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LAS VEGAS, Jan. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- At the International Builders' Show in Las Vegas, global building materials and composite solutions leader Owens Corning (NYSE: OC), launched a line of uniquely colored, dimensional, premium cool roof shingles which meet California Title 24 Cool Roof and initial ENERGY STAR reflective requirements, and are rated by the Cool Roof Rating Council. The shingles, which are part of the company's breakthrough Duration(R) Series Shingles with SureNail(R) Technology, also help reduce roof temperatures by up to 10 degrees in warm weather(1), lower energy bills and reduce wear and tear on air conditioners.

"Duration(R) Premium Cool roof shingles are designed to help our customers meet increasing demand for green products. They offer more vivid color choice versus other cool shingles introduced to date and further enhance the value of our Duration line, which has been one of our most popular roofing introductions in history," said Sue Burkett, marketing manager for Owens Corning Residential Roofing.

To develop the initial color palette, Burkett explained that Owens Corning product development teams used solar reflective granules in a unique brighter, richer color range than would normally be expected for a solar reflective roof. "Consumer research told us the general perception was that a cool roof had to look washed out (be very light) to be effective -- and our studies proved that to be false," said Burkett. "Homeowners looking to have green solutions and beautiful homes can now have both." With the initial launch, Duration(R) Premium Cool roof shingles will be offered in Sage, Sunrise, Harbor Fog and Frosted Oak and available in California to meet Title 24 Cool Roof requirements that go into effect August 1, 2009. Distribution will be expanded to additional regions to meet market demand.

"This launch continues our 70-year history of innovation. It is one more solution we are providing to enhance the energy efficiency of buildings, which consume 40 percent of the energy in the U.S. That is more than industry and more than transportation," said Frank O'Brien-Bernini, chief sustainability officer for Owens Corning. "By combining building science with aesthetics, we are enhancing the beauty of the energy efficiency solutions we bring to market. Products that deliver improved energy efficiency while boosting curb appeal are more broadly embraced, enhancing the livability of our communities, which is a key tenet of sustainability and our company's focus on greening our products."

"In challenging economic conditions," added Burkett, "giving our customers additional options like Duration(R) Premium Cool shingles is a key example of our commitment to continuing to deliver differentiated value. The product helps improve the ease and accuracy of installation and provides performance benefits while offering a beautiful, greener, more energy efficient solution -- which is key to helping our customers stand out in a slowing market."

To learn more about Duration(R) Premium Cool shingles or any products in Owens Corning's complete line of roofing system products, please visit http://www.owenscorning.com/ or call 1-800-GET-PINK(TM).

Sustainability at Owens Corning

At Owens Corning, we define sustainability as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the world that we leave to the future. This approach to business energizes our people, creates growth opportunities for our customers and drives value for our stakeholders. For more information about our sustainability programs, how this announcement contributes to our company's commitment to accelerating energy efficiency improvements in the built environment, or to see the latest edition of our sustainability report, go to http://www.owenscorning.com/sustainability.

About Owens Corning

Owens Corning (NYSE: OC) is a leading global producer of residential and commercial building materials, glass fiber reinforcements and engineered materials for composite systems. A Fortune 500 company for 53 consecutive years, Owens Corning is committed to driving sustainability through delivering solutions, transforming markets and enhancing lives. Founded in 1938, Owens Corning is a market-leading innovator of glass fiber technology with sales of $5 billion in 2007 and 18,000 employees in 26 countries on five continents. Additional information is available at http://www.owenscorning.com.

    (1) Estimated roof surface temperature reduction based on 1998 NIST study,
        Analytical Study of Residential Buildings With Reflective Roofs.  A
        10F temperature reduction is representative of a change from a typical
        roof to a cool roof (solar reflectance 0.10 to 0.25) in most climates.