Media Advisory
For immediate release:
July 3, 2014
This July 4th Weekend, Think Energy Independence and Recharging Outdoor Living
Spaces
7 sustainable tips to add curb appeal and keep a home affordably comfortable all summer long
Most Americans are looking forward to celebrating the nation's birthday and enjoying outdoor
living spaces with family barbeques, firework displays, and neighborhood block parties.
Scorching summer days can also translate into higher utility costs indoors. In fact, according to
the Environmental Protection Agency, the average U.S. household spends about $2,200 a year on
energy, with roughly half of that used to regulate the thermostat. As North America’s leading
brand of building products, CertainTeed Corporation offers 7 tips to help you keep cool inside
and beautify your home’s exterior—while keeping your wallet and the environment top of mind.
Create a sustainable outdoor living space. Updating an outdoor living space for an
Independence Day party? Be sure to choose sustainable, low-maintenance materials. Most wood
fence, deck and railing products require ongoing painting or staining and can rot or warp when
exposed to inclement weather. Instead, consider Bufftech® vinyl fence or EverNew® decking
and railing that are virtually maintenance-free, come in natural woodgrain colors, and can
beautifully withstand the elements—leaving homeowners with more time to enjoy it.
Cool your jets. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, water heating can account for 14
to 25 percent of the energy consumed in your home. It’s hot enough outside, so turn down the
temperature of your water heater to the warm setting (120°F).
From sun to savings. Long, sunny days mean energy savings for homes with electricitygenerating photovoltaic panels. Reduce your carbon footprint with a powerful Apollo® II Solar
Roofing System, which can be easily integrated into either an existing roof or with the
installation of a new roof that combines solar panels and asphalt or tile shingles. The system
offers a smooth, sleek design—so adding solar power doesn’t mean sacrificing curb appeal.
Switch to fans. Rely on fans when possible as they consume far less energy than an air
conditioner. A portable room fan or a ceiling fan set to push air down will circulate the air and
create a healthy breeze making it more comfortable indoors. At night, place fans in windows to
bring cool air in. Remember, ceiling fans help keep you cool, rather than cooling the entire room,
so turn them off when you leave.
Rethink that retrofit. Thinking of completing a major renovation or addition this summer? If
so, it’s a critical opportunity to add or replace insulation and boost the thermal efficiency of your
home. Wall assemblies play a major role in maintaining a comfortable indoor temperature during
summer months, as well as when it’s frigid outside. Adding Sustainable Insulation® or
SMARTBATT™ with MoistureSense™Technology, affordably achieves great thermal
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Media Advisory
performance in exterior walls and high moisture areas like bathrooms, laundry rooms and
basements. Also consider a weather barrier and CedarBoards™ insulated siding for added energy
efficiency.
Install low temperature landscaping. As you plan out that new garden or pathway for your
home, think about planting deciduous trees, trellises and shrubbery on the southern and western
portions of your home. Rocks, cement and asphalt also absorb heat; so don’t place them too close
to the house.
Live simply. Things as easy as turning off the lights, grilling out instead of cooking indoors and
hanging clothing to dry can also make a difference. Eliminate these potential heat sources as
much as possible to have the coolest home on the block this summer.
Images, product samples and industry comment are available upon request. To speak to an
expert, contact Victoria Gallagher of CertainTeed Corporation at Victoria.M.Gallagher@saintgobain.com or 610-341-7944.
About CertainTeed
Through the responsible development of innovative and sustainable building products,
CertainTeed, headquartered in Valley Forge, Pa., has helped shape the building products industry
for more than 100 years. Founded in 1904 as General Roofing Manufacturing Company, the
firm's slogan "Quality Made Certain, Satisfaction Guaranteed," quickly inspired the name
CertainTeed. Today, CertainTeed® is North America’s leading brand of exterior and interior
building products, including roofing, siding, fence, decking, railing, trim, insulation, gypsum and
ceilings.
A subsidiary of Saint-Gobain, the world’s largest building products company, CertainTeed and
its affiliates have more than 5,700 employees and more than 60 manufacturing facilities
throughout the United States and Canada. For six consecutive years, the company has received
top honors from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for its contributions in protecting the
environment and was most recently the recipient of the 2013 ENERGY STAR Sustained
Excellence Award. The group had total sales of approximately $3.3 billion in 2013.
www.certainteed.com
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