* * * Insulation Can Help Keep Home Heating Costs Reasonable (NAPSA)—Asthe temperature drops, think before you reach for the thermostat. A colder winter and higher fuel prices are likely to drive up residential heating bills between 30 and 47 percent this year, according to a recent report by the U.S. Energy Information Agency. That makes it more important than ever before that homeowners take proactive steps to conserve energy in their homes. The North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA) reminds home- owners a well-insulated home is the key to controlling costs without sacrificing comfort. If your home is more than 10 years old, it is probably among the more than 63 percent of American homes that Harvard University found are underinsulated by today’s standards. The first step homeowners can take is to ensure that their homes are insulated with the proper amountof fiberglass insulation or R-value. The higher the R-value, the greater the insulating power. This not only includes insulation in attics but also in basement walls, floors above vented crawl spaces, cathedral ceilings, and floors over unheated garages or porches. Some of these areas may be hard to By insulating your home prop- erly, you can cut costs. reach, but any additional insulation will help keep your home more comfortable. Most homes would benefit from adding an R-30 fiberglassin theirattics. At NAIMA’s Website, www.Sim plyInsulate.com, you can find help- ful tips and free literature on how to add fiberglass insulation to a home and how to hire an insulation contractor. The site also offers information on a new Federal Tax Credit for insulation and local rebates that may be available in your area for increasing the energy efficiency in your home. Check out other great energysaving tips at The Alliance to Save Energy (www.ase.org/content/arti cle/detail/924) and the U.S. Department of Energy site at www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/.
