The Environments For Living Certified Green Program: a Prescriptive for Green Homes

Masco Home Services to Showcase Its Product-Neutral Green Building Program at
IBS 2009
LAS VEGAS--(Business Wire)--
The International Builders Show (IBS) serves as an annual forum for displaying
the latest technologies, products and practices in the building industry, and
the 2009 show will be no exception. Masco Home Services, Inc., will showcase its
green building initiative, the Environments For Living Certified Green program,
in the Masco-sponsored, state-of-the-art green demonstration home featured in
the Professional Builder Show Village.

Builders attending the IBS show will be able to tour the two-story, 3,300 sq.
ft. Show Village Green Home to learn about advanced construction techniques
required by the Environments For Living Certified Green program. And, for the
first time ever, all builders and consumers can take a virtual tour of the Show
Village Green Home at the Web site www.environmentsforliving.com. Visitors can
take an interactive, three-dimensional tour of a virtual replica of the Show
Village Green Home, and learn about the many features and benefits of the
Environments For Living Certified Green program.

Developed with the assistance of leading building science experts, the
Environments For Living program was launched in 2001 to assist builders in
constructing homes that are more energy efficient, comfortable and durable than
conventional code-built homes. It is the only national turnkey program offering
a comprehensive suite of services to builders, from building science training to
marketing tools. Introduced in 2007, the Environments For Living Certified Green
program includes additional requirements in areas such as indoor water
efficiency and appliance efficiency, resulting in a comprehensive green building
solution and even greater benefits for builders and homeowners.

The state-of-the-art Show Village Green Home, built to the specifications of the
Environments For Living Certified Green program, demonstrates green building
techniques and features products that meet various energy-efficient,
water-efficient and low-VOC program requirements. Although the program is
product neutral and participating builders may choose any products and materials
that meet the requirements, the Show Village Green Home illustrates a wide range
of products from companies in the Masco family that satisfy the program`s
specifications, along with many others that have joined in contributing building
materials, appliances, furnishings and other items.

The Environments For Living Certified Green Program

The Environments For Living Certified Green program, the flagship level of the
Environments For Living program, assists builders in constructing homes that
result in at least a 20-percent reduction in energy use (compared with the 2006
International Energy Conservation Code), a 20-percent reduction in internal
water consumption, and a 20-percent reduction in CO2 emissions associated with
the home - as compared with conventional code-built homes.

Applying the principles of building science, the Environments For Living
Certified Green program regards a home as a "system of systems" that work
together. As with the original Environments For Living program, the process
begins with a pre-construction review of the builder`s plans. Participating
builders must meet program requirements that range from framing techniques and
insulation systems to ductwork and combustion safety features. The Environments
For Living Certified Green program has additional requirements pertaining to
indoor water efficiency, appliance efficiency and indoor environmental quality -
resulting in homes that are both budget friendly and environmentally friendly.

"Green building has never been more at the forefront with both builders and
consumers," said Karen Mendelsohn, vice president of sales and marketing for
Masco Corporation. "There are different ways to approach green building, but it
must begin with energy efficiency and the science of building a home as a
system. No one wants a home that may have green features and recycled content
but doesn`t perform very well. Efficient performance and durability are central
to our program, and to green building, with building science as the path to get
there," said Mendelsohn.

According to Mendelsohn, what also sets the Environments For Living Certified
Green program apart is that it`s cost-effective for production builders and
includes a complete set of services, from training and education to sales and
marketing support. Unlike most green building programs that are based on earning
points in various categories, it`s prescriptive and performance-based, resulting
in tangible and measurable benefits.

The Environments For Living Program Difference

At all program levels, builders participating in the Environments For Living
program are able to offer their homeowners limited guarantees* on comfort and
heating and cooling energy use. If the actual energy used to heat and cool the
home exceeds the estimated usage amount on the guarantee, the homeowner will be
refunded 100 percent of the cost difference. The comfort guarantee provides that
the temperature at the location of the thermostat will not vary more than 3
degrees +/-from the center of any conditioned room for that thermostat zone.

To date, more than 100,000 homes have been constructed under the Environments
For Living banner, with more than 100,000 limited guarantees issued to
homeowners.

At all levels of the program, homes built to Environments For Living
requirements earn the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ENERGY STAR label,
and homes built to the Platinum energy level of the Environments For Living
program qualify for the U.S. Department of Energy`s Builders Challenge program.

"In addition to environmental responsibility, home buyers today are interested
in a wide range of issues, from rising utility costs to indoor environmental
quality," said Mike Humphrey, vice president of operations, David Weekley Homes.
"Our participation in the Environments For Living program has reinforced not
only our green message but also our quality message. Third-party certification
tells the buyer that we`ve gone the extra mile, and the limited guarantees
demonstrate this commitment."

The Environments For Living Certified Green Home at the International Builders
Show

At the 2009 International Builders Show (IBS) in Las Vegas, builders, architects
and other attendees will have the chance to walk through an Environments For
Living Certified Green home and experience the techniques, features and benefits
first-hand. As part of the Professional Builder Show Village, the Environments
For Living Certified Green home, built by Palm Harbor Homes, will be positioned
in the Blue Lot, just outside the Central Hall. Information about the
Environments For Living program will also be available in the Masco booth,
C6343, or at www.environmentsforliving.com.

About MHS and the Environments For Living program

Masco Home Services, Inc., a Masco company, offers the Environments For Living
program and Environments For Living Certified Green program to builders. Masco
Home Services provides a complete suite of turnkey services for builders and
issues and administers all limited guarantees associated with the program. Masco
Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, is a leading manufacturer of home
improvement and building products and a premiere provider of services that
include installation of insulation and other building products.

* See the guarantee for complete details and limitations.

Masco
Maria Duey, 313-792-6653
maria_duey@mascohq.com
or
MS&L
Emily Domeyer, 312-861-5276 (office)
989-400-9112 (mobile)
emily.domeyer@mslworldwide.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009