WHEN RENOVATING...

Thin

RENOVATION CAN do more
than change the physical ap-
pearance of your house — it can
improve the energy efficiency as
well.

By working energy efficiency in-
to your plans, the money you save
on fuel bills will help pay for the
renovation work. Better yet, the
energy savings will continue year
after year,

Many energy conservation activ-
ities that normally would be ex-
tremely difficult or impossible can
be undertaken during renovation.
For example, effective sealing of
the sill plate (a major source of air
Jeakage) in a finished basement
might involve removing the wall
covering and insulation.

This work can be accomplished
more conveniently when you are
actually finishing the basement.

A common reason for doing
renovation work is to make the
home more comfortable. Energy
conservation can help.

An energy-efficient home has
fewer drafts and cold walls and is

The ultimate in
Heating Control
ENERSTATK3-WN

¢ Fully Programmable

° Save up to 30% in
heating costs

e Wake up to a warm
home

¢ Easy to install &

warmer in winter and cooler in
summer than a poorly insulated,
leaky home.

Energy efficiency can usually be
incorporated into renovation plans
at little extra cost. If you’re hiring
a contractor, ask to have energy
improvements worked into the
renovation proposal.

Here are some tips that will help
you build energy efficiency into all
of your home renovation plans.

To start at the top: if you plan
to turn attic space into an extra
room, you can make it more com-
fortable by sealing all air leaks, in-
stalling generous amounts of in-
sulation and adding an air-vapor
barrier on the warm side of the in-
sulation.

If space is at a premium, board
stock insulation covered by a suit-
able fire-resistant material (such as
gypsum board) might be the best
solution. Installing windows on the
south-facing wall and skylights in
the ceiling can both brighten the
room and provide passive solar
heat (be sure the windows and
skylights are caulked and
weather-stripped).

If you are working on the ven-
tilation system in an unfinished at-
tic,, check the existing insulation
and air sealing; it may be wor-
thwhile to upgrade both.

Vents should be unobstructed by
debris to improve air flow and help
prevent condensation problems
and ice build up. If insulation is

“With gasoline

prices down, are
you still ahead with

BC.Natural Gas?”

17 - Friday, November 28, 1986 - North Shore News

1 L
blocking the vents, create a clear
air passage by installing baffles.

Ensure that the joints around
new vents are completely sealed
and that the venis are louvred or

installed to keep rain or snow from
entering the attic.

When decorating existing
upstairs rooms, consider using
oil-based paint or vinyl wallpaper.
These materials can help prevent
water vapor from passing into the
wall cavity or attic, where it can
decrease the effectiveness of the
insulation.

Double-glazed windows and in-
sulated doors can significantly
reduce conductive heat loss. Be
sure that all doors and windows,

old or new, are thoroughly caulk-
ed and weather-stripped. Caulk
around doors and window trim
with a paintable caulking before
painting.

If you replace a baseboard,
caulk the joint between the wall
and floor before installing the new
material. Caulking should always
be applied from inside the house.

Fireplaces contribute to the ap-
pearance of a room but they are
inherently inefficient. When mak-
ing repairs to an existing fireplace,
be sure the damper seals tightly or
consider installing a chimney cap
damper.

Supplementing the combustion

See Renovate
Page 18

“Yeah. Now [im
only saving 40%”

Meanwhile, 40% isn’t haif bad.
That's how much this plentiful
B.C. resource could trim off your
fuel bill. And that’s at today’s
“low” gasoline prices.

So if you're now spending, say
$180 a month for fuel, Natural
Gas To Go could save you enough
to pay for the cost of conversion
in about 36 months. After that,

youd pocket all the savings.

Get all the facts, plus a free
computer estimate of your
savings with Natural Gas To Go.
See your nearest installer or call:

in Vancouver 293-1999

toll free 1-800-663-4555

Sure, gasoline prices have
dropped. For the time being. So
why should you join the thousands
of B.C. motorists who have
converted to Natural Gas To Go?
And why now?

Because you know what the
next world oil crisis will do to the
price you pay at the pump. It
could shoot straight up again,
as always.

remove

Constant, comfortable |
ture control.

Johnstone’s
Home
Appliances

bertétrAve

-————o
—a
4
———
——se
— ae
a
———
i0 Go =
7
———————)
—————_—
—_—————
——————
—aa=
a —

In B.C., it’s the only way to go.

a BC Hydro