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Local Atlanta Home Receives Energy-Efficient Modifications

Posted on: Saturday, 6 September 2008, 12:00 CDT

ATLANTA, Sept. 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Volunteers from Rebuilding Together Atlanta, the local affiliate of the nation's largest nonprofit organization working to preserve affordable homeownership, and the Georgia Petroleum Council, a division of the American Petroleum Institute, gathered today to help improve a local homeowner's quality of life, as well as reduce his energy use and save money as part of an energy-efficient rebuild of his home.

The rebuild is part of the Energy Efficient Homes Initiative, a national partnership between Rebuilding Together and America's oil and natural gas industry, which incorporates energy efficiency into home renovations for low-income homeowners nationwide, many of whom are elderly, disabled or have young children. The energy-efficient modifications, which include a low-flush toilet, new roof, hot water tank, and insulation in the attic, will help reduce the homeowner's heating and cooling bills, and ultimately help preserve his homeownership.

"Our combined efforts have an ongoing, positive impact on homeowners in our neighborhood and across the country," said Jan Jordan, executive director of Rebuilding Together Atlanta. "The Georgia Petroleum Council's support enables us to help improve the quality of life for many deserving homeowners who can now live more comfortably, safely and use less energy."

"America's oil and natural gas industry practices energy efficiency every day within our operations, so we know the significant value of such a commitment," said Ric Cobb, executive director of the Georgia Petroleum Council. "We are delighted to partner with Rebuilding Together Atlanta in this outstanding initiative. Our efforts will help provide the homeowner with the dual benefit of saving energy and money."

Today, Rebuilding Together Atlanta is renovating 74-year-old Allie McRae's home with energy-saving renovations. Mr. McRae, who lives alone and is partially blind, has lived in his home for 45 years.

"Everybody that comes by is like, 'Wow! You have a new home,'" said McRae.

"They've done quite a bit already and I'm impressed with it," he added. "This will help me very much."

Since 2005, the Initiative has expanded its reach, doubling the number of rebuilds conducted nationwide and affording homeowners the ability to save as much as 30 percent on monthly energy bills, thanks to a variety of energy-efficient techniques incorporated into their homes. The Initiative is an additional component of Rebuilding Together, which is celebrating 20 years having revitalized more than 100,000 homes and nonprofit facilities with the help of millions of volunteers in communities across America.

In addition to making homes more energy efficient, the Initiative also provides homeowners, volunteers and others with materials and information with recommendations on how to preserve energy now and in the future.

Rebuilding Together is the nation's largest nonprofit organization working to preserve affordable homeownership and revitalize neighborhoods by providing free home repair and modification services to those in need. With the help of everyday citizen volunteers, skilled trades people, the support of local business and major corporate partners, Rebuilding Together affiliates in America's largest cities and smallest towns make life considerably better for thousands of low-income homeowners. In addition to its core home repair work, Rebuilding Together rehabilitates community centers and conducts home modification and repair programs that focus on aging in place, energy efficiency, veteran's housing, and disaster recovery and reconstruction. Rebuilding Together is currently celebrating 20 years as a national organization and the completion of over 100,000 homes thanks to the efforts of more than 200 affiliates nationwide. For more information, visit http://www.rebuildingtogether.org/.

API, the American Petroleum Institute, is the primary trade association for the oil and natural gas industry in the United States. Representing one of the most technologically advanced industries in the world, API's membership includes nearly 400 companies engaged in all aspects of the oil and natural gas industry, including the exploration, production, refining, transportation and marketing of crude oil, natural gas and related consumer products. For more information on API, please visit its website: http://www.api.org/.

Rebuilding Together

CONTACT: Charlotte Runco +1-352-494-2934, for Rebuilding Together; orJan Jordan of Rebuilding Together, +1-404-351-4949

Web Site: http://www.api.org/

Source: PRNewswire-USNewswire

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