Independent, private-sector companies such as energy services company, insulation contractor, or air sealing specialist.

"Older homes have lots of drafts," said Tom Hobson, owner of West Chester Insulation, an insulation contractor in West Chester, Pa.

Minneapolis has among the most stringent requirements: insulation contractors must post a $2,500 bond, carry general liability insurance of $100,000, have at least $300,000 of bodily liability insurance and have property damage insurance of $10,000.

A homeowner looking for an insulation contractor should check with one of the industry trade groups.

In 1964, Anderson returned to the Twin Cities and took over Asbestos Products, Inc., an insulation contractor that was a division of his father's business.

Mr. Keasbey was chief executive of the Robert A. Keasbey Company of Manhattan, an insulation contractor.

By 1990, the corporation was the largest insulation contractor in the nation, with more than 100 locations in 23 states.

His father was the bid estimator for Hinchliff & Keener, an industrial insulation contractor in Pittsburgh.

But if you must work lying on your back in a crawl space, consider obtaining bids from two or three insulation contractors before tackling the project yourself.

But if you must work in a crawl space while on your back, first obtain bids from insulation contractors before tackling the job yourself.