Building store employee just as likely to spur more action as President
                                    Bush

    BUFFALO, NY, June 18 /PRNewswire/ - A new poll conducted by Ipsos Reid
on behalf of Icynene has found nearly two-thirds (64%) of U.S. homeowners
claim to have taken 'some' or 'a lot' of action to reduce greenhouse gases,
yet only four percent believe their homes and offices contribute most to
apparent increases in greenhouse gas emissions.
    The poll of more than 1,200 U.S. homeowners found nearly half (46%)
admit they don't know much about environmental issues and the impact of
greenhouse gas emissions and only 11% claim to have done 'a lot' to reduce
emissions in their own homes.
    With the building sector accounting for almost half of all greenhouse
gas emissions in the United States (source: U.S. Green Building Council),
learning from the poll suggests Americans could play a far greater role
than they might think in reducing greenhouse gases at home.
    Greenfluence: Bush vs. building store employee
    Ipsos Reid asked U.S. homeowners who would most influence them to take
more action on reducing greenhouse gases. According to the poll, a
non-profit organization such as the American Lung Association (37%) or a
building organization such as the U.S. Green Building Council (31%) are the
most likely to influence homeowner action on greenhouse gases.
    Americans, however, seem to have little faith in the guidance of
elected politicians on environmental issues:
    -   Americans are just as likely to be influenced to do more to reduce
        greenhouse gas emissions by an employee of a home improvement
        store (16%) as by President Bush (16%), who also barely ranked above
        eco-friendly celebrities such as Brad Pitt or Robert Redford (14%).

    Taking action at home
    The poll asked Americans what specific steps they have taken at home in
the past two years to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by increasing
energy efficiency:
    -   75% have turned down the heat during the winter
    -   63% have turned down the air conditioning during the summer
    -   52% have sealed air leaks
    -   32% have added insulation
    -   27% have switched to a high efficiency heating system
    -   24% have switched to a high efficiency cooling system
    Jon Eakes, one of television's longest standing home improvement
experts, believes homeowners are taking steps in the right direction, but
there's room for them to have a greater impact on energy efficiency and
greenhouse gas emissions.
    "Air sealing, one of the most common steps, is frequently achieved by
sealing and caulking piecemeal around windows and doors," says Eakes, "yet
home energy consumption can be reduced by up to 50% alone with an
insulation, like Icynene, that insulates and reduces air leaks in one step
throughout the home during renovations or construction."
    Banning bulbs
    With respect to the role of energy conservation in reducing greenhouse
gas emissions, U.S. homeowners were asked what plays the most important
role in helping to conserve energy in a home:
    -   Despite the recent push towards the use of compact fluorescent light
        bulbs in homes, few Americans (6%) believe this tactic plays the most
        important role in helping to conserve energy

    -   Using an energy efficient heating and cooling system (34%), sealing
        air leaks through windows and doors (22%) and adding insulation (18%)
        are considered to play a far greater role in energy conservation
    "One of the most effective ways Americans can take personal action to
reduce greenhouse gases is to examine energy conservation opportunities at
home," says Eakes. "If more Americans took steps such as ensuring there is
absolutely no air leakage when insulating there could be a widespread
benefit in terms of energy savings, healthier, longer-lasting homes and a
reduction in greenhouse gas emissions."
    About the poll
    The Ipsos Reid poll was conducted on behalf of Icynene from April 19 to
April 23, 2007. For the survey, a representative randomly selected sample
of 1,272 adult homeowners was interviewed online. With a sample of this
size, the results are considered accurate to within +/-2.7 percentage
points, 19 times out of 20, of what they would have been had the entire
adult population been polled.
    About Jon Eakes
    Jon Eakes is one of television's longest standing home improvement
experts. His practical consumer-friendly tips and real-life solutions have
connected with consumers through programs such as House Hot Line (Life
Network) and Just Ask Jon Eakes (HGTV and the Do-It-Yourself Network).