News Release
For immediate release:
July 6, 2012
For more information contact:
Michael B. Loughery, CertainTeed
(610) 341-7328
mike.b.loughery@saint-gobain.com
www.certainteed.com/pressroom
CertaSpray Spray Foam Insulation From CertainTeed Contributes to Energy Efficiency
in Mississippi Homeless Shelter Rehab
(Valley Forge, Pa.) – CertainTeed Corporation and Foamman Insulation recently partnered to
provide significant energy savings to a Mississippi homeless shelter by installing CertaSpray®
open cell spray foam insulation during a recent remodel.
The non-profit Community Care Network (CCN) helps homeless women and children become
self-sufficient and create better lives for themselves. In early 2012, the organization purchased a
large home with nine bedrooms, allowing CCN to serve many more families and improve
operations.
What was expected to be a minor repair job quickly evolved into a total renovation. With the
walls gutted of wiring and stripped down to the studs, Executive Director Diane Easley saw an
opportunity to ensure better energy efficiency and reduce energy costs for years to come by
using CertaSpray spray polyurethane foam (SPF) insulation.
“Diane was no stranger to the energy savings benefits of SPF,” said Tobias Torjusen, owner of
Foamman Insulation, who applied SPF in Diane’s home after Hurricane Katrina. Torjusen
estimates that installing CertaSpray in the CCN home will results in at least a 50 percent savings
over what is being utilized in its current state.
“Community Care Network is an outstanding organization that makes a big impact in our
community every day, and I knew immediately I wanted to help,” Torjusen said.
News Release
Community Care Network – Page 2 of 3
“CertainTeed is thrilled that CertaSpray was installed in the project. Spray foam is one of the
best ways to create a comfortable and energy efficient home, and we’re confident Community
Care Network and the families it serves will enjoy these benefits for years to come,” said Shawn
Beears, manager, product management for CertainTeed Insulation.
With the donation from CertainTeed, along with donated material, time and effort from his own
company, Torjusen applied more than 55,000 board feet of open cell SPF to the home.
“Remodels are typically very difficult because homeowners often try to keep the same HVAC
system and windows. However, that scenario doesn’t offer a significant return on investment,”
Torjusen said. “While the Community Care Network didn’t intend to undertake a total
renovation, it provided a perfect opportunity to give them the best house possible, with a less
expensive, downsized HVAC system, new windows and great SPF insulation. They will be
receiving what is essentially a new home that was designed to function at its best.”
“The building had many gaps and cracks, poor windows, old air conditioning equipment and
duct leakage in the hot attic space,” added Torjusen. “CCN won’t just be receiving a new
building—they’ll be receiving a building that will provide energy savings and cost savings each
month.”
The energy cost savings will make a big difference to the organization’s all-volunteer staff.
Diane Easley agrees, saying, “We were able to purchase this home because it was a foreclosure,
but our budget did not allow for the many thousands of extra dollars in repair work the home
needed.”
Fortunately, the center was able to secure workers that volunteered their time and materials to
complete nearly all of the work needed in the home.
The Community Care Network is one of only four organizations in Mississippi to be awarded the
“Excellence in Action” award by the Mississippi Center for Nonprofits, for outstanding
management (100 percent of the center’s donations go towards client care).
For more information, please visit: http://communitycarenetwork.org/
Community Care Network – Page 3 of 3
News Release
CertaSpray is available in both open-cell and closed-cell formulations and is an excellent
solution for creating tight air barriers and insulating hard-to-reach areas, such as cathedral
ceilings, knee walls and roof decks. CertaSpray is backed by industry-leading training and
technical support to ensure contractors, architects and builders are up-to-speed on the latest
installation techniques and safety measures so every application achieves maximum results.
CertainTeed’s experts regularly hold workshops throughout the country covering everything
from the history and chemical properties of spray foam insulation to its safe handling and
storage. Additionally, CertainTeed’s instructors have administered nearly 300 certifications
through the American Chemistry Council’s (ACC) online safety course. For information or to
inquire about a training session near you, call (800) 233-8990.
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, foundations, pipe,
insulation, gypsum, ceilings and access covers.
A subsidiary of Saint-Gobain, the world’s largest building products company, CertainTeed and
its affiliates have more than 6,000 employees and more than 65 manufacturing facilities
throughout the United States and Canada. Recognized as a 2009 and 2010 ENERGY STAR
Partner of the Year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, CertainTeed earned the 2011
and 2012 ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award, the highest level of recognition for
outstanding contributions to protecting the environment through energy efficiency. The group
had total sales of approximately $3.2 billion in 2011. www.certainteed.com
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