BASF Honored with New Jersey 2006 Governor's Environmental Excellence Award for Near-Zero Energy Home

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BASF received the award in the category of Healthy Homes and Communities for its 2006 program, the BASF Better Home, Better Planet: Near-Zero Energy Home, Paterson, N.J.

According to Jack Armstrong, BASF Manager Construction Industry Sector, the State of New Jersey was uniquely qualified to host the demonstration project. "BASF national headquarters are in Florham Park. NJ. So when we decided to create this national educational initiative, we wanted to make sure we started by giving back to the community that has provided such a hospitable business environment. BASF also recognized that the forward-thinking policies here in New Jersey were a perfect compliment to our national Better Home, Better Planet campaign."

New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine addressed the award recipients for all categories, stating, "The winners embody the talent, dedication and creativity that are essential to improving environmental quality in our state. Using new and innovative practices, these individuals and organizations have shown that environmental preservation techniques can continually be expanded and improved."

Armstrong says the New Jersey Solar Initiative Program - a program that rebates up to 60% of the installed costs for a home's solar power system - allowed the project to demonstrate the unique advantages inherent in combining advanced BASF building systems with renewable energy.

Additional recent distinctions and accolades for the project include a Gold rating from the U.S. Green Building Council (Platinum pending); a 94.5 HERS score by ENERGY STAR® and Fortified for Safer Living® Certification, The New Jersey Clean Energy Award and The Northern New Jersey Urban Land Institute Award.

The BASF Near-Zero Energy home is designed to demonstrate to a national audience how BASF chemistry can improve the overall performance of both residential as well as commercial buildings. According to Armstrong, "Our goal is to have Better Home, Better Planet neighborhoods across the country in the near future."

BASF Better Home, Better Planet: Near-Zero Energy Home, Paterson, N.J. strategic allies include: Chrisner Group' City of Paterson, Environmental Design + Construction, GRAD Associates, Green Ideas™, Insulspan, Rehau, KBI Contractors, MBDC, New Jersey Energy Star® Program, American Polysteel, St. Michael's Housing Authority, Steven Winter and Associates, Sustainable Buildings Industry Council, New Jersey Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council, U.S. Housing and Urban Development's PATH Program, and the U.S. Department of Energy.

BASF - The Chemical Company. We don't make a lot of the products you buy. We make a lot of the products you buy better.®

BASF Corporation, headquartered in New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF AG, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF employs about 16,000 people in North America and had sales of approximately $11.3 billion in 2005. For more information about BASF's North American operations, or to sign up to receive news releases by e-mail, visit www.basf.com/usa.

BASF is the world's leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products, agricultural products and fine chemicals to crude oil and natural gas. As a reliable partner to virtually all industries, BASF's intelligent system solutions and high-value products help its customers to be more successful. BASF develops new technologies and uses them to open up additional market opportunities. It combines economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility, thus contributing to a better future. BASF has approximately 94,000 employees and posted sales of more than 42.7 billion (approximately $50.4 billion) in 2005. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.

For more information, contact:
Mary MacLeod
Maverick Marketing on behalf of BASF
Tel: (207) 929-4568
E-mail: mmacleo2@maine.rr.com


Better Home Better Planet: Near-Zero Energy Home are registered trademarks of BASF Corporation
ENERGY STAR® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Fortified for Safer Living® is a registered trademark of the Institute for Business and Home Safety