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EXCITING NEWS ABOUT OUR
AREA
Smart Projects To Lower
Home Energy Bills
(NAPSI)
The right
home-improvement project
could help cut soaring
energy bills-an expense
that’s only expected to
continue climbing from
what’s now about $2,000
a year for the average
household, according to
the U.S. government’s
ENERGY STAR program.
So which
projects can save you
the most? While many
homeowners might guess
it’s replacing windows
or doors, experts say
that the smart money is
on insulated siding. The
ENERGY STAR-qualified
product can cut energy
consumption by up to 20
percent, saving
thousands over the long
term. It has contoured
insulation that fills
the gap between the
siding and home,
preventing air from
escaping. Plus, its
average R-value of
nearly 4.0 is triple
that of competitive
products.
“People
know about common ways
to insulate their
homes-by upgrading doors
and windows and sealing
the roof and
foundation,” says Pat
Culpepper, president of
Progressive Foam
Technologies, Inc.,
makers of the insulated
foam used in the siding.
“But up to 40 percent of
energy is actually lost
through a home’s wood
studs.
“They
make up about a quarter
of a home’s wall surface
area and release so much
energy that it’s as if
one wall of your home
isn’t insulated.
Insulated siding
prevents that energy
loss.”
Boosting
Resale Value
Culpepper, who compares
using the siding to
wrapping your home in a
“total energy blanket,”
notes that it has the
added advantage of being
eco-friendly. By
reducing the need for
hazardous and
ozone-depleting
materials like paint,
stains and caulks,
landfills and their
surrounding communities
get a much-needed break
throughout the siding’s
approximately 50-year
life span.
Those
green attributes could
be a major draw to
future buyers. Indeed,
by the year 2010, as
much as 5 to 10 percent
of houses are expected
to feature some kind of
“green” construction.
Add that
to the siding’s inherent
“curb appeal”-it has the
look and feel of
wood-and potential
homebuyers’ interest
could be especially
piqued.
A final
benefit, whether you’re
looking to stay in your
house or sell: The
siding could help
improve indoor air
quality. It’s designed
to be “breathable,”
meaning it can help
reduce the presence of
mold, mildew, bacteria
and other contaminants
that can collect in a
home’s walls.
For more
information, visit
www.ChooseInsulatedSiding.com.
Rigid
foam-backed siding helps
insulate a home, cutting
energy use up to 20
percent year-round.
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