Homeowners Use GREAT STUFF™ to Cut Energy Costs

Marietta, GA – October 13, 2005

This winter, expect a big shock when you receive your heating bill. It will be the largest single-year increase in heating prices, according to experts. Compared to last year’s heating bills, increases could be up as much as 48 percent if you use natural gas to heat your home, 32 percent if you use heating oil, 30 percent if you use propane and 5 percent if you use electricity. If these predictions by the U.S. Energy Information Administration are correct, Americans will be looking for simple and inexpensive ways to reduce energy costs. 

The U.S. Department of Energy has some tips for lowering home heating bills this winter. Prepare your home early in the season to ensure that doors and windows fit tightly and that cracks that lead to the outside are sealed. One of the simplest ways to seal those cracks is to use GREAT STUFF™ Insulating Foam Sealant by The Dow Chemical Company. 

The average home has lots of hidden holes, gaps and cracks around window and door frames, electrical outlets, plumbing lines, under siding, in the basement and many other places. Add them all up and it is about the same as having a 16 square-foot opening causing potentially bone-chilling drafts in the house. In fact, this loss can account for 30 to 50 percent of the energy used in most homes. When people feel a draft, their first reaction is to turn the thermostat up! 

“In light of the high fuel forecast, many are wondering how they can cut costs, especially when it comes to their energy bills,” said Jeff Fancher, global brand manager for foam sealants at Dow. He recommends a variety of tasks you can do around the home that not only will keep the heat in, but also will save you money throughout the winter:

• Close fireplace dampers when not in use 
• Seal and insulate air ducts
• Wrap your water pipes in insulation
• Add insulation to the attic, basement and crawlspaces
• Turn down your thermostat
• Install a programmable thermostat; and set it for a lower temperature when you’re not at home
• Close curtains at night and open them during the day
• Seal areas around baseboards and doors
• Wrap your water heater in an insulation blanket
• Clean and replace air filters according to the manufacturer’s schedule
• Don’t let the kids “heat the outside” by keeping the door open
• Purchase an inexpensive cloth or foam draft stopper to position in front of doors
• Put extra blankets on beds
• Consider purchasing a new energy efficient furnace

GREAT STUFF™ is available in three different varieties:

• GREAT STUFF™ Gaps & Cracks is a polyurethane foam that expands to take the shape of cracks and voids, forming a permanent, air-tight, and water-resistant bond to wood, metal, masonry, glass, and most plastics. 
• GREAT STUFF™ Big Gap Filler is similar to GREAT STUFF™ Gaps & Cracks except that it is a triple expanding formula that is designed uniquely for larger holes and penetrations. 
• GREAT STUFF™ Window & Door is a “no bow” formula that expands without exerting pressure. It cures to a soft and flexible seal, allowing for natural expansion and contraction. It will take the shape of cracks and voids, forming a permanent, airtight, and water-resistant bond to metal, wood, and vinyl surfaces. 

For more information and energy-saving tips, visit www.dowgreatstuff.com. 

About The Dow Chemical Company

Dow is a leading science and technology company that provides innovative chemical, plastic and agricultural products and services to many essential consumer markets. With annual sales of $33 billion, Dow serves customers in more than 180 countries and a wide range of markets that are vital to human progress, including food, transportation, health and medicine, personal, and home care and building and construction, among others. Committed to the principles of sustainable development, Dow and its approximately 46,000 employees seek to balance economic, environmental and social responsibilities. References to “Dow” or the “Company” mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted.

For Editorial Information:

Janet Hansen
The Dow Chemical Company
(678) 269-1246

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