents moisture from moving from warm interior spaces into a colder building envelope where it could condense
  
• have drying potential - which is the ability of the insulated assembly to release any moisture that gets into the system
  

The right insulation system can not only reduce the amount of energy you use and save you money, but make your home more liveable and enjoyable. It's an important upgrade or reno project and you want to be absolutely sure you have professional advice and excellent options. We have decades of experience evaluating homes in central Ontario and would be pleased to come out and take a look.

Georgian Insulation Systems, the area’s leading insulation contractor will work with you to achieve the highest level of efficiency in your home.  Call us for a free estimate on your project.

1-866-576-9338

4 Tips to Preparing Your Roof and Home for Winter

It’s November, which means it's time to get your house ready for the winter conditions ahead; snow, freezing rain, sleet, cold wind, and winter storms. Your roof protects your home against harsh weather conditions and it is essential that it's in good condition to keep your family comfortable and your energy costs low.

Roof winterization means not only a visual inspection of your roof surface, but also preparation of the areas around your house that might impact your roof in a winter storm. Here are some things you can do to prepare your roof and home for winter:

• Remove any dead trees or tree branches that could fall on your home now before the weather makes this task more difficult. Ice build up on these weakened branches can cause severe damage, especially in high winds.
• Inspect your roof thoroughly, look for missing or damaged tiles/shingles, warped or missing flashing.
• Clean off any built up debris and clean out the gutters to keep melted water flowing. Check that your gutters are clear by running water through from the roof surface.
• If you had an area of icicles hanging down from roof eaves last winter, then you should address the problem before you end up with water damage in your home and damage to your roof. Roof dams are often caused by inadequate ceiling insulation, or poor soffit and ridge ventilation.

We can help you evaluate the condition that caused the ice dam. Thermal imaging can pin-point areas of heat loss. Insulation can be added to stop the flow of heat out of the weak area. It's not always the case that you need to add more insulation - you might need a different type of insulation, so it's important to have professional advice.

If you need roof repairs, contact a licensed roofing contractor right away, and if your roof looks fine, remember it is a good idea to have a roof expert take a look at it every 2 or 3 years to confirm its condition.

As a homeowner getting ready for winter means more than turning off the exterior water, putting away the patio furniture, and firing up the snow-blower. Inspecting the overall condition of your roof and addressing any issues with your home insulation will help you fix problems causing snow and ice builds up. Don't wait until the damage is done. Ice dams not only cause roof damage but interior water damage resulting in the expense of replaced drywall.

Georgian Insulation is based in Oro Medonte. We cover all regions around Barrie, Orillia, Collingwood, Bradford, Alliston, Midland, Gravenhust, Simcoe County, Muskoka, Haliburton, Dufferin, North York, Grey and Bruce.

Contact Us for a Free Quote - Call 1-866-576-9338 or go to our websitewww.georgianinsulation.com and fill out our form.

How Proper Insulation Protects Your Home in the Winter

As winter approaches you want to make sure your home ( and the people inside!) are protected against the winter elements.

 The Canadian Housing and Mortgage Corp. describes a well insulated house like dressing for winter.

             
"A wool sweater will keep you warm if the wind is not blowing and it is not raining. On a windy, rainy day, wearing a nylon shell over your wool sweater helps keep you reasonably dry and         warm. A house is similar. On the outside underneath the brick or siding, there is an air barrier that does the same thing as the nylon - it keeps the wind from blowing through. Then there is the insulation (like your sweater) and a vapour barrier, which helps keep moisture away from the house structure." 

 Some of the winter threats to your home include ice dams and heat loss. Ice dams may lead to costly damage on your roof and eavestroughs as well as interior water damage. Heat loss reduces your home's efficiency and leads to higher heating costs.

What are Ice Dams? 

Ice dams are formed when heat escapes from the home and causes snow to melt. The water formed from heat loss then freezes as it flows down the roof, closer to cold edges, causing ice dams and icicles. This ice build-up can create a dangerous situation for homeowners and their visitors. Attics require proper insulation and ventilation to function correctly.

 Your attic should have approximately 15-20 inches of insulation, in addition to adequate ventilation through soffits and at the top of the attic. Some recommendations for ice dam prevention may include:

• Adding insulation or ventilation 
• Air sealing the attic floor 
• Locating problem heat loss areas

 With the extremely cold weather trend in previous winters, many older homes that are lightly insulated are having a big problem with energy consumption and cold drafty areas. Homes built prior to 2010 might use upwards of 25% more space heating energy than newer homes. This is because of recent improvements in the building codes for insulation and airtightness levels.

 Signs of Insulation Problems in the Winter:

• walls cold to touch 
• cold floors 
• high heating costs 
• uneven heating levels within building 
• mould growing on walls

 In Canada over 60% of residential energy use goes to space heating, so a good portion of your energy bill is impacted by insulation problems or poor quality materials that aren't doing the job.

 To reduce energy costs you can look at adding insulation and reducing air leaks. A well insulated home will reduce your energy heating costs in the winter and your cooling costs in the summer. You can see how making sure your home has proper insulation is very important to protecting your home and loved ones, and keeping costs down.

 The right insulation system can not only reduce the amount of energy you use and save you money, but make your home safer and more enjoyable. It's an important upgrade or reno project and you want to be absolutely sure you have professional advice and excellent options. Georgian Insulation Systems, the areas leading insulation contractor will work with you to achieve the highest level of efficiency in your home. Call us for a free estimate on your project. 1-866-576-9338