Johns Manville Champions Green Building Movement as Title Sponsor of 2006 Greenbuild International Conference

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Johns Manville (JM), a leading manufacturer of premium-quality building and specialty products for the commercial and residential construction markets, is helping make its hometown of Denver “greener” by signing on as the title sponsor of the 2006 Greenbuild International Conference & Expo.

The three-day event, which will take place at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver from Nov. 15-17, is the international meeting place for the green building industry to learn about the latest advancements in green building design, construction, project financing, building management and product innovations. Johns Manville will be highlighting products for commercial and residential construction and furnishings including thermal and acoustical insulation for mechanical systems, building insulation, and office furnishings, as well as roofing and weather proofing products and systems.

Greenbuild is presented annually by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), a nonprofit coalition of more than 6,000 private companies, nonprofits and government agencies working to advance buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work. The USGBC's LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system, a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings, is a driving force behind the green building movement in the U.S.

“Growing demand for energy is a pressing global issue and will continue to be so for the foreseeable future. The building and construction industry has a significant opportunity to build smarter, more resource-efficient structures that reduce energy consumption, improve indoor environmental quality and are more comfortable to live and work in,” said Steve Hochhauser, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Johns Manville. “Worldwide, buildings account for more than 40 percent of total energy consumption. In the U.S. alone, over 40 million homes are under-insulated. We can do better. The technology exists and we’re heading in the right direction, but it takes industry-wide collaboration to make this vision a reality. Greenbuild is the ideal venue to drive this movement forward and that is why Johns Manville is proud to be the title sponsor of this important international event.”

As the title sponsor of Greenbuild 2006 and a manufacturer of industry-leading Green Building materials, JM prides itself on protecting the health and well-being of its customers, employees and the environment. Examples of steps JM has taken to improve its environmental performance include:

• Formaldehyde-free™ Building Insulation
  In 2002, JM eliminated formaldehyde from fiber glass insulation made by its Building Insulation business and is still the only manufacturer to offer a full line of formaldehyde-free fiber glass building insulation products. The company continues to research ways to develop formaldehyde-free fiber glass products across its entire product line. Additional information about JM Formaldehyde-free™ Fiber Glass Building Insulation can be found at www.jm.com/insulation.
• Energy Conservation and Acoustic Comfort
  After 2002, when JM eliminated formaldehyde from fiber glass building insulation, it developed the industry’s widest range of formaldehyde-free fiber glass materials for mechanical systems and office furnishings. Some of these materials are used for energy conservation in HVAC systems such as duct wrap, duct board and flexible duct media. Others are used for acoustic performance in applications such as office panels, office furnishings, and ceiling tiles. In this way, JM strives to enable partner companies to enhance their environmental performance and improve the safety and quality of their products for a more productive and healthier indoor environment.
• “Clean” Manufacturing Process
  By employing advanced air pollution prevention methods, JM eliminated hundreds of tons of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) annually by converting all building insulation manufacturing plants to formaldehyde-free manufacturing processes. By doing this, JM earned the only nationwide exemption from U.S. EPA HAP regulations for fiber glass insulation manufacturers.
• Cool Roofing Solutions
  Through its Cool Roof Solutions education program and Web site, JM was among the first to offer a comprehensive education program for roofing contractors, architects and specifiers in selecting and utilizing commercial roofing products that reflect heat and reduce energy costs. The company sells a variety of roofing products such as GlasKap® CR to help contractors achieve LEED certification. Additional information about JM’s Cool Roof Solutions is available at www.jmcoolroofs.com.

• Recycled Content
  Whenever possible, JM uses post-consumer recycled content in its products. For example, at its North American fiber glass insulation manufacturing facilities, JM incorporates an average of 20 percent post-consumer and five percent post-industrial recycled glass content into its products and up to 45 percent recycled content at its Canadian facility – more post-consumer recycled glass than any other major fiber glass insulation manufacturer. JM’s Fesco® and Retro-Fit® roofing insulation products contain up to 30 percent recycled content.
• Sustainability Education
  JM provides educational programs for builders, architects and specifiers about the importance of using products and building practices that are environmentally responsible. For example, Better Understanding of Roofing Systems Institute (BURSI) is one of the most respected education programs in the industry as is the BI Spec Institute. The company also offers case studies and specification-writing tools, including LEED specifications that are available for download at www.specJM.com.

“We are committed to protecting the quality of our indoor and outdoor environments by offering safe, healthy products that comprise our homes and workplaces,” said Jeff Rea, senior vice president of JM’s Building Products business. "Safeguarding the health and well-being of our employees, the communities in which we manufacture our products, our customers, and our end users is our top priority. Supporting Greenbuild provides Johns Manville with a great opportunity to raise awareness of this commitment within the building products market and to help architects, builders and others protect their customers.”

About Johns Manville

Johns Manville, a Berkshire Hathaway company (NYSE: BRK.A, BRK.B), is a leading manufacturer and marketer of premium-quality building and specialty products. In business since 1858, the Denver-based company has annual sales in excess of $2.5 billion and holds leadership positions in all of the key markets that it serves. Johns Manville employs approximately 8,500 people and operates 43 manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe and China. Additional information can be found at www.jm.com.