BASF’s Eco-efficiency Analysis wins SBIC ‘Best Sustainable Practice’ Award
Lifecycle evaluation tool recognized for supporting sustainable building designs

WASHINGTON, D.C., December 16, 2005 – BASF’s Eco-efficiency Analysis – the company’s product lifecycle evaluation tool – won the Sustainable Buildings Industry Council’s (SBIC) 2005 “Best Sustainable Practice” Award in the Sustainable Research, Development, Construction Process and Demonstration category. The award was presented on December 15 during SBIC’s annual Ecobuild Federal Conference and Expo in Washington, D.C.

Established in 2001, the “Best Sustainable Practice” Award recognizes the innovations and contributions SBIC members are making to sustainable building designs in the United States in critical areas such as energy efficiency.

BASF’s Eco-efficiency Analysis offers customers a comparative analysis of the best possible products, processes and technologies with the least environmental impact at the best price by looking at the entire lifecycle of a product, beginning with extraction of raw materials through its disposal or recycling. The Eco-efficiency Analysis provides an “ecological footprint” of a product’s environmental impact in six categories: materials consumption; energy consumption; emissions to air, soil and water; risk potential; toxicity potential; and land use.

“BASF is proud to receive this prestigious award from SBIC, as we are committed to offering the technology and support systems that promote sustainable development, especially in advanced building designs,” said Charlene Wall, Eco-efficiency Analysis-North America for BASF. “As the world’s leading chemical company, BASF regards ensuring sustainable development as one of its most vital global guiding principles.”

BASF is an SBIC member and has a representative on the organization’s Board of Directors. The company also works closely with the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), GREENGUARD and McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC) to bring sustainable development solutions to the building and construction industry.

As an example of BASF’s tangible solutions for sustainability, the company is building the Near Zero Energy Home-Paterson, N.J., as part of the company’s Better Home, Better Planet Initiative to feature green, energy-conservation building practices and technologies. The Near Zero Energy Home-Paterson, N.J., will showcase for architects, builders, government officials and other parties interested in pursuing green design solutions how healthy, energy-efficient homes can be built economically with materials that also enhance homes’ durability and aesthetic appeal. An Eco-efficiency Analysis is currently underway to quantify and demonstrate the lifecycle benefits of the high-performance insulation systems used in the home.

The BASF Better Home Better Planet: Near Zero Energy Home-Paterson, N.J., has been selected by the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) pilot testing for the recently launched Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Homes (LEED-H) rating system.

According the USGBC, LEED-H is being developed with input from local and national stakeholder groups. It is a voluntary initiative promoting the transformation of the mainstream home building industry towards more sustainable practices. It will provide a much-needed tool for homebuilders, homeowners and local governments for building environmentally sound, healthy and resource-efficient places to live.

The BASF Near Zero Energy Home-Paterson, N.J., incorporates Zero Energy Housing (ZEH) concepts from Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and building science principles from PATH (Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing) / Build America expert Steve Winter, AIA. Once the construction and demonstration phases are completed, the BASF Near Zero Energy Home will be donated to St. Michael’s Housing Corporation, Paterson, N.J. This organization will then turn over the home to Richard Sosa, a quadriplegic boy, and his family to occupy. The BASF Near Zero Energy Home-Paterson, N.J., is designed to accommodate their special needs.

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. Rated in FORTUNE magazine as America’s Most Admired Chemical Company, we employ about 10,000 people in North America and had sales of approximately $11 billion in 2004. 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 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. In 2004, BASF had approximately 82,000 employees and posted sales of more than $50 billion. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA), New York (BF), and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.

For more information, contact:
David A. Elliott
BASF
Tel: (734) 324-6148
E-mail: elliotd1@basf.com