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How installing insulation can help you qualify for a grant
When Natural Resources Canada announced that they were providing grants to homeowners who improved the energy efficiency of their homes, you may have asked yourself, "How can I qualify?" Under the ecoENERGY Retrofit program, upgrading the insulation levels of a detached, semi-detached and low-rise multi-unit can mean up to another $1,500 in your pocket. But before you start planning your insulation retrofit, it's important to understand the government's insulation requirements. To do this, you must first understand the meaning of R-value.
"R-value is an index that measures a material's thermal resistance to heat flow. The greater the R-value, the better its resistance and insulating power," says Andy Goyda, Owens Corning Insulation Expert. "The ecoENERGY Retrofit program awards grants to those willing to top-up on their home's existing insulation, encouraging them to raise the insulation R-values of their homes."
Common insulation retrofits in the government program include:
Attics
To ensure your attic is well insulated, increase the R-values of your attic insulation to at least R-40. If you want to achieve the maximum amount of $600 in this category, your attic must achieve a minimum value of R-50. To qualify for a grant by adding to your attic insulation, ensure that 100 per cent of your roof area is insulated and keep in mind that the grant amount will vary according to the existing level of insulation already in place. Try installing PINK Fiberglas® insulation or seek a professional to install PROPINK® Blown Fiberglas insulation for optimal thermal resistance.
Basements
If you're already planning on renovating your basement, make sure you install full-wall fibre glass batt insulation to help qualify for a grant of up to $1,000. The grant is based on the percentage of surface area insulated, which must be a minimum of 20 per cent of a basement's wall surface. Installing insulation in the basement can be a do-it-yourself project for any homeowner. Try using R-20 PINK Fiberglas® batt insulation from Owens Corning for your basement insulation projects. It's made in Canada using 60 per cent recycled content* and provides optimal thermal resistance.
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