The Canadian National Newspaper: Upgrading a 70's era home

NC-There are some things from the 70's that are making a return, such as floral prints and wide leg jeans, but other items such as lime green appliances or vinyl flooring definitely isn't coming back in style. If your home was built in the 1970's it may be time to take on some renovations in order to keep your home modern and at its full potential. The good news is there are simple renovations that can help save you money in the long run while modernizing and adding to the sales value to your home.

"Homeowners can help reap the money spent on upgrades such as updating their furnaces, windows or attic insulation as these upgrades can help boost a home's energy efficiency and also help you qualify for government rebates," says David Flood, Insulation Expert, Owens Corning. "Taking on simple renovations such as an attic insulation upgrade can also help you save on your heating costs, putting money in your pocket that can be saved for a larger renovation down the road."

The following energy-saving upgrades can help you reduce energy consumption and also help save the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

-- Insulate your attic. This project can be as simple as a taking a trip to your local building materials store and a spending few hours on the weekend. When shopping, ask an associate to direct you to the PINK insulation aisle. The thermal performance of PINK FIBERGLAS insulation is just what you'll need to help improve your home's energy efficiency and help protect against moisture damage in the attic. Make sure you insulate your attic to at least R-50 - this can help you qualify for a $600 government grant through the ecoENERGY Home Retrofit Program that can reduce the overall cost of your upgrade.

-- Prevent heat loss. Inspect your home and check for unwanted drafts around windows and doors. You can reduce drafts by caulking, sealing and weather-stripping around window and door frames, or replacing old windows and doors to help reduce the transfer of cold air into the home.

For more information on upgrading your attic insulation to help reduce your home's energy costs check out, LINK.

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