Generally, people are interested in saving money and helping the environment at the same time. One way to do this is by adding eco-friendly insulation to your home. McHale’s Environmental Insulation Co., Inc. takes great pride in the expertise it brings to homeowners who want to improve their home’s energy efficiency.

“We provide free, in-house energy saving inspections and estimates,” says Daniel Hair, the company’s president. “We come to your home and look at all the different areas that can be targeted for improved energy efficiency. We look at the attic. We determine whether or not there’s insulation in the walls or under the floor. We take a look at the supply duct work and the weather stripping.” After a thorough inspection, an expert from the company can recommend the best type of insulation to use.

McHale’s Environmental Insulation Co., Inc. specializes in insulation work for existing homes. The company can inject the insulation (usually environmentally-friendly cellulose) through a small hole that completely fills cavities in the walls without having to open them. This is often done in conjunction with a remodeling project. When the removal of old insulation is deemed necessary during a project, the McHale’s crew will safely remove it and dispose of it without leaving a mess.

For McHale’s Environmental Insulation Company, providing quality service that earns customer satisfaction is a high priority. “We follow through with our customers from start to finish, and we guarantee they’re 100 percent satisfied,” says Mr. Hair. “We always like to touch base with the owner at the end of a job as well as the beginning–we do a walk-through to make sure everything went smoothly and they’re happy with the results.”

When you’re thinking about having new insulation installed, it's smart to do your homework. “There are a lot of different insulation materials on the market today,” says Daniel Hair, president of McHale’s Environmental Insulation Co., Inc. “Since there are many choices, you should research each one and be careful about the type of material you use.”

Some of the insulation materials available are:

• Fiberglass, a common and familiar insulation that comes in a blown-in or batting-type form.
• Ultra-touch cotton insulation, which is made from denim or blue jean products—an environmentally-friendly product.
• Rigid Board, for areas that have limited cavity depth to achieve a high r-value.
• Cellulose, a wood-based fiber that’s made mainly from recycled newsprint and cardboard that is treated with a fire retardant—another environmentally-friendly product that requires less energy to make. It’s also useful in blocking sound.
• Spray foams, which are mostly petroleum-based. Spray foams expand, so they don’t always work well in a retrofit or remodel application where the walls are intact.
• Reflective Insulation and Radiant Barrier to block radiant heat, used in conjunction with insulation.

When deciding who will do the work, it’s important to take into consideration the experience and reputation of a company. Choose a contractor who’s known for dependability, service and excellent customer relations. “Be conscious of the quality of work,” says Mr. Hair. “Make sure the contractor intends to follow all codes and guidelines for bringing the house up to current building standards.”

Always make sure anyone doing work in your home is licensed and insured. Ask for references and consider calling previous customers to ask if they were happy with the service and results of the job.

Q: Will installing insulation be a messy job?

A: For both exterior and interior jobs, we minimize mess as much as possible by putting down runners and covering or masking things. After the completion of a job, we thoroughly vacuum the area. We try to leave the home even cleaner than we found it.

Q: Do you use subcontractors?

A: No. We only use McHale’s Environmental Insulation Co., Inc. employees.

Q: How competitive are you?

A: We’re very competitive and will try to match or beat a legitimate estimate for a similar product and service.

Q: Will insulating my attic make a difference on my PG&E bill?

A: Definitely. By insulating your attic, you can save as much as 20 to 40 percent on your energy bills. It’s one of the smartest things a homeowner can do.

Q: If I qualify for energy rebates through PG&E, will you help with the appropriate paperwork?

A: Yes. We’ll complete our part of the paperwork and then forward it to you, so all you have to do is sign it, put your account number on it, and drop it in the mail.

Q: Do you offer any incentives or discounts?

A: We offer a senior citizens’ discount. We also offer multiple job discounts—for example, an attic wall job and a floor job done at the same time for a lower rate.