Dow Breaks Ground on Second Habitat for Humanity Build in Delaware Valley – One of Nine in North America

PHILADELPHIA--Since 1983, the Dow Chemical Company has sponsored more than 20,000 Habitat for Humanity builds around the world–and this summer in the Delaware Valley, that number will get even bigger. Today, Dow breaks ground on a four-unit, townhouse at 1427 Colonial Avenue in Bristol, PA, that will meet green-building standards and save homeowners up to 40 percent on their utility bills. It is one of two houses in the region and nine in North America in 2010.

“This is a testament to Dow’s commitment to the Delaware Valley. It’s also a great opportunity for a wide range of employees to touch and feel Dow donated products.”

Key to the energy savings is Dow’s donation of STYROFOAM SIS™ Brand Structural Insulated Sheathing, which won the Most Valuable Product award from Building Products Magazine in 2009. It is a 3-in-1 solution that provides homes with structure for exterior walls, continuous insulation, and water resistance, without the need for wood sheathing and housewrap. Made of up to 80 percent post-consumer recycled content by weight, STYROFOAM SIS™ is also ENERGY STAR-qualified and can save homeowners hundreds of dollars annually in energy bills.

In addition, Dow’s Paint Quality Institute will consult with the homeowners on color trends, paint quality and finish and wear.

“It’s a big signal for one region to get two houses,�?? said Barbara Del Duke, Public Affairs manager for Dow Chemical. “This is a testament to Dow’s commitment to the Delaware Valley. It’s also a great opportunity for a wide range of employees to touch and feel Dow donated products.�??

The Habitat for Humanity build site in Bristol will benefit from about 700 hours of onsite volunteer labor from Dow employees through the summer. Another Habitat build with similar sponsorship by Dow is in Newark, DE and broke ground last week.

These projects are just the latest in a long commitment that Dow, and Rohm and Haas before it was part of the Dow family, has made to Habitat for Humanity. Habitat and Dow recognize that affordable housing is one of the world’s most pressing challenges. This is the main reason Dow believes in Habitat. Dow wants every family to have a decent, safe place to call home.

What began as a modest, employee-led grassroots effort has grown into one of Dow’s most significant service initiatives and one of Habitat’s largest corporate relationships. If you’d like to get involved, please call Habitat for Humanity at (215) 822-2812 or visit www.habitatbucks.org.

About Dow

Dow combines the power of science and technology with the “Human Element�?? to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company connects chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help address many of the world’s most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, renewable energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow’s diversified industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 160 countries and in high growth sectors such as electronics, water, energy, coatings and agriculture. In 2009, Dow had annual sales of $45 billion and employed approximately 52,000 people worldwide. The Company’s more than 5,000 products are manufactured at 214 sites in 37 countries across the globe. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.

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