OSU solar house gets PINK

Ohio State University's solar house, under construction near Ohio Stadium, will move a step closer to completion next week as student workers install a new insulation and air sealing system from Ohio-based Owens Corning. The house is Ohio State's entry in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon.

The EnergyCompleteTM with Flexible Seal Technology system is a critical feature in the solar house because it reduces air leakage, which is a major source of energy loss, combined with delivering exceptional thermal performance to reduce home energy use.

Media are invited to view the installation of the EnergyComplete system, which features bright pink fiberglass insulation, at 10 a.m. on Tuesday (8/4) at the house. Construction has continued throughout the summer and the house now has rough plumbing and electric, windows, and exterior barn siding.

Installed in two parts, the EnergyComplete system uses a new foam-based sealant to reduce air leakage, addressing a major source of energy loss, and proven PINK FIBERGLAS™ insulation to deliver exceptional thermal performance.

The system is one of many energy saving features in Ohio State's solar home. The Solar Decathlon competition among 20 universities takes place in October in Washington D.C. The teams are each striving to design the most attractive and energy-efficient solar-powered house.

WHAT: Ohio State's solar house (interior) gets PINK

WHEN: Tuesday (8/4) at 10 a.m.

WHERE: The solar house construction site is on Tuttle Park Place, near the south end of Ohio Stadium.

WHY: Owens Corning is providing state of the art building materials for Ohio State's solar house as it competes in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon (http://www.solardecathlon.org).

According to Owens Corning, buildings are the number one user of energy in the U.S., consuming 40 percent of the country's energy resources – more than industry and more than transportation. Projects such as the OSU solar house provide an opportunity to showcase ways to dramatically reduce residential energy use.