Neopor® Expandable Polystyrene Saves Energy in Phoenix, Arizona


Study says Neopor can save up to 70 percent of cooling energy vs. a non-insulated house in warm climates

WYANDOTTE, MI, November 10, 2009 - BASF's innovative insulation solution Neopor®, an expandable polystyrene (EPS) containing infrared absorbers, can dramatically reduce energy use for cooling houses in hot climates, according to a new simulation study. The study, carried out by the Passive House Institute, Darmstadt, Germany, concluded that a reduction of up to 70 percent in energy consumption required for cooling residential buildings in Phoenix, Arizona, can be achieved, depending on insulation thickness.

"There is a prevailing misconception that insulation materials are only able to reduce energy consumption for heating in cold climates. The objective of the simulation study was to determine the benefit of insulation in different hot climates specifically, such as Phoenix, Arizona. The results clearly demonstrate that insulation can indeed be just as effective in reducing energy consumption for cooling in hot climates,"
said Jessica Grove-Smith, Passive House Institute, Darmstadt, Germany.

The study was conducted based on the dynamic hygro-thermal building simulation program DYNBIL and assesses the heating, cooling and dehumidification energy requirements of a double-story corner terrace house with a non-air conditioned basement and a living area of approximately 120 square-meters. The study was based on the premise that Neopor® is installed for the insulation of walls and the roof, which results in a substantial reduction of the energy required for cooling to keep room temperatures within a comfortable range. "Aside from the environmental benefits, energy-efficient construction also directly translates into real cost savings for consumers," added Ms. Grove-Smith.

"Through the inclusion of infrared absorbers, Neopor® provides up to 20 percent better insulation performance compared to standard EPS. This allows panels made of Neopor® to be lighter, thinner, and achieve the same insulation performance. Thus, insulation materials made of Neopor® are highly eco-friendly contributing to a reduction in cooling costs and an increase in the value of buildings," said Dr. Giorgio Greening, Head of Global Business Unit Foams, BASF.

For more information contact:

Kathy Dennis

BASF Corporation

Tel: 973) 245-6288

E-mail: Kathy.dennis@basf.co

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BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has more than 15,000 employees in North America, and had sales of approximately $17.5 billion in 2008. For more information about BASF's North American operations, or to sign up to receive news releases by e-mail, visit www.basf.com/usa.

BASF is the world's leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics and performance products to agricultural products, fine chemicals and oil and gas. As a reliable partner, BASF helps its customers in virtually all industries to be more successful. With its high-value products and intelligent solutions, BASF plays an important role in finding answers to global challenges such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and mobility. BASF posted sales of more than 62 billion in 2008 and had approximately 97,000 employees as of the end of the year. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.

About The Passive House Institute, Darmstadt, Germany
The Passive House Institute was founded in 1996 as an independent research institution. It performs research and development on highly efficient energy use and employs physicists, mathematicians and civil, mechanical and environmental engineers.

Its services include simulation of thermal behavior of buildings using DYNBIL (a thermal modeling program), which is an established program developed by the Passive House Institute that has been proven over years through project planning and thermal evaluations of buildings.

The term Passive House refers to a rigorous standard for energy efficiency in buildings. It results in ultra-low energy buildings that provide high thermal comfort with little energy consumption for space heating or cooling.

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