Indianapolis Selected as Site for Consumer Campaign to Curb High Heating Bills

Insulation Manufacturers and EPA Test Messages in Advance of Winter’s Onset

Indianapolis, IN – November 2, 2000 - With winter fast approaching and predictions growing for skyrocketing home heating prices, a campaign to help consumers learn how to cut their fuel costs is being tested in Indianapolis in advance of a potential national roll-out. The program, created by the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA) to provide consumers with information about EPA’s ENERGY STAR^® Homes program, began yesterday and continues through November.

The centerpiece of the program is an informational Internet web site (www.aboutinsulation.org) where consumers can learn about insulating their homes and obtain details about EPA’s Energy Star^® Home program for new construction. Energy Star® Homes have energy efficiency upgrades, including increased insulation, that can reduce a home’s heating and cooling energy use by 30%.

To publicize the web site, billboard ads will appear around Indianapolis. The ads will feature the message "Walls, Not Wall Street: Insulation, Your Smarter Investment." The idea is that insulating a home to ENERGY STAR^® Home levels not only reduces energy consumption, but can increase the value of the home at re-sale.

"At a time when the stock market is very much on people’s minds, we thought consumers would understand and appreciate the juxtaposition of the two investment options," said Ken Mentzer, President of NAIMA. "We believe consumers are keenly aware that heating costs will likely spike this winter and want to do something about it. Insulating is easy, economical and effective," Mentzer said.

Homeowners interested in lowering their utility bills this winter can log on to the program’s site to learn more about the energy saving benefits of home insulation and the ENERGY STAR^® Homes program. Indianapolis is the first city to have access to the educational tools provided by the site and the campaign.