KANSAS CITY, Mo., Feb. 1, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Charlie's golden ticket may have provided him with an unlimited supply of chocolate, but did it pay his home energy bill? Owens Corning (NYSE:OC), maker of PINK insulation, is helping to solve the problem of home energy costs for five lucky Aquila (NYSE:ILA) customers through the PINK Ticket Giveaway.
Owens Corning and Aquila are teaming up to raise awareness about the importance of energy efficiency at home. Between January 31 and March 16, 2007, eligible Aquila customers residing in Colorado, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska and Kansas can register for the PINK Ticket Giveaway and a chance to have their home's monthly utility bill paid for one year by Owens Corning. One home in each state served by Aquila will be a winner.*
"The PINK Ticket Giveaway is a reminder to consumers that they can save money on energy costs through simple efforts, such as conservation and by making energy-efficient upgrades to their homes," said Matt Daunis, Aquila energy efficiency manager. A recent survey conducted by Owens Corning found that while the solution to lower bills lies largely in the hands of the homeowner, the majority are unaware of their money-saving options.
Whether Aquila customers enter the PINK Ticket Giveaway or not they can reduce their energy bills by increasing the energy efficiency of their home. Here are a few cost-saving tips to consider:
Add a Layer to Your Attic Insulation
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, adding insulation to the attic is one of the easiest ways to help cut heating and cooling costs, and it will make your home more comfortable. As a general rule, if you have less than 12 inches of attic insulation, you probably need more.
"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 Gale Tedhams, director of sustainability at Owens Corning. "By taking energy efficient steps now, such as adding insulation to the attic, homeowners will see immediate savings** on home energy costs."
Install a Programmable Thermostat***
Why heat the house when nobody's home? A programmable thermostat can automatically lower and raise a home's air temperature when the family is at work, school, or comfortably nestled under a comforter. By simply turning the thermostat back from 72 degrees F down to 65 degrees F for eight hours a day, people can save as much as 10 percent on annual heating and cooling costs. Most likely, energy savings will offset the costs for a programmable thermostat (starting at $30) within the first year.
Clean and Inspect Central Heating Equipment***
It is a good idea to have furnace and ductwork evaluated before the start of each heating season. The cleaner and more efficient they are, the more energy savings. In fact, a properly adjusted furnace can help save up to 10 percent in fuel consumption.
Install Energy Efficient Doors and Windows***
There's more to new windows and doors than meets the eye. The newer products are more energy-efficient and require less maintenance. Many of today's doors and windows are designed and insulated to reduce the transfer of cold air into the home, which can help reduce fuel costs by up to 15 percent.
To enter the PINK Ticket Giveaway, Aquila customers can mail in a postcard with their name, address, daytime telephone number, e-mail address (if any) and the last 4 digits of their Aquila account number to PINK TICKET GIVEAWAY, P.O. Box 110227, Carrollton, Texas, 75011-0227. Aquila customers can enter online by going to www.owenscorning.com/pinkgiveaway and entering username "PINK Ticket" and password "Aquila." Customers may also reach the Owens Corning Web site from a link on www.aquila.com.
* See official rules for details.
** Savings vary. Find out why in the seller's fact sheet on R-values. Higher R-values mean greater insulating power.
*** Tips derived from the Department of Energy's "Energy Savers" educational booklet. Go to www.owenscorning.com to learn more.
About Owens Corning
Owens Corning (NYSE:OC) 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, electronics, 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 26 countries. Additional information is available at www.owenscorning.com.
About Aquila, Inc.
Based in Kansas City, Mo., Aquila provides natural gas and electric service to nearly one million customers in Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. Helping customers conserve energy and reduce their cost are priorities for Aquila. Last fall, Aquila established a new weatherization program to help customers focus on things they can do themselves to make their homes more energy efficient. Aquila employee Weatherization Teams make weatherization improvements for homeowners who cannot do the work themselves. Additional information is available at www.aquila.com.
The Aquila, Inc. logo is available at http://www.primezone.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=1753