Survey Finds Many Wisconsinites Believe Air inside Their Homes is Cleaner Than Outdoor...

Survey Finds Many Wisconsinites Believe Air inside Their Homes is Cleaner Than Outdoor Air, Despite Data Suggesting Otherwise

More Than Half of Wisconsin Homeowners Are "Concerned" or "Very
Concerned" about Indoor Air Quality; More Than 70 Percent Say They'll
Seek Air Quality Features When Shopping for a New Home
GREEN BAY, Wis.--(Business Wire)--
There's no place like home - except when it comes to air quality.

A survey released today by Denver-based Johns Manville found that
a fourth, or 25.6 percent, of Wisconsin homeowners believe the air
inside their homes is cleaner than air outside their homes. But the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says a growing body of
evidence suggests air inside homes and other buildings can be "more
seriously polluted than the outdoor air in even the largest and most
industrialized cities."

There are a variety of sources of indoor air pollution, according
to the EPA, including building materials containing substances such as
added formaldehyde; wet or damp carpet; certain household cleaning
products; central heating and cooling systems and humidification
devices; the combustion of oil, natural gas or wood; and outdoor air
pollutants such as radon or pesticides.

According to the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, the
average American spends about 90 percent of his or her day inside,
making indoor air quality is an important issue, particularly for
people with asthma or allergies. An EPA report, "The Inside Story: A
Guide to Indoor Air Quality," says polluted indoor air can cause
irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, headaches, dizziness, and
fatigue.

The survey found 56.8 percent of Wisconsin homeowners are
"concerned" or "very concerned" about indoor air quality. By
comparison, a total of 41.3 percent of Wisconsin homeowners said they
are "unconcerned" or "very unconcerned" about indoor air quality.

Nationally, the survey found 65.7 percent of U.S. homeowners are
"concerned" or "very concerned" about indoor air quality. By
comparison, a total of only 33.2 percent of U.S. homeowners said they
are "unconcerned" or "very unconcerned" about indoor air quality.

The most common strategies used by Wisconsin homeowners for
improving indoor air quality, according to the survey, included
upgrading furnace or heating system components (24.2 percent);
cleaning heating/cooling duct systems (22.9 percent); purchasing an
air purifier (19.4 percent); making ventilation improvements (17.4
percent); and eliminating or reducing individual sources of indoor air
pollution, such as building products containing added formaldehyde or
those that give off VOCs/fumes (10.6 percent). Some 36.8 percent of
Wisconsin homeowners said they had not taken any steps to improve
their homes' indoor air quality.

More than two-thirds of the Wisconsin survey respondents said they
were "somewhat likely" (45.1 percent) or "very likely" (27.6 percent)
to look for homes with features that enhance indoor air quality when
shopping for a new home. By comparison, 13.2 percent said they were
"somewhat unlikely" and 4.8 percent said they were "very unlikely" to
look for homes with features that enhance indoor air quality.

The online survey of 1,002 U.S. homeowners was conducted on behalf
of Johns Manville, the global building products manufacturer. The
survey had a sampling error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points and
was conducted July 21-23, 2008. A representative sample of 398
homeowners living in Wisconsin was also surveyed regarding their
opinions about indoor air quality.

As Temperatures Rise, Indoor Air Quality Can Decline

Homeowners should pay particular attention to their homes' indoor
air quality during the summer, when many homes are closed up tightly
and air conditioners are running to combat the summertime heat,
according to Dean Johnson, host of the PBS "Hometime" television show
and recognized home improvement expert.

"August is the hottest month of the year in many parts of the
U.S., and homes have been tightly sealed all summer, trapping dirty
indoor air. In addition, heat and humidity can cause the glue in
ordinary fiber glass attic and wall insulation to break down more
rapidly and release formaldehyde into the home," Johnson said. "Newer
homes can be even more susceptible to poor indoor air quality, because
building codes now require homes to be built and sealed more tightly
to improve energy efficiency. And most new homes do not have
continuous mechanical ventilation, which gives them the added issue of
tightness with low ventilation rates."

Breathing Easier at Home

To improve indoor air quality, Johnson said homeowners should look
for products that have been recognized by the Home Safety Council
(HSC). For instance, the HSC in 2006 awarded its "Commendation Award
for Product Innovation for Consumer Safety" to Johns Manville's (JM)
complete line of Formaldehyde-free(TM) fiber glass building insulation
products, citing JM's contribution in helping consumers maintain a
safe home environment.

Johnson offered these tips for homeowners who want to improve
their homes' indoor air quality:

-- Follow California Environmental Protection Agency
recommendations and select or specify building products free
of added formaldehyde, including insulation and wood products,
when adding a room, finishing a basement or adding attic or
wall insulation

-- Use paints free of volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

-- Purchase mold-resistant building products

-- Install low VOC carpets

-- Use cleaning products that emit less VOCs, are allergy-free
and do not contain ammonia, fragrances, dyes, chlorine and
other known irritants

-- Help your home "breathe" by providing adequate ventilation.
Signs of poor ventilation include condensation on windows or
walls, stuffy air, dirty air systems or mold growth

-- Locate air intakes away from exhaust vents and driveways

-- Use an exhaust fan when cooking

According to the EPA report "The Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor
Air Quality," "the most effective way to improve indoor air quality is
to eliminate individual sources of pollution or to reduce their
emissions," including exposure to formaldehyde. Formaldehyde, a
colorless gas, "can cause watery eyes, burning sensation in the eyes
and throat, nausea, and difficulty breathing in some people exposed to
elevated levels." Using building products with no added formaldehyde
can be an important part of a family's plan to make their home
healthier and safer by reducing their overall exposure to
formaldehyde.

"Besides the health benefits of breathing clean air, it's simply
more comfortable to be in a home with outstanding air quality," said
Johnson. "Taking steps to enhance indoor air quality helps improve the
health, safety and comfort of the home, for you and your family."

"Most homeowners clearly are interested in improving their homes'
indoor air quality," said Mark Ziegert, Johns Manville senior brand
manager. "From choosing fiber glass insulation with no added
formaldehyde to using paint with low levels of volatile organic
compounds (VOCs), there are many simple, practical steps homeowners
can take to make indoor air cleaner and safer for their families."

Commercial Building Workers Also Concerned About Indoor Air
Quality

Air quality is also a concern for workers in commercial buildings,
the survey found. More than a third, 37.4 percent, of Wisconsin
respondents who are employed outside the home said the air in their
place of work was either "dirty" or "very dirty." In addition, some
29.8 percent of respondents said "no steps have been taken" to improve
the indoor air quality where they work.

Nationally, 34.5 percent of respondents who are employed outside
the home said the air in their place of work was either "dirty" or
"very dirty." Some 39.4 percent of respondents said "no steps have
been taken" to improve the indoor air quality where they work.

According to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), scientific
studies have shown that improved indoor air quality in workplace
settings, hospitals and schools has direct benefits. Workplaces that
have taken steps to improve indoor air quality have seen increased
productivity, decreased absenteeism, reduced health care claims and
minimized remediation.

About the Survey

The 2008 Indoor Air Quality Survey was conducted by Forrest W.
Anderson Research for global building products manufacturer Johns
Manville. The survey was conducted online using Zoomerang between July
21-23, 2008. The results are based on a national representative sample
of 1,001 homeowners age 18 years and older, living in the United
States, and 398 homeowners living in Wisconsin. The survey had a
sampling error of 3.1 percentage points.

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 billion and holds leadership
positions in all of the key markets that it serves. Johns Manville
employs approximately 7,800 people and operates 41 manufacturing
facilities in North America, Europe and China. Additional information
can be found at www.jmhomeowner.com.

Johns Manville
Mark Ziegert, 303-978-2888
mark.ziegert@JM.com
or
Linhart Public Relations
Kelly Burke, 303-951-2567
kburke@linhartpr.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008