(NC)—Finishing the basement in your house has probably been at the bottom of your renovation to-do list. But have you thought about the benefits? Added comfort, expanded living space, cost savings* and overall increased energy efficiency are just a few of them. Whether your basement is a do-it-yourself project or you’re working with a contractor, it’s best to start with insulation. The tips below can help save both time and money.

Start by placing a moisture barrier against the inside of the concrete wall from the floor to finished grade level. Then, build a standard wall frame, using 2 x 4 or 2 x 6 wood studs. Place it in front of the concrete wall. Now, install R-20 PINK™ FIBERGLAS® batt insulation between the studs and ensure the inner surface of the batts is flush with the inside surfaces of the studs. Using PINK™ FIBERGLAS® batt insulation, form a solid thermal barrier between studs and conserve energy to help reduce heating and air-conditioning costs. Finally, don’t forget to install a continuous polyethylene vapour barrier over entire wall area.

Great news for eco-conscious homeowners is that PINK™ FIBERGLAS® insulation products are made from over 70** per cent recycled content, so you can do your bit for the environment, too. PINK™ FIBERGLAS® insulation products will help you participate in recycling efforts and prevent waste from going to landfills.

Finally, finishing your basement can be more affordable than ever when you take advantage of government grants. The ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes program is offering a grant of up to $5000 from the Government of Canada for energy efficiency renovations which have not yet started. Some energy utilities and provincial governments offer additional funding.

More information on ecoENERGY grants and incentives can be found online at http://www.ecoaction.gc.ca/homes.

More information about how to insulate your basement is available at www.owenscorning.ca.

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