Dow Solar Supports Sustainable Design Innovations through Sponsorships at the 2011 U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon

S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon in support of driving design innovations that encourage energy saving building practices and the adoption of residential solar usage.



The award-winning Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Decathlon program challenges 20 collegiate teams to design and build energy-efficient houses that are powered exclusively by the sun. The contest provides participating students with unique training – including the use of their science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines - that prepares them to enter our nation’s clean energy workforce. The winner of the competition is the team that best blends affordability, consumer appeal, and design excellence with optimal energy production and maximum efficiency.



“This is a perfect forum to bring tomorrow’s designers and engineers together with the general public, U.S. law makers and building and energy advocacy groups to foster new ideas and ultimately transform the way we all think about residential building design,” said Jane Palmieri, Dow Solar vice president. “Bringing these important players together on this global stage is a great way to create change, which supports Dow’s commitment to foster sustainable innovations and help homeowners address the high cost of energy with solutions that are available today.”



Dow Solar is partnering with the Department of Energy to sponsor the Victory Reception, which gathers students, faculty, volunteers and staff to celebrate the team accomplishments and present the People’s Choice Award. Dow Solar is also partnering with SEIA (Solar Energy Industry Association) to host the Congressional Open House where US congressional representatives and staff members tour the homes and meet with the students and faculty.



Dow Solar is also supporting two collegiate teams: the Southern California Institute of Architecture and California Institute of Technology’s CHIP Team, and the Parsons New School for Design and Stevens Institute of Technology’s Empowerhouse Team – who is donating the home to Habitat for Humanity at the conclusion of the Decathlon. The teams are being supported with financial contributions as well as providing energy efficient building materials from Dow’s Building Solutions’ portfolio of insulation products.



“The Solar Decathlon depends on the valuable support of our many sponsors,” said Richard King, director of the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon. “Our sponsors play an integral role in ensuring that the Solar Decathlon provides a rich learning experience for the student decathletes and that we effectively educate the public about the money-saving opportunities and environmental benefits presented by clean energy products and design solutions.”



This year’s Solar Decathlon will take place on the National Mall’s West Potomac Park in Washington, D.C. Open to the public free of charge from September 23 through October 2, 2011, the Solar Decathlon enables visitors to tour the houses, gather ideas to use in their own homes, and learn how energy-saving features can help them save money today.



Dow already makes it easier to save energy at home, including new solutions such as the DOW POWERHOUSE ™ Solar Shingles, launching later this year. These shingles combine solar capabilities with a roofing material, enabling homeowners to use their roof to harness the power of the sun to power a home. The POWERHOUSE™ Solar Shingles are made in the U.S.A., and a large scale production facility under construction in Michigan is expected to create 1275 advanced manufacturing jobs over the next five years.



The DOE’s 2011 Solar Decathlon aligns with Dow’s commitment and vision articulated in its ambitious 2015 sustainability goals, which include developing and applying ideas and collaborations that further sustainability.



For more information on the Department of Energy Solar Decathlon, please visit http://www.solardecathlon.gov/, and for more information on Dow Solar please visit http://www.dowsolar.com/.



About Dow™



Dow (NYSE: 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 2010, Dow had annual sales of $53.7 billion and employed approximately 50,000 people worldwide. The Company's more than 5,000 products are manufactured at 188 sites in 35 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.



About Dow™ POWERHOUSE™



In 2007, Dow received a $20 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy as part of its Solar America Initiative to develop "building integrated" solar arrays for the residential and commercial markets. In October 2009, Dow Solar unveiled the DOW™ POWERHOUSE™ Solar Shingle as the first in a portfolio of building related solar energy generating products. Since its introduction, the Solar Shingle has been hailed as revolutionary, including being named one of the "50 Best Inventions of 2009" by TIME magazine.



The innovative product design provides an unprecedented integrated roof appearance and simplified installation. It combines a roofing shingle with a solar cell, enabling the DOW™ POWERHOUSE™ Solar Shingle to be installed by a roofer along with standard asphalt roofing materials. This makes the DOW™ POWERHOUSE™ Solar Shingle an easy choice for homeowners looking for a residential solar solution that is easy to install and aesthetically pleasing. Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) products from Dow Solar are evidence that Dow is focused on developing energy alternatives and expanding Dow's commitment to use chemistry to solve the world's energy challenges. More information about Dow Solar can be found at www.dowsolar.com.



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