It's in the Ducts: Owens Corning Designs Duct Energy Efficiency Tool to Help Builders Quantify the Amount of Money Consumers Can Save on Their Annual Energy Costs


Study Confirms Rigid Fiberglass Duct Systems Can Save Up to Four Times More Energy Than Bare Sheet Metal Without Sealed Joints

SAN FRANCISCO, June 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Today at the Pacific Coast Builders Conference (PCBC) leading building materials manufacturer Owens Corning (BULLETIN BOARD: OWENQ) introduced its proprietary duct energy efficiency calculator that allows builders to quantify the amount of money consumers can save on their annual energy costs by incorporating fiberglass duct solutions, such as flexible ducts insulated with Owens Corning PINK Fiberglas(R) or EnDuraGold(R) Fiberglas(R) duct board, into a complete HVAC duct system. Owens Corning's Duct System Energy Efficiency Calculator is a sophisticated analytic tool that helps builders to identify energy efficiency issues in an area which is often overlooked -- the duct system.

"Recent studies conducted by NAIMA have shown that rigid fiberglass duct systems can save up to four times more energy than bare sheet metal without sealed joints -- 1.2 times more than sealed and lined sheet metal," says Glenn Haley, business manager, air handling products, commercial and industrial Insulating Systems Business, Owens Corning. "Without a doubt, rising energy costs and the growing demand for greener, more energy-efficient homes underscore the need for builders to help their homeowner customers recapture energy wasted in their duct systems. Our duct energy efficiency calculator helps builders pass significant energy efficiency savings onto their homeowner customers and, in doing so, positively impacts their bottom line."

How it works

The Owens Corning Duct System Energy Efficiency Calculator combines sophisticated data from a number of dynamic sources to predict annual energy costs and the ensuing homeowner savings as a result of utilizing fiberglass duct systems in the home. These sources of information include:

o American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) climate zone database
o Energy costs by region
o Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratings (SEER)
o Duct system design and leakage rates

"As a leader in home energy efficiency for over 67 years, Owens Corning's purpose is very simple -- delivering solutions, transforming markets, and enhancing lives," says Haley. "The growing awareness among builders of fiberglass duct systems as a way to conserve energy and make homes more comfortable has aided our air handling business in becoming one of the fastest growing businesses at Owens Corning. When world-class solutions like our duct energy calculator combine with best-of-class products, such as flexible ducts made with our signature "PINK" flexible duct media and EnDuraGold® Fiberglas® Duct Board, builders can develop greener, more energy efficient sustainable homes."

Builders interested in the calculator should contact their area sales managers, or call 1-800-GETPINK for more information.

About Owens Corning

Owens Corning is a world leader in building materials systems and composite solutions. A Fortune 500 company for more than 50 years, Owens Corning people redefine what is possible each day to deliver high-quality products and services ranging from insulation, roofing, siding and manufactured stone veneer, to glass composite materials used in transportation, electronic, telecommunications and other high-performance applications. Since the company's founding in 1938, Owens Corning has become a market-leading innovator of glass fiber technology with sales of $6.3 billion in 2005 and 20,000 employees in 25 countries. Additional information is available at www.owenscorning.com/ .

The color PINK is a registered trademark of Owens Corning

Contact: Kerry Desberg
Owens Corning
419-248-5939
kerry.desberg@owenscorning.com

Chris Grams
GolinHarris
312-729-4364
cgrams@golinharris.com

Source: Owens Corning

CONTACT: Kerry Desberg of Owens Corning, +1-419-248-5939, or
kerry.desberg@owenscorning.com ; or Chris Grams of GolinHarris,
+1-312-729-4364, or cgrams@golinharris.com

Web site: www.owenscorning.com/

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