May 15 2008
Owens Corning today announced that it has been named a partner in the Environmental Protection Agency's Green Power Partnership, a voluntary program that encourages organizations to buy green power as a way to reduce the environmental impacts associated with purchased electricity use.
"We are pleased to be a partner with the Environmental Protection Agency in contributing to the sustainability of our world," said Frank O'Brien-Bernini, chief sustainability officer. "Purchasing renewable energy certificates in Oregon is an extension of our commitment to greening our operations -- the continuous reduction of the energy intensity and environmental footprint of our business.
"The products Owens Corning produces have a significant positive impact on our environment," said O'Brien-Bernini. "At the same time, I am proud that the employees of Owens Corning are engaged in hundreds of innovative activities to shrink the resource consumption and environmental emissions in our global operations."
To qualify, Owens Corning purchased 25,000 MWh of renewable energy credits that are 100 percent wind generated to offset the electricity consumption of the company's foam insulation plant in Gresham, Ore. The wind energy will be Green-e certified by the Center for Resource Solutions. Green-e is the leading independent certification and verification program in the United States for renewable energy and greenhouse gas emission reductions in the retail market and helps ensure the environmental value of Owens Corning's purchase.
"America is shifting to a 'green culture,' with more and more businesses understanding that environmental responsibility is everyone's responsibility," said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. "By switching to green power resources, Owens Corning's foam insulation business is proving you don't need to wait for a signal in order to go green."
The Partnership currently has more than 950 Partner organizations voluntarily purchasing more than 14 billion kilowatt-hours of green power annually. Partners include a wide variety of leading organizations such as Fortune 500 companies, small and medium sized businesses, local, state, and federal governments, and colleges and universities.