Winterize Now, Save Now: Home Heating Costs Expected To Rise Up To 61 Percent

Owens Corning Keeps Homeowners Ahead of the Curve with Do-It-Yourself Home Winterizing Tips

TOLEDO, OHIO, (Wednesday, October 12, 2005) - According to a report released today
by the Energy Information Administration, the statistical agency of the U.S.
Department of Energy, 55 million U.S. homes heated with natural gas can expect
heating costs to rise as much as 61 percent this winter. Owens Corning is
helping homeowners reduce the impact of rising energy prices through education
about simple home-improvement projects that can play an important role in
keeping families warmer and utility bills lower during the coming winter
months.
In association with the Department of Energy, Owens Corning is
distributing the Energy Savers Booklet -- a guide offering information on
saving energy and money in the home -- which has been revised this year to
include tips for the 2005/2006 winter season. According to Douglas Faulkner,
Acting Assistant Secretary of Energy Efficiency for the U.S. Department of
Energy, it's surprising how many U.S. homes are not nearly as energy efficient
as they could be. "Homeowners don't realize that by making a few inexpensive
home-improvements they can save 30 percent or more on their home-heating
costs," says Faulkner.

Start at the Top
According to the Energy Savers Booklet, simple home improvements to
winterize your home will make dramatic differences in a family's ability to
live comfortably and affordably this winter -- and it starts at the top. "If
asked for the single, most cost-effective step consumers can take to save on
their home energy costs, I'd offer five words: Head straight to the attic,"
said Gale Tedhams, Insulation Product Manager at Owens Corning. "The attic is
one of the most cost-effective and easiest places to insulate, yet only 20
percent of homes in the United States built before 1980 are insulated to
current energy efficiency standards," said Tedhams.
Homes built before 1980 often have as few as three inches of insulation in
the attic, while an energy-efficient attic should have at least 12 inches of
insulation and a minimum R-value [the product's ability to block heat from
escaping the home] of 38.

Other energy-saving home improvements Owens Corning suggests include:

-- Adding insulation to other areas of your home: Insulation in the crawl
space, under floors and in basement walls helps stop the transfer of
heat through the home

-- Insulating water heaters and pipes: Heat loss will be minimized and
the heater won't be overworked

-- Sealing windows and doors: Blocking cold air from entering a home can
reduce heat loss by 25 to 50 percent

-- Plug the drafts: Sealing, caulking and weather-striping around all
seams on the exterior of the house is the first-line of defense
against drafts

-- Installing a programmable thermostat: Air temperature in the home can
automatically be lowered and raised when residents are at work or home

In an effort to help homeowners identify winterizing opportunities that
can result in savings of 30 percent or more on home-heating costs, Owens
Corning has launched an energy microsite featuring: 15 ways homeowners can
save energy, instructions on easy insulation projects, an insulation project
calculator and the Department of Energy's R-value calculator. Homeowners can
log on to the microsite to learn how Owens Corning PINK(R) Insulation can help
put money back into their pockets this winter.
Owens Corning is also offering assistance to homeowners who are facing
rising home-heating bills through an online interactive tool called the Home
Report Card(TM). The online quiz teaches homeowners about areas in their home
where they may be susceptible to losing energy and money. Taking just three
minutes to complete, the quiz covers topics such as a home's level of
insulation, type of lighting and appliances, and amount of sealant on windows
and in fireplaces. Based on the homeowner's answers, a customized "grade" is
computed and recommendations are given on how to improve the energy-efficiency
level of each particular home. Visit http://www.owenscorning.com to explore
the energy microsite and take the Home Report Card(TM).
"Knowing is half the battle," says Gale Tedhams of Owens Corning. "With
educational tools such as the energy microsite and the Home Report Card(TM),
Owens Corning is helping homeowners to take an active role in reducing rising
home energy costs."

About Owens Corning
Owens Corning is a world leader in building materials systems and
composites systems. Founded in 1938, the company had sales of $5.6 billion in
2004. Additional information is available on the Owens Corning Web site at
http://www.owenscorning.com or by calling the company's toll-free General
Information line: 1-800-GETPINK.

Contact:
Kerry Desberg Adam Warrington
Owens Corning GolinHarris
419.248.5939 312.729.4384
kerry.desberg@owenscorning.com awarrington@golinharris.com

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