Saint-Gobain Stimulates Design Inspiration, Promotes Sustainable Habitat at 2011 AIA Convention

VALLEY FORGE, Pa., May 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Saint-Gobain, the world's largest building products manufacturer, is bringing new energy and robust product innovation to the 2011 American Institute of Architects (AIA) Convention as part of a collaborative exhibit with nine of its affiliated companies. With more than 30 products on display and a lineup of world-class technical experts, the exhibit offers architects a valuable resource for next generation building systems.

Leading Saint-Gobain subsidiary CertainTeed Corporation, which offers the most comprehensive portfolio of interior and exterior building products in North America, anchors the exhibit and will be showcasing its Ecophon and Decoustics ceilings brands. The exhibit will also include Saint-Gobain companies Vetrotech, Saint-Gobain Glass, Saint-Gobain Solar, Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics, Saint-Gobain Technical Fabrics and SAGE Electrochromics.

"Saint-Gobain represents a deeply rooted, long-standing commitment to building and sustaining a comfortable, energy efficient and safe habitat — the living natural environment where we work and live," said Gilles Colas, President and CEO of Saint-Gobain Corporation. "As the reference in sustainable habitat, we are leveraging our technical expertise on a global level, increasing collaboration among the Saint-Gobain family of companies in North America, and leading the charge for high performance, sustainable buildings."

At the exhibit, CertainTeed will unveil the results of a recent life cycle analysis (LCA) in which its vinyl siding products dramatically outperformed brick and cedar cladding materials. The results, which dispel commonly held misperceptions about vinyl siding, have been published through the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Building for Economic and Environmental Sustainability (BEES).

Saint-Gobain Solar will announce the availability of Avancis PowerMax® in the North American market, a premium class photovoltaic module that achieves the highest levels of efficiency in the thin-film sector. PowerMax combines thin-film Copper–Indium–Selenide (CIS) solar power technology with a sophisticated slim design, providing an ultra-efficient, cost-effective energy solution.

Products showcased in the exhibit include:

• Sheerfill® with EverClean™ self-cleaning architectural membrane, comprising a photocatalyticTiO2-based surface that offers protection from bacteria, mold, dirt and odor.

• AirRenew™ gypsum board from CertainTeed and NOVELIO® wall coverings, featuring revolutionary technologies that actively improve indoor air quality.

• LITEFLAM® glass floors and skylights, representing the industry's first fully tested, fire-rated, load-bearing glass floor.

• Sustainable Insulation™ from CertainTeed, a proven and reliable fiberglass technology with no formaldehydes, dyes, or acrylics added.

• SageGlass® electronically tintable glass, which represents the most advanced electrochromic technology developed for architectural applications.

• ContrastView® glass, used in building facades and partitions where transparency is maintained from the inside while a color, pattern or design is displayed on the outside.

• EnerGen™ Photovoltaic Solar Power Roofing System from CertainTeed, which seamlessly integrates with traditional asphalt roofing shingles.

About Saint-Gobain in North America
Saint-Gobain, the world's largest building products manufacturer, has its North American headquarters in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.  As the world leader in sustainable habitat, Saint-Gobain is committed to inventing solutions to help professionals and communities around the world build and renovate comfortable, healthy, economical and energy efficient buildings. The company has over 265 locations in North America, and approximately 19,000 employees. In the United States and Canada, Saint-Gobain reported sales of approximately $7.3 billion in 2010. Recognized as a 2009 and 2010 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, CertainTeed earned the 2011 ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award, the highest level of recognition for outstanding contributions to protecting the environment through energy efficiency. For information about Saint-Gobain in North America, visit www.saint-gobain-northamerica.com

About Saint-Gobain Worldwide
Saint-Gobain, the world leader in habitat markets, provides innovative solutions to meet today's challenges of growth, energy efficiency, and environmental protection. With 2010 sales of $53.2 billion, Saint-Gobain operates in 64 countries and nearly 190,000 employees. For more information about Saint-Gobain, please visit www.saint-gobain.com.

About CertainTeed
Through the responsible development of innovative and sustainable building products, CertainTeed, headquartered in Valley Forge, Pa., has helped shape the building products industry for more than 100 years. Founded in 1904 as General Roofing Manufacturing Company, the firm's slogan "Quality Made Certain, Satisfaction Guaranteed," quickly inspired the name CertainTeed. Today, CertainTeed® is North America's leading brand of exterior and interior building products, including roofing, siding, fence, decking, railing, trim, foundations, pipe, insulation, gypsum, ceilings and access covers.

A subsidiary of Saint-Gobain, the world's largest building products company, CertainTeed and its affiliates have more than 6,000 employees and more than 65 manufacturing facilities throughout the United States and Canada. The group had total sales of approximately $3 billion in 2010. www.certainteed.com

Press Contact:

Dina Silver Pokedoff, APR
Saint-Gobain North America
610-341-7031 (office)
484-919-2103 (mobile)
[email protected]

SOURCE Saint-Gobain