America’s Best Insulation Installer is Salvador Herrera

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Insulation installer Salvador Herrera of Raleigh, N.C., was named the Best Insulation Installer in America at the 2007 America’s Best Installer national finals held October 8, 2007 at the Johns Manville Technical Center near Denver. An annual competition now in its fifth year, the Best Installer final competition featured five of the country’s best insulation installers vying for recognition and cash prizes as they drew attention to the energy-saving benefits of quality insulation installation during National Energy Awareness Month.

Raleigh-based Insulating, Inc. has produced the last three winners of America’s Best Installer, including 2006 winner Daniel Huerta, who competed in the 2007 final competition to defend his title. Pedro Avila Casteneda, also of Insulating, Inc., won the Best Installer title in 2005.

At this year’s finals, each of the five competitors took a turn installing various insulation products in a wooden mock home structure complete with common construction obstacles and a vaulted ceiling. Contestants were judged using several criteria including quality of workmanship and installation, adherence to safety rules and speed/productivity. Because insulation is only as good as its installation, contestants were critiqued on their ability to completely fill the wall cavity with insulation, without leaving gaps and voids where energy can escape. A quality insulation installation helps ensure a home is thermally efficient and helps reduce the homeowner’s heating and cooling costs.

As winner of the 2007 title, Herrera was awarded $10,000 and an automatic invite to next year’s competition to defend his title. The four remaining finalists, including Huerta, were rewarded with $1,500 in cash.

“This title is a true honor, and I couldn’t be more excited to be this year’s winner,” said Herrera. “The Best Installer competition gives us a chance to compare our style of work with other top installers in the country and provides us with recognition that we don’t normally receive. I had a great time at the final competition and look forward to bringing my prize home to my family.”

The Best Installer competition was created in 2003 by building products manufacturer Johns Manville and Insulate America to highlight the importance of a quality insulation installation. The final competition is held annually in October at the Johns Manville Technical Center, one of the nation’s premier building products testing centers, after a round of regional semi-final competitions held in Johns Manville manufacturing plant locations.

“This is great recognition for Salvador and is a testament to his hard work and dedication to his job,” said Thomas Turner, owner and president of Insulating, Inc. “Our company values well-trained employees because they deliver a quality installation, which in turn helps our customers save money on their monthly heating and cooling bills. We’re proud to have the last three champions in Raleigh and look forward to the 2008 competition.”

With October being National Energy Awareness Month and home heating prices predicted to increase by more than 10 percent this fall, the contest served as a timely reminder of the benefits of properly installed insulation for homeowners. Most U.S. homes are under-insulated, and by properly air sealing and adding insulation to the attic, the U.S. Department of Energy estimates that the average homeowner can save up to 30 percent on their energy bill.

“It’s exciting to see these experts compete, and the contest serves as a great opportunity to reinforce the importance of properly installed insulation,” said Dud Colton, manager of strategic partnerships for Johns Manville. “I’ve seen how poorly insulation can perform when installed improperly. Consumers can take comfort knowing the industry is seeking out the best of the best, and by hiring an insulation contractor that has participated in the Best Installer contest, they’re getting maximum value for their insulation investment.”

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-builder.com.