Homeowners nearly unanimous on need to reduce their environmental impact, yet few...

Homeowners nearly unanimous on need to reduce their environmental impact, yet
few doing 'a lot' to reduce greenhouse gases

Energy bills more likely to spur environmental action than desire to save
planet for future generations

BUFFALO, NY, Aug. 27 /PRNewswire/ - Overwhelmingly American homeowners (91%)
agree it's important to reduce their impact on the environment, yet only 11%
acknowledge doing 'a lot' to help reduce greenhouse gases by improving energy
efficiency at home, according to a new survey by Ipsos Reid for Icynene(R).
When it comes to spurring environmental action, homeowners are far more likely
to be motivated to reduce energy use and greenhouse gases by rising energy
costs (80%), than by a desire to save the planet for future generations (67%)
or by news about climate change (52%).
The survey also found only a little more than one in ten (12%) homeowners are
willing to spend more money to make their homes more environmentally friendly,
without guarantees of making back their investment.
"It's clear that homeowners are conscious of their potential impact on the
environment," says Sean Simpson, Research Manager for Ipsos Reid, "yet
financial issues are still more likely, than straight concern for the
environment, to get them to act on climate change."

Adjusting thermostat, driving less

The survey found most (89%) homeowners either have or will be taking at least
some steps to reduce their environmental impact at home due to rising energy
costs:

- More than 8 in 10 homeowners have or will be turning the thermostat
down/up by five degrees or more

- More than 8 in 10 homeowners have or will be reducing their
automobile use

- Two-thirds (64%) of homeowners have or will be turning off the
furnace or air conditioner (for some period of time)

- 62% have or will be investing in energy efficient upgrades worth
$1,000 or more, such as adding insulation

Reducing costs, greenhouse gases

Tom Kraeutler, home improvement journalist and co-host of the nationally
syndicated The Money Pit Home Improvement Radio Show, says homeowners are
opting to take simple steps to reduce energy use and costs, but by investing
more they could realize a far greater financial return and significantly
reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and environmental impact.
"Installing an insulation/air barrier system, for example, could enable an
average family of four, living in a home heated with Natural Gas, to cut their
energy use and costs by up to 50% and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as
much as 4,000 pounds per year," says Kraeutler.

Women, Northeast score high marks for environmental action

According to the survey, women are more likely than men, and homeowners in the
Northeast are far more likely than those in the Midwest to be environmentally
conscious and active:

- Women (51%) are much more likely than men (33%) to 'completely
agree' that it's important for them to reduce their impact on the
environment whenever possible

- Women (49%) are far more likely than men (34%) to agree that they are
deeply concerned about rising energy costs and are taking a number of
significant steps to reduce energy consumption at home

- Women (58%) are more likely than men (46%) to agree that news about
climate change has caused them to become more energy efficient at
home

- Homeowners in the Midwest (43%) and the South (42%) are the most
likely and those in the West (31%) and Northeast (34%) least likely
to agree that they do not know much about environmental issues and
the impact of greenhouse gas emissions on the environment

- Homeowners in the Northeast (44%) are the most likely and those in
the Midwest (34%) least likely to give themselves a 'great' rating
(seven or higher on a scale of one to nine) when asked to rate the
actions/behaviours of their family in terms of how environmentally-
friendly they are in the home

- Homeowners in the Northeast (71%) are the most likely and those in
the Midwest (62%) least likely to agree that a 'desire to save the
planet for future generations' has caused them to become 'a great
deal more' or 'somewhat more' energy efficient and to reduce their
environmental impact at home

About the survey

These are the findings of an Ipsos Reid poll conducted from July 5 to July 9,
2008. This online survey of 1,000 U.S. homeowners was conducted via the Ipsos
I-Say Online Panel, Ipsos Reid's national online panel. The results are based
on a sample where quota sampling and weighting are employed to balance
demographics and ensure that the sample's composition reflects that of the
actual American population according to Census data.
Quota samples with weighting from the Ipsos online panel provide results that
are intended to approximate a probability sample. An unweighted probability
sample of this size, with a 100% response rate, would have an estimated margin
of error of +/- 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

About Icynene

Icynene Inc. is the leading manufacturer of soft foam insulation products that
are designed to help create Healthier, Quieter, More Energy Efficient(R)
homes. For more information about Icynene, visit www.icynene.com.

SOURCE Icynene Inc.

on the survey or on how homeowners can help reduce their production of
greenhouse gases, by reducing their energy consumption at home, please
contact: Peter Boyce (ext. 231) or Erin Stewart (ext. 265), Harbinger, (416)
960-5100