3.21.2006 ET

(CSRwire) TOLEDO, OHIO - The GREENGUARD Environmental Institute announced today that Owens Corning (OWENQ.OB) is the first insulation manufacturer to qualify for their stringent new GREENGUARD Product Emission Standard for Children and Schools. The certification includes Owens Corning faced and unfaced PINK fiberglass insulation batts and rolls, VaporWick® pipe insulation, flexible duct media, FoamSealR™ sill plate gasket, Foamular® and Celfort® extruded polystyrene insulation, metal building insulation ELAMINATOR® insulation system, Certified R and utility blanket, SOFTR® All-Service Fiber Glass Duct Wrap and QuietZone® acoustic batts and floor mats. The qualification showcases the company's continued commitment to industry leadership, which also includes their membership in the Alliance for Sustainable Built Environments, the certification of their products by GREENGUARD for general-market applications and the fact that their fiber glass insulation contains the industry's highest certified level of recycled glass in North America.

The GREENGUARD Environmental Institute developed the school certification in response to rising concern over illnesses such as asthma and respiratory illness that are sometimes associated with poor indoor air quality. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that half of U.S. schools have indoor air quality problems, which are blamed for reducing student's performance on mental tasks requiring concentration, calculation and memory.

"The GREENGUARD Environmental Institute applauds Owens Corning in their continued commitment to furthering our mission of improving indoor air quality for children in schools," said Carl Smith, CEO and executive director of the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute. "Products such as Owens Corning's are certified by the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute so that consumers can rest assured that their homes, work places and schools are healthy and safe environments."

The GREENGUARD Product Emission Standard for Children and Schools certification subjects products to rigorous emissions testing in an effort to protect school children from exposure to high levels of potentially harmful chemicals that may be released from furnishings, paint, flooring products and building products.

"As the leader in the insulation market for 67 years, we are thrilled to be able to continue to be at the forefront of the market on issues facing the industry - especially when it relates to something as sensitive as children and schools," said Gale Tedhams, product and program manager for residential insulation at Owens Corning." Along with our industry leading 35 percent recycled content, acknowledgement from the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute gives our customers valid, third-party affirmation that our products continue to be on the cutting edge of green technology and meet the strictest guidelines for indoor air quality."

About Owens Corning
Owens Corning is a world leader in building materials systems and composite solutions. A Fortune 500 company for more than 50 years, Owens Corning people redefine what is possible each day to deliver high-quality products and services ranging from insulation, roofing, siding and stone, to glass composite materials used in transportation, electronic, telecommunications and other high-performance applications. Since the company's founding in 1938, Owens Corning has become a market-leading innovator of glass fiber technology with sales of $6.3 billion in 2005 and 20,000 employees in 25 countries. Additional information is available at www.owenscorning.com.

About the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute
The GEI is an independent, non-profit organization that oversees the GREENGUARD Certification Program, including the establishment of acceptable standards for indoor products and testing protocols. Its goal is to improve public health and quality of life by helping manufacturers build better and safer products. GREENGUARD Certified or tested furniture and furnishings are part of the United States Green Building Council's LEED for Commercial Interiors Program. The GREENGUARD Certification Program is the only independent testing program for low-emitting products. Access to the GREENGUARD Product Guide(TM), at www.greenguard.org is provided at no charge.

For more information please contact: