Raleigh Man Takes Top Prize in America’s Best Installer National Finals
 
Raleigh insulation installer Pedro Avila Castaneda was named the Best Insulation Installer in America 2005 at the America’s Best Installer National Finals held in Denver, Colo. on October 10, 2005.  Organized by Insulate America and its contractor members to promote quality workmanship and sponsored by leading building product manufacturer Johns Manville, this year’s final event featured six of the country’s best installers vying for recognition and prizes as they drew attention to the energy-saving benefits of quality insulation installation.
 
Castaneda, representing Insulating, Inc., and other finalists were selected to compete in the annual event based on results of regional semi-final competitions held across the country earlier this year.  Hosted at Johns Manville’s Technical Facility, this year’s event consisted of contestants taking their turn insulating a mock home wooden structure.  Installers were required to insulate three walls, a ceiling and a crawl space using their choice of Johns Manville Formaldehyde-free fiber glass insulation products including Kraft-faced and unfaced insulation in a variety of R-values. 
 
As winner of this year’s competition, Castaneda was awarded $10,000 for his performance.  The five remaining finalists were rewarded with $1,500 in cash or gift certificates to the VISA Rewards catalogue. 
 
 "This is my first year here and winning is one of the best things that has ever happened to me,” said Castaneda about his performance.  “I’m so proud to be able to share the $10,000 prize money with my family.”
 
 Selecting a winner for the competition was based on several criteria including quality of workmanship, adherence to safety rules and speed/productivity.  This year’s judges included noted industry experts James Carey of the Carey Brothers radio show, Bob Hill of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and Charles Cotrell of the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA).
 
“This is the third year we’ve held the America’s Best Installer competition and it feels like we’re really hitting our stride,” said Jared Ingwalson, vice president of InsulateAmerica. “It is exciting for everyone to see these great guys receive the recognition they deserve at what has become the premier event for our industry.”
 
In addition to honoring hard-working insulation installers for their craftsmanship, the America’s Best Installer competition also aims to showcase best practices in the industry and call attention to the importance of proper insulation installation and its role in increasing energy efficiency.  A recent study by the Harvard University School of Public Health found that 65 percent of existing U.S. homes – 45 million homes in total – have insulation levels that are below the 2000 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) levels – and many of them are significantly below code.  Even more staggering is a statistic noting that residential and commercial buildings together account for 40 percent of our nation’s total energy use.
“With energy costs skyrocketing this winter, insulation is key to keeping heat inside where you need it most,” Dud Colton, manager of national accounts for Johns Manville.  “What many people don’t understand is that the quality of the installation is as important as the quality of insulation itself.  In recognizing these men for their contributions to the field, we also hope to remind the industry and the public about the way our work has a significant impact on everyday lives.”
 
About Johns Manville
Johns Manville, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is a leading manufacturer and marketer of premium-quality building and specialty products.  In business since 1858, the Denver-based company has sales in excess of $2 billion and holds leadership positions in all of the key markets that it serves.  Johns Manville employs about 8,500 people and operates 43 manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe and China.  Additional information can be found at www.jm.com.

About Insulate America
Insulate America, headquartered in Shelby North Carolina, is an organization of professional Insulation Contractors operating out of over 220 locations in 46 states. Its mission is to promote the highest standards of workmanship and business performance in the residential and commercial insulation contracting industry. Additional information can be found at www.insulateamerica.com.