Owens Corning Headquarters Earns Gold LEED-EB Green Building Status

TOLEDO, Ohio, April 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The global headquarters of Owens Corning (NYSE: OC) in Toledo, Ohio, has become the third existing building in Ohio to earn the prestigious gold certification under the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Existing Building (EB) program.

To achieve the award, the building's design and operation has met stringent standards as an energy-efficient, environmentally responsible and healthy place to live and work.  The building was first recognized for silver certification under the LEED-EB program in 2007.

The LEED certification of an existing building is a significant achievement because it is generally easier to design these features in new construction.  The Owens Corning global headquarters building has already earned an Energy Star rating, which ranks it among the top 25 percent of energy-efficient buildings in the United States.

"The gold-certified LEED-EB status of our global headquarters building in Ohio is an iconic representation of Owens Corning's deep commitment to sustainability and energy efficiency," said Chief Sustainability Officer Frank O'Brien-Bernini.  "It's also an example of the operating cost advantages that are achievable through sustainable building practices.  There are significant economic and environmental benefits to ensuring that new and existing buildings exceed today's energy efficiency standards through the use of insulation, air-sealing solutions, and many other energy-saving technologies."

Built in 1996, the Owens Corning world headquarters was designed by Cesar Pelli, a renowned architect.  Pelli's design of Owens Corning's global headquarters included numerous advanced environmentally focused features including under-floor ventilation for energy-efficient air delivery, optimal use of daylight, the reuse of office partitions, recycling of carpet, and 55 percent of the site restored to a natural environment with plantings of low-maintenance native vegetation.

"Building operations are nearly 40 percent of the solution to the global climate change challenge," said President, CEO and Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council, Rick Fedrizzi.  "While climate change is a global problem, innovative companies like Owens Corning are addressing it through local solutions."

Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in 1998, LEED promotes a national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings that protect the environment.  LEED certification recognizes innovative building designs that are environmentally responsible business models for energy efficiency and resource conservation.  For more information about LEED certification, visit www.usgbc.org.

About Owens Corning

Owens Corning (NYSE: OC) is a leading global producer of residential and commercial building materials, glass-fiber reinforcements and engineered materials for composite systems.  A Fortune 500 company for 56 consecutive years, Owens Corning is committed to driving sustainability by delivering solutions, transforming markets and enhancing lives.  Founded in 1938, Owens Corning is a market-leading innovator of glass-fiber technology with sales of $5.0 billion in 2010 and about 15,000 employees in 28 countries on five continents. Additional information is available at www.owenscorning.com.

SOURCE Owens Corning

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