KANSAS CITY, Mo., July 2, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Owens Corning (NYSE:OC), maker of PINK insulation, today announced the five Aquila (NYSE:ILA) customers each awarded with one year of free energy as part of the PINK Ticket Giveaway. The winners include: Mike Gubbels of Columbus, Nebraska; Chris Jones of Liberty, Missouri; Shirley Limberg of Estherville, Iowa; Julie McNally of Rocky Ford, Colorado; and Madhan Durai of Lawrence, Kansas.
"The PINK Ticket Giveaway is not just about awarding five lucky homeowners," said Gale Tedhams, director of sustainability at Owens Corning, "it's also about demystifying the many ways homeowners can easily and effectively save on home energy costs, such as re-insulating the attic."
Owens Corning and Aquila teamed up earlier this year to raise awareness of the importance of improving home energy efficiency. From January 31 to March 16, eligible Aquila customers residing in Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa, Colorado and Kansas were invited to register for the Giveaway and the chance to have their home's utility bill paid for one year by Owens Corning.
In addition, through an Aquila customer newsletter and the official PINK Ticket microsite, Owens Corning offered Aquila customers easy home improvement tips that can save them up to 30 percent** on energy costs. The Owens Corning microsite and the energy-efficiency pages on Aquila's Web site were viewed over 8,000 times during the Giveaway entry period.
"The PINK Ticket Giveaway reminds all of us that simple steps can add up to big savings," said Matt Daunis, Aquila energy efficiency manager. "While there are only five official PINK Ticket winners, we can all reduce our utility bills by keeping energy efficiency top of mind in the home -- and help the U.S. win in reducing our collective energy use."
Cost-saving tips to consider include:
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 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.
Install a Programmable Thermostat**
Why heat or cool 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*F down to 65*F for eight hours a day in the winter, 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 or hot air into the home, which can help reduce fuel costs by up to 15 percent.
To discover more money-saving and energy-efficient home improvement tips, go to www.owenscorning.com.
*See official rules for details.
**Tips and statistics 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. Founded in 1938, Owens Corning is a market-leading innovator of glass fiber technology with sales of $6.5 billion in 2006 and 19,000 employees in 26 countries. Additional information is available at www.owenscorning.com
About Aquila, Inc.
Based in Kansas City, Mo., Aquila (NYSE:ILA) provides natural gas and electric service to approximately 900,000 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.primenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=1753