Basement walls require R12 near full-height insulation, from the underside of the subfloor to not more than 380mm (15 in.) above the finished floor level of the basement. In order to help builders, a Guide was created. The Best Practice Guide for Full Height Basement Insulation by the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing contains minimum Code requirements (Code References in Appendix) along with best practices highlighted with a white asterisk in black house outline, is easy to spot on drawings.

The Best Practice Guide represents a variety of approaches to constructing a high performance basement in consideration of varying soil conditions, water conditions, and climate in Ontario. The builder can find solutions meeting Code requirements and flexibility for unique designs.

The Guide can be electronically downloaded: Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing website: www.ontario.ca/buildingcode

Thanks,
Isabelle Champagne, CTR
Vice Chair

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If you are a seasoned blog reader you know the content on my blog is all "searchable." That means you can search the site for information about your particular question. You simply enter a term in the Search the blog box at the upper right, click on Go and the blog will assemble a list of all of the questions and answers on your topic.

For example, if you are confused about which way the vapor retarder should face, type “vapor retarder" into the box, click on Go and you will quickly see a long list of all the questions on that topic listed with the most recent questions and answers at the top. You can do the same for "crawl space," "knee wall," "basement" or whatever your topic happens to be.

If you don't find the answer you are looking for, write to me. I am ready for more.

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The tax credit was increased to 30% of the cost of energy efficient improvements up to a maximum of $1,500. The tax credit was also extended through 2010.

The end result is an opportunity to save twice - once from the stimulus package and again from the long-term benefits of improved home energy efficiency.

The tax credit applies only to improvements made to the building envelope since they affect energy use; this includes attics, basements, crawl spaces and exterior walls. This can include insulation alone or a portfolio of qualified energy efficiency products including insulation.

Only the cost of the insulation products is eligible for the tax credit; installation fees are not eligible

Save your receipt with your tax papers. Use the link in this sentence to obtain the "Manufacturer's Certification Statement for Owens Corning products.

For more information about the tax credit for qualified energy efficiency improvements, visit the Owens Corning Insulation Tax Credit micro site.

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AttiCat system availability can be found on the Owens Corning Web site at www.itseasytoinsulate.com. Simply key a Zip Code into the box under the heading Get Insulation and a list of insulation dealers in the area will be displayed. Look for the locations with an AttiCat system logo next to the name of the store.

Unfortunately, not every city has an outlet with rental machines for the AttiCat system. If you don't find any stores listed in your community, check back in a while because more outlets are being added every week.

If you are more the "do-it-for-me" type, remember that insulation contractors are available to do the job for you. To find Owens Corning Certified Energy Professional ® contractors in your Zip Code area, visit the same Web site: www.itseasytoinsulate.com. When searching for a contractor, enter the Zip Code in the box under the heading Find an Installer.

Many roofing and HVAC contractors also have the AttiCat system and can include attic insulation along with other work they are doing for you.

For those who want to know more about the AttiCat expanding blown-in insulation system, visit www.itseasytoinsulate.com and click on the big PINK button labeled Easy Weekend Projects.

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Thaman is among 30 leaders invited to participate in the roundtable discussion. The highly select group includes former U.S. President Bill Clinton, former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change Carol Browner, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chair Jeff Bingaman, oil executive T. Boone Pickens, and environmentalist Robert Kennedy Jr.

The discussion will focus on developing a plan and key guiding principles to lead the transformation of U.S. energy policy and to reduce the nation's dependence on imported oil.

"Homes and commercial buildings consume 40 percent of our nation's energy and 74 percent of all electricity consumed,” said Thaman. “There are 80 million under-insulated homes in the United States. Any comprehensive energy policy must include energy efficiency and improved insulation in existing and new homes and buildings. I appreciate being part of this very important discussion."

A recent survey conducted by Owens Corning found that only 27 percent of Americans correctly identified buildings as the major energy culprit. In December 2008, Owens Corning became the first corporate supporter of the Pickens Plan, a plan to reduce America’s dependence on imported oil which now includes a call for greater energy efficiency in buildings.

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Now, with the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, signed into law Oct. 3 by President Bush, new energy efficiency tax credits allow homeowners to lower both their monthly home energy bills and their federal income taxes in 2009.

IRS Form 5695 states: "Nonbusiness energy property credit available. The nonbusiness energy property credit will be available for property placed in service in 2009. The credit is available for items such as high-efficiency heating and cooling systems, water heaters, windows, doors and insulation."

"Using the tax credit of up to $500 to make specific energy efficiency home improvements also can make homes more comfortable and reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions," notes the Alliance to Save Energy. According to the ASE, the credits are largely the same as those that were in effect in 2006 and 2007, with some new criteria for qualifying products and equipment. See details on the Alliance Web site.

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The premium dimensional shingles, part of the company's breakthrough Duration® Series Shingles with SureNail® Technology, help reduce roof temperatures by up to 10 degrees in warm weather(1), lower energy bills and reduce wear and tear on air conditioners.

Duration® Premium Cool roof shingles are designed to help customers meet increasing demand for green products. They offer more vivid color choice versus other cool shingles introduced to date. To develop the initial color palette, Owens Corning product development teams used solar reflective granules in a brighter and richer color range than would normally be expected for a reflective roof.

With the initial launch, Duration® Premium Cool roofing shingles are offered in Sage, Sunrise, Harbor Fog and Frosted Oak, and available in California to meet Title 24 Cool Roof requirements that go into effect August 1, 2009. Distribution will be expanded to additional regions to meet market demand.

Click on the link in this sentence to read the companys news release about the new cool shingles.

Energy Star is a registered trademark of the Environmental Protection Agency

(1) Estimated roof surface temperature reduction based on 1998 NIST study, Analytical Study of Residential Buildings with Reflective Roofs. A 10ºF temperature reduction is representative of a change from a typical roof to a cool roof (solar reflectance 0.10 to 0.25) in most climates.

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Energy efficiency features include smarter use of chillers and better lighting. The stadium's electric bill has risen by just 23 percent in five years, which is better than the average increase in the area of 42 percent. Stadium officials said recycling and composting were also deployed on game day. Their game plans included biodegradable plates, napkins, forks and straws, and the recycling of cooking grease and plastic drink bottles.

To read an article on this topic on a New York Times blog, click on this link.

Super Bowl is a registered trademark of the National Football League

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Pink Panther: This is really strange because I don't usually work with radio people. Have you ever had a guest who wouldn't speak at all?

Tom Kraeutler: Yes, we usually end up giving them a poke or two until they spill out something that is intelligible. Editing helps a lot. We can rearrange your words, ya know.

Pink Panther: Hmmm. Maybe it's best that I'm the quiet type. Yet I am definitely not "silent" on the need to insulate and save energy.

Tom Kraeutler: That's a good thing.

Pink Panther: You radio guys are big on sound effects. Maybe you could record someone insulating their attic.

Tom Kraeutler: Not much to hear with that. Insulating is a pretty quiet job. It is also so easy that it doesn't usually prompt a lot of grunts, groans or words we need to bleep out.

Pink Panther: Do you have a better idea?

Tom Kraeutler: Radio is theater of the mind. Imagine yourself sitting in your favorite easy chair as the season's first gentle snow drifts softly to the ground just outside your window. Sound's nice - right? Now imagine that same scene with your teeth chattering. Not so Norman Rockwell any more, now, is it? The only difference between chattering teeth and warm comfortable evening in your favorite easy chair is insulation. Got it? Good - now pass the popcorn Panther. You’re hogging it.

Pink Panther: I can smell the popcorn but, unfortunately, it is all in my mind.

One thing we have in common is the fact that we both get questions. I have received lots of questions since starting my blog in April 2006.

Tom Kraeutler: We get about 5,000 e-mail questions a year sent in to us, and thousands more reach us via our radio show at 1-888-MONEY-PIT.

Pink Panther: Wow!

Tom Kraeutler: Yes, there sure are a lot of folks that need home improvement help and about this time each year, lots of those questions turn to the costs of heating your home. Energy prices seem to rise and fall but the more cash I can keep in my wallet, the warmer I feel, though I wouldn't recommend stuffing the walls with cash. For that, the PINK stuff does quite well and is a lot less expensive.

Pink Panther: The most frequently asked question for me is about the vapor retarder - which way does it go? I keep writing the same answer over and over again - the vapor retarder goes toward the warm-in-winter side, which is typically toward the living space.

Tom Kraeutler: Before I became a home improvement expert on the radio, I was a home inspector and spent a lot of time in crawlspaces staring at insulation installed upside down. The funny thing was that the vapor barrier I was staring up at had these words stamped every 18 inches: "THIS SIDE TOWARD LIVING SPACE." So, unless you live in a crawlspace, you probably should put the vapor barrier closest to the side of the house that features such amenities as indoor plumbing.

Pink Panther: Some homeowners also ask about insulating the rafters overhead.

Tom Kraeutler: Unless you are finishing your attic, there's no need to insulate rafters. Insulation belongs between the heated space and the unheated space in your house, which usually means the attic floor.

Now, if you are going to insulate your attic because you want to covert that area to living space, it's a good idea to insulate between the rafters, but you also need to make sure you leave enough room for ventilation. Generally I recommend going one size smaller than the rafter depth. For example, if you have two-by-eight rafters (7 ½" deep), use insulation designed for a two-by-six space (5 ½" thick) and install it flush with the inside of the home. The extra two inches between the insulation and the underside of the roof sheathing serves as a ventilation channel that’ll let air pass over it and cart moisture away in the winter, as well as heat in the summer.

Pink Panther: What other questions do you get about insulating?

Tom Kraeutler: Here’s one: How can I have attic storage and insulation at the same time? The answer is a garage sale. You don't really need to keep all that stuff and your Encyclopedia Britannica collection is starting to make the ceiling sag.

Pink Panther: (groan)

Tom Kraeutler: OK, if that won't work, try carving out a limited "storage zone" right around the area of your attic stair or hatch. Keep the insulation in this space flush with the top of the ceiling joists and add a plywood floor. Then add storage shelves to take advantage of both the floor space and height of this area. For the rest of the attic, insulate, insulate, insulate! You need at least 19 inches of batt insulation or 22 inches of blown insulation in most parts of the country.

Pink Panther: Any other helpful tips for readers of my blog?

Tom Kraeutler: Yes, when adding insulation to an unfinished attic, remember the age-old adage: WALK ON WOOD. Surprisingly, the fluffy PINK stuff seems to give way when presented with a weight something less than 240 pounds. Don't ask me how I know, but coming up next week on The Money Pit, I'll have tips on how to repair a size 12D hole in your ceiling.

Pink Panther: That reminds me of a French Police Inspector I know.

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* A properly sealed and insulated home can save up to 20 percent on heating and cooling energy bills. Savings vary. Find out why in the seller's fact sheet on R-values. Higher R-values mean greater insulating power.

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You might expect the Pink Panther and the Green Builder to see things differently.

For one thing, their backgrounds couldn't be much more dissimilar. The Pink Panther was born a movie star while Green Builder Ron Jones worked his way up from carpenter to builder to magazine editor and advocate for environmentally friendly construction practices.

Yet they have much in common, starting with their wealth of knowledge about energy conservation - the Panther’s from more than 25 years of doing commercials for insulation, and Jones from years of hands-on experience in the construction industry.

When Jones heard that the Panther "broke his silence" and is communicating about the biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions, he knew something special was happening and wrote to the Panther at his Save Energy Blog. Following an exchange of messages, the two decided to sit down face-to-face and discuss the world's energy problems. Following are excerpts from their exchange.

Getting acquainted

Pink Panther: It's nice to meet you but I must admit I am a little disappointed. I expected you to be green.

Green Builder: In my case the color is not literal; it's part of a nickname that reflects my interest in building homes that are good for the environment. Speaking of color, your pink is a lot brighter in person.

Pink Panther: I hear that a lot. And also that I am thinner than I seem to be on the big screen. You do have a furry face and I see some silver in your hair.

Green Builder: That's a sign of wisdom. It's common in mature male humans.

Pink Panther: Yea, right. I must admit that the fur on my face is a little whiter than it was in my first film. How did you become the Green Builder?

Green Builder: I was a custom builder and decided to specialize in environmentally appropriate construction. I ended up speaking about my experiences to a lot of green building organizations. To my knowledge, I am the only person ever to serve on the Boards of both the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

How do you know so much about saving energy?

Pink Panther: Since 1980, I have appeared in a series of ads for Owens Corning PINK FIBERGLAS™ Insulation and other company products. I have also made countless personal appearances on behalf of Owens Corning, a practice that continues today as time allows. I got to know lots of Owens Corning people and we talked on the set while waiting for the filming or video taping to start.

The problem

Green Builder: What prompted you to break your silence after all these years?

Pink Panther: The fact that people don't understand the REAL problem. We hear a lot about the world's need for sustainability, energy savings, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and reducing our global appetite for fossil fuels, but people tend to point fingers in the wrong directions.

Green Builder: I've noticed that, too. There are lots of proposed solutions for our energy problems but most are off the mark because they either feed our energy habit by calling for more digging or drilling, or they are not a good value because they cost a lot and contribute little.

Where they go wrong

Pink Panther: Many put the blame on cars and industry, for example, when our own homes and the places where we work are the biggest users of energy and the biggest emitters of greenhouse gas emissions.

Green Builder: Builders and homeowners I talk with think their homes are already well-insulated. There is a big difference between an insulated home and a well-insulated home.

Pink Panther: According to an Owens Corning estimate, there are nearly 80 million under-insulated homes in the U.S. today(1). They are considered under-insulated because they don't meet U.S. Department of Energy recommendations.

Green Builder: Only about 10 percent of the homes built today can be considered well-insulated on the basis that they exceed code requirements.

The solution

Pink Panther: According to a study by The McKinsey Global Institute, insulation is the most cost-effective method of reducing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions(2).

Green Builder: That should open peoples' eyes about the value of insulation.

Pink Panther: Energy conservation can be our "first source" of energy

Green Builder: We agree on that. Before thinking about other green products for the home, prospective buyers should pay attention to the basics of insulation. Other things can be good, too, but it is sad when the solution with the most potential for energy savings and sustainable construction is not fully utilized.

Pink Panther: The Department of Energy recommendations up to R-60 for attics now. They have increased their recommendation in recent years because today's higher energy costs justify the use of more insulation.

Green Builder: And a well-insulated home needs more than just a lot of insulation. Homes need to have their framing done to optimize the benefit of insulation. There are also other details to pay attention to, such as careful installation, caulking, etc.

Existing homes

Green Builder: I often meet people who drive hybrid and flex-fuel cars but have no idea how much insulation is in their own attic.

Pink Panther: If you want to help the environment, the absolute first thing you need to do is check the insulation in your attic. About 40 percent of a home's energy loss goes out through the top of the structure.

Green Builder: It’s easy to tell if a home needs more insulation. If you can see the floor joists in the attic - some people call them beams - you need more insulation. It is very easy to add more insulation to most attics, and if a homeowner just doesn’t have time or want to bother with the project, there are contractors who will do the job for them.

Pink Panther: There are other energy saving measures to consider as well. For example, there are insulators that work with the pull-down stairs many people have in their attics. Programmable thermostats can also save energy and money by turning the heat down at night or during the day when the home is empty. Weather stripping and caulking can also be helpful. Owens Corning has a list of these other measures on its Web site.

Green Builder: My checklist includes windows, furnace filters, hot water tank insulation and temperature setting, among others. My Web site also has lots of energy-saving suggestions for builders and homeowners.

A few tough questions

Green Builder: Before this turns into a love-fest, I need to ask you a hardball question. I know your insulation is PINK, but is it really green.

Pink Panther: That's not a hardball question at all. PINK insulation from Owens Corning is very “green.” The company's Fiberglas™ insulation, for example, is certified to contain a minimum of 40 percent recycled content. That’s the highest certification level for fiberglass insulation in the industry. The company's FOAMULAR® insulation is the only extruded polystyrene foam insulation certified for recycled content. The percent for FOAMULAR® insulation is 15 percent, and that includes 100 percent of the scrap from production. Both types are very durable. We have tested fiberglass insulation that is more than 50 years old and found that it still retained its R-value. The company's foam insulation is warranted to maintain 90 percent of its R-value for 20 years with no caveats for exposure to moisture or facer de lamination.

Green Builder: What about indoor air quality?

Pink Panther: The company’s Fiberglas insulation is GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified®.* That means the product is Certified by the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute to meet their strict indoor air quality standards. The manufacturing process doesn’t need to add chemicals for fire safety and it does not support mold growth.

Now I have a hardball question for you: Why aren't builders constructing more energy efficient homes?

Green Builder: Well, home building is a tough competitive business. Most builders do a great job of giving homeowners what they want and are willing to pay for. At the same time, they are reluctant to add much to the initial cost of the home because their customers are comparing their prices with their competitors in the same area. That said, more and more builders are joining the green team every day. The National Association of Home Builders is also encouraging this move and is giving them lots of support. And as homeowners demonstrate that they care about buying a green home and are willing to pay for it, we'll see more green homes built.

Where we agree

Pink Panther: OK, so where do we agree? There seems to be no dispute that buildings are the big users of energy and the big emitters of greenhouse gas emissions.

Green Builder: We agree that energy efficient homes can be our first source of energy, and you don't need to build a new home to have a more energy efficient home.

Pink Panther: For the most impact on sustainability, check the attic and add insulation if needed.

Green Builder: Don't stop there; keep going to "green" your home.

And when buying a new home, make sure it is optimized for energy efficiency; not just insulated but built to be well-insulated from the ground up.

Where we disagree

Green Builder: The most important color in a home is green.

Pink Panther: PINK.

Green Builder: Green.

Pink Panther: OK, Silver Top.

Green Builder: That's Arctic blonde to you, sir.

* The GREENGUARD INDOOR AIR QUALITY CERTIFIED Mark is a registered certification mark used under license through the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute

(1) Estimate of nearly 80 million under-insulated homes in 2008 based upon a 2003 Harvard School of Public Health study, The Public Health Benefits of Insulation Retrofits in Existing Housing in the United States.

(2) The McKinsey Global Institute

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A properly insulated home can save up to 20 percent on heating and cooling costs* - and is an easy do-it-yourself project. Head up to your attic now to measure your existing insulation and add more to meet current DOE recommendations of up to an R-value of 60. To meet these standards, your attic should have at least 19 inches of fiberglass batt (roll) insulation or 22 inches of blown-in insulation.

For more information about current DOE standards, the benefits of insulation and easy instructions about measuring and adding insulation, please visit itseasytoinsulate.com.

*Savings vary. Find out why in the seller's fact sheet on R-values. Higher R-values mean greater insulating power.

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=home_sealing.hm_improvement_methodology

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A news release about me breaking my silence is now posted on the Owens Corning Web site. You can check it out by clicking here.

Also, an ad from the campaign is now available. Click here to see it.

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According to research conducted for my blog sponsor Owens Corning, homeowners and other consumers have it backwards when it comes to energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.

See what you think; answer this question: What's the biggest user of energy in the U.S. today?

• Agriculture
• Buildings
• Industry
• Transportation

If you are like most people in the research study, you picked transportation or industry, when in fact the buildings we live and work in are number one, followed by industry and transportation in that order.

Another misperception concerns the project of adding insulation to a home. It's easy! Yet many people think it is hard to do and expensive. Instead, it's easy and can pay for itself in a relatively short time period.

The survey reveals a deep lack of awareness about the greatest source of energy use - the buildings in which we live and work. We keep searching for answers to our energy problems while the answer is all around us. By focusing on the role our buildings play in energy and making simple, easy changes such as adding insulation to increase their energy efficiency, we can use a lot less energy.

Knowing all of that, I just can't remain silent any longer. I need to get the word out about the REAL problem so today is the beginning of a big promotional campaign including television commercials, web banners and personal appearances.

We have a lot of communicating to do because there are nearly 80 million under-insulated homes in the U.S. today.(1)

It will be worth the effort, though, because when we know the truth, we understand how we can have a direct impact on energy use and greenhouse gas emissions - right in our own homes. By adding insulation to U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recommendations - up to R 60 in many parts of the country - we can make a significant contribution to the environment and reduce our own utility bills at the same time.

A properly insulated home can save up to 20 percent on heating and cooling energy bills - and it’s an easy do-it-yourself project.(2)

Have a comment, suggestion or question? Send it to me by clicking on the link above labeled "Ask the Pink Panther™ your energy questions."

(1) Estimate of nearly 80 million under-insulated homes in 2008 based upon a 2003 Harvard School of Public Health study, The Public Health Benefits of Insulation Retrofits in Existing Housing in the United States.

(2) Savings vary. Find out why in the seller's fact sheet on R-values. Higher R-values mean greater insulating power.

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What could be so compelling to make me break my silence after all these years? I can't share that yet but I am busy preparing for the big event.

Do you think you know what's prompting me to break my silence? If you do, send your idea to Iwillbreakmysilence.owenscorningblog.com.

Because I want everyone to know I am about to break my silence, I am visiting neighborhoods around the country. So keep an eye out for me. If you spot me and want to play movie-star-chasing paparazzi, take a video or photo and send it to Iwillbreakmysilence.owenscorningblog.com. Good luck with that because I can be one fast cat. But I also love to be in pictures with people - just ask me!

To find out why I will break my silence, check back here on Thursday, Oct. 9.

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Answer: Good question. Important question! The one I am most familiar with is using insulation to keep heat from leaving your home during cold winter months, and from entering your home during hot summer months. Insulation works something like my fur, wrapping me in a PINK blanket that helps keep me comfortable in winter and summer. For information from my blog sponsor, check out www.insulateyouratticnow.com.

There are lots of online resources with information about other ways to save energy. For example, the website for the PowerHouse television show has a downloadable brochure titled 101 Easy Ways to Save Energy. You can also request a printed copy.

For government resources check out The Ministry of Energy for Ontario brochure titled Tips to Help You Conserve Energy and Save Money. You can download a copy in English and 12 other languages.

You might also enjoy the website of the Canadian Centre for Energy Information. The site has lots of information about energy as well as energy-saving ideas.

The U.S. Department of Energy has a fact sheet titled Easy Ways to Save Energy. And you can use Google to find a lot of other resources and information; just type in a few key words. I typed in your question and got more than 2 million links to information about saving energy. Include the word Canada if you want to focus on information from your home country. Have fun!

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There are an estimated 60 million American homes that have under-insulated attics and not only face energy costs up to 47 percent higher this winter, they're also emitting a half ton more CO2 EVERY year than their properly-insulated neighbors. Released into the atmosphere, that's about an average blimp-full of CO2 emissions being released per block of homes each year.

That's why Owens Corning, the makers of PINK insulation and sponsors of my blog, are focused on getting the word out to homeowners on how they can save money and do their part to make the planet a little greener. To join the effort, check to see if you have enough attic insulation. With the U.S. Department of Energy recommending an average of R-value 49 for attics, Owens Corning advises that an attic have a minimum of 15.5 inches of fiberglass batt insulation or 18 inches of blown insulation.

For more information about blimps, CO2 and attic insulation visit the Owens Corning micro-site www.insulateyouratticnow.com.

The fine print:

1The US could save up to three million blimps full of CO2 emissions (the average blimp holds approximately 200,000 cubic feet of gas) if all under insulated attics in the US were insulated to the DOE standard. Estimated 60 million under-insulated homes in 2006 based upon a 2003 Harvard School of Public Health study, The Public Health Benefits of Insulation Retrofits in Existing Housing in the United States.

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After acting in Owens Corning commercials for more than 27 years, I thought I knew a lot about insulation and insulating projects. I do, but the team at Owens Corning really has a lot of knowledge about home energy efficiency. They can be very helpful. Give them a call with your questions at 1-800-GET-PINK™ (1 800-438-7465).

You can also find information about insulating project at the company's new micro-site www.insulateyouratticnow.com. The micro-site has the answers to common insulating questions, such as: How much insulation is enough? How much more do you need? What do I need to know? Where can I buy Insulation or find an insulation contractor near me?

Consider upgrading your insulation so you can save money, save energy and help save the planet.

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Click on this link and you will see a spider chart showing the reduced energy footprint that is possible with a well-insulated home. The smaller footprint (shown in yellow) represents a home built to the standards of the U.S. Energy Policy Act, compared to the same home built to code.

The EPAct home will generate 43 percent fewer CO2 emissions, using the equivalent of about nine barrels of oil less a year, and saving on average as much as $700 less in energy bills*. That's a difference in energy use that helps the environment and also helps save money.

Which footprint do you want for your new home? Tread lightly, friends, and leave a better world behind.

For information about how to save money and help the planet by upgrading the insulation in your home, go to the Owens Corning micro-site, www.insulateyouratticnow.com.

*Owens Corning engineering estimates based on average house and average climate

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Another scary thought is the amount of carbon being emitted by energy inefficient homes and commercial buildings. Buildings today consume 40 percent of the total energy use. That's more than both transportation and industrial activity. If every one of those under-insulated homes mentioned above would simply upgrade their attics from R-19 to the U.S. Department of Energy-recommended level of R-49 for many areas, we could reduce CO2 emissions by about 41 million tons, and reduce energy use equivalent to 51 fewer supertanker shipments of oil per year*.

A recent study published in The McKinsey Quarterly reached a significant conclusion - the single most cost-effective way to reduce greenhouse gases is building insulation. For information about how to save money and help the planet by upgrading the insulation in your home, go to the Owens Corning micro-site, www.insulateyouratticnow.com.

* With an estimated 60 million under-insulated homes in 2006 (based upon a 2003 Harvard School of Public Health study, The public health benefits of insulation retrofits in existing housing in the United States), 51 supertanker shipments saved annually is equal to a total of 103 million barrels; if all under-insulated U.S. homes were insulated to DOE standards, the U.S. would save the amount of energy equivalent to the energy in this amount of oil. The CO2 emissions reduction is an estimate based on the same data.

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The ad also says "it's easy to insulate" and urges homeowners to look for more information at the Owens Corning micro-site www.insulateyouratticnow.com. Those who visit the site learn that insulating is as easy as 1, 2, 3 - peek, prep and PINK. The first step is where you take a peek to see if your attic needs more insulation. Prep is where you find out what you need and where to start. PINK, my favorite color - surprise, surprise - is where you find products or contractors near you. There are also links at the left of the home page that take you to pages explaining why PINK Fiberglas™ insulation is really a "green" product. And perhaps best of all, my image is on the home page twice - upper left and lower right. I look forward to having you visit the micro-site and take a peek in your attic.

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Some people are surprised to learn that buildings today consume 40 percent of the total energy use. That's more than both transportation and industrial activity. And just as significant are the findings in a recent study published in The McKinsey Quarterly that reached an unequivocal conclusion – the single most cost-effective way to reduce greenhouse gases is building insulation. Period. For information about how to save money and help the planet by upgrading the insulation in your home, go to the Owens Corning micro-site, www.insulateyouratticnow.com.

* With an estimated 60 million under-insulated homes in 2006 (based upon a 2003 Harvard School of Public Health study, The public health benefits of insulation retrofits in existing housing in the United States), 51 represents the number of supertanker shipments saved annually, holding a total of 103 million barrels, if all under-insulated U.S. homes were insulated to DOE standards. The CO2 emissions reduction is an estimate based on the same data.

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The ad in Parade is the official beginning of the company's fall insulation campaign for 2007 and it marks the start of my 28th year helping Owens Corning promote energy efficiency and their PINK insulating products.

My job this fall is to again encourage homeowners to look in their attics and see if they need more insulation. It is easy to tell if you need more insulation - if you can see the wood beams or joists on the floor of the attic, you need more insulation. Depending on where you live, you need at least 15-1/2 inches of insulation and the wood joists are typically no more than about 9-1/2 inches high. If the insulation in your attic comes up short, don't be surprised because an estimated 60 million homes in the U.S. are under insulated today.

This fall, do something for yourself and for the planet. Make sure your home has enough insulation to keep you cozy this winter and save up to 20 percent on your heating and cooling bills.*

* P.S. The company wants me to tell you that savings will vary depending on your location and weather conditions. Calculations of energy savings based on a 1,700-square-foot, single-story home, with base case insulation and air leakage levels equivalent to the average home built in 1965. Reference data sources include the U.S. Dept. of Commerce and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBL) "Energy Savers Program." A summary of the calculation details is available upon request.

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I assume you are trying to achieve a higher R-Value by adding FOAMULAR insulation with the fiberglass insulation. If you have 2 x 4 studs, you would normally use an R-13 (3 1/2") insulation. If you looking to achieve a higher R-Value, keep in mind that Owens Corning also manufactures a high density R-15 (3 1/2") insulation which would fit into a 2 x 4 cavity.

If you still want to use the 1/2" FOAMULAR product, I do NOT suggest cutting it into every stud cavity behind the fiberglass. This would be very labor intensive and would compress the fiberglass. I suggest installing the fiberglass insulation first and then attaching the 1/2" FOAMULAR directly to the studs. Keep in mind the drywall must be attached directly to the studs also. Make sure you have a fastener long enough to penetrate both the drywall and FOAMULAR.

The 1/2" FOAMULAR will give you an added R-Value of 3.

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