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What's Your EQ? American Homeowners Wasting Up To $570 On Energy CostsSurvey Finds Lack of Energy Efficiency Knowledge Contributing to Higher than Necessary Bills TOLEDO, Ohio, July 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Despite Americans' growing concern over rising fuel and energy prices, a new survey conducted by leading building materials manufacturer Owens Corning (OTC: OWENQ) (BULLETIN BOARD: OWENQ) reveals that Americans still have a low Energy Quotient (EQ), which is defined as one's knowledge of energy-saving practices in the home. According to the survey, 63 percent of homeowners are unaware of the financial benefits of installing insulation in the home, a fact that could be costing them $570 annually -- the dollar equivalent to the estimated 30 percent savings attainable by properly insulating the average American home. A surprising twist in the survey results reveals that respondents below the age of 30 are less knowledgeable than other age groups on how to make their homes more energy efficient. Only 19 percent of young respondents understand how R-value, an insulation product's ability to block heat from entering or escaping the home, impacts home energy efficiency. What's more, over 42 percent of homeowners under the age of 30 have no idea how much insulation is in their attic. While the survey showed that young respondents were interested in making energy efficient changes in the home, their lack of knowledge about energy efficient measures speaks to the fact that they are too young to have experienced the last major energy crisis. According to Alexander Karsner, assistant secretary of energy efficiency and renewable energy for the U.S. Department of Energy, all homeowners should feel empowered this summer knowing that reducing a significant portion of their energy costs is easily attainable. "By becoming more knowledgeable about home energy efficiency and being mindful of the energy they do use, homeowners can maintain better control of their bills and reduce their expenses," said Karsner. The survey also revealed that while 74 percent of Americans want to improve their home's energy efficiency, only 11 percent are taking the one step that could potentially save them the most money-installing additional insulation in the attic. In light of homeowners' low EQ, Owens Corning recommends educational resources such as their energy efficiency microsite (http://www.owenscorning.com/around/insulation/energysavings.asp ) and recently-launched, Pink Panther Energy Blog (http://saveenergy.owenscorningblog.com/). "Adding insulation to the attic is the easiest, most cost-effective thing homeowners can do to reduce home heating and cooling costs," said Gale Tedhams, product and program manager for residential insulation at Owens Corning. "Our survey results show many Americans know their attic is equipped with at least some insulation, but many don't know how much they can save by using more. Installing attic insulation is a project that won't break the bank, can be done over a weekend and can ultimately help homeowners save money and energy." 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 http://www.owenscorning.com/. The color PINK is a registered trademark of Owens Corning Contact: Kerry Desberg Elizabeth Sherman Owens Corning GolinHarris 419.248.5939 312.729.4434 kerry.desberg@owenscorning.com esherman@golinharris.com SOURCE: Owens Corning CONTACT: Kerry Desberg of Owens Corning, +1-419-248-5939, Web site: http://www.owenscorning.com/
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