Throw Another Blanket On This Summer To Stay Cool And Save Money

First Day of Summer Means Homeowners Looking for Relief From High Energy Bills

TOLEDO, OHIO (Tuesday, June 21, 2005) - Is your power bill soaring
faster than the summer temperatures? The solution is simple -- throw on
another blanket -- of PINK Fiberglas(R) insulation from Owens Corning
(OTC Bulletin Board: OWENQ). The same product that keeps you warm in the
winter keeps you cool in the summer by slowing heat from entering the home.
And, according to the Department of Energy (DOE), by using a few inexpensive
energy-efficient measures, you can reduce your energy bills by 10 to 50
percent and, at the same time, help reduce air pollution.
"Fiberglass insulation is one of the most efficient, cost-effective ways
to significantly reduce energy expenses, especially since homeowners can
install many of our PINK Fiberglas insulation products themselves," said Gale
Tedhams, Insulation Product Manager, at Owens Corning. "Typically, homeowners
recover the cost of the insulation within a few years through lower energy
bills."

Knowing where to start
The key to better insulating a home is to understand R-value, a universal
industry term used on all insulation products to measure its ability to resist
the flow of heat through it. The higher a product's R-value, the more
effective it will be at preventing heat from entering the home, thereby
keeping the inside cooler. The DOE recommended R-values for existing homes
vary by geographic region and take into account factors such as temperature
range, the home's heating & cooling equipment and fuel type, and size.
Homeowners can determine their region's recommended R-value at
http://www.owenscorning.com .
The best place to start insulating is in the attic -- it offers the
easiest access and can account for up to 45 percent of a home's heat gain and
loss. A good rule of thumb is that if you have less than 12 inches of
insulation in your attic, you probably need to add more. Pay special
attention to homes built before 1980, which generally have only 3 to 6 inches
of insulation in the attic.
"Adding insulation is just one way homeowners can keep utility bills
manageable during hot times of the year," said Glenn Haege, America's Master
Handyman and host of "The Handyman Show" heard each week on radio stations
nationwide.
Following are additional energy saving tips from Haege that don't take
much time, but can result in big energy savings.

-- Use Fans
Fans can make a room feel several degrees cooler by circulating the
air and essentially creating a "wind chill" effect. When using a
ceiling fan, make sure it is spinning in the counterclockwise
direction during the summer months.

-- Close the Shades
Keep windows covered with shades and blinds during the daytime to
prevent the sun's hot rays from entering the home. Pay special
attention to windows facing south and west, where the sun shines
brightest. Open windows at night in regions where temperatures drop
in the evening and relative humidity is 60 percent or less, to allow
cooler air to circulate through the home.

-- Plug Drafts
Unwanted air leakage alone can raise your energy bills up to 10
percent according to the DOE. Reduce heat gain by caulking, sealing
and weather stripping potential air leaks such as around doors,
windows, electrical boxes, recessed light fixtures and at accessible
construction joints.

-- Install a Programmable Thermostat
A programmable thermostat can automatically lower and raise your
home's temperature while you are at work or sleeping. The DOE reports
you can save 10 percent on your annual heating and cooling costs by
adjusting the thermostat -- higher in summer, lower in winter -- by 10
to 15 percent.

To give your home an energy check-up -- go to
http://www.owenscorning.com/homereportcard . The interactive Home Report
Card(TM) tool, developed in conjunction with the DOE makes it easy to find out
if your home passes the grade.
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 Owens Corning's Web site at
http://www.owenscorning.com or by calling the company's toll-free General
Information line: 1-800-GETPINK.

The Color PINK is a registered trademark of Owens Corning.

Contact: Kerry Desberg Jeff Bodzewski
Owens Corning GolinHarris
419.248.5939 312.729.4270
kerry.desberg@owenscorning.com jbodzewski@golinharris.com

View all Owens Corning Basement Finishing System Press Releases

This article has been read 175 times.

Printer Friendly