San Diego - Habitat for Humanity® (SDHFH) has made significant modifications in the design and construction of its homes to make them increasingly self-sustaining, reducing maintenance costs for the partner families as well as the need for repairs and upgrades. Smart design incorporates eco-friendly and recycled materials, energy efficient appliances and lighting, and drought tolerant plants and trees.

James Hardie® Building Materials (NYSE:JHX) has stepped forward as a major contributor to SDHFH’s eco-conscious plans. The world leader in fiber cement exterior siding and backerboard for homes, James Hardie has committed more than $50,000 worth of product to help build “green-friendly” shelter for families in San Diego County. The company’s products provide beautiful, low maintenance home exteriors that deliver long-term protection — in addition to being noncombustible and termite resistant.

“James Hardie's thoughtful and generous gift has made homes more affordable for us to build and for families to maintain, because of reduced energy costs," said Bradford Bates, Executive Director San Diego Habitat for Humanity. "We are grateful there are companies such as James Hardie in existence that care about more than just the bottom line; they are truly making the world a better place.”

"We applaud San Diego Habitat for Humanity for wanting to change substandard housing into sustainable housing and we’re happily contributing our fiber cement siding products to help accomplish that," said John Capuzelo, James Hardie’s National Sales Manager. “In addition to these donations, we also strongly encourage volunteerism among our employees. Building these homes results in a pretty amazing experience for everyone.”

James Hardie Project Contributions

National City
Three, single-family homes currently under construction. The James Hardie donation of eco-friendly fiber cement siding contributed to the development’s expected Platinum certification, the highest green rating level a home can receive through the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) system.

El Cajon
James Hardie also donated fiber cement siding to four homes in El Cajon being built in partnership with the Jimmie Johnson Foundation. Homes in the El Cajon development showcase a variety of sustainable features including solar panels and recycled doors and windows from the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, solar water heaters, tile flooring, drought tolerant landscaping, ENERGY STAR-rated appliances, zero-emission VOC paint, and Forest Stewardship Council-certified products — in addition to the James Hardie siding.

Oceanside
James Hardie also provided HardiePlank lap siding and HardieTrim for the 2008 and 2009 Builder Blitzes, where four homes were built in five days, each year! In addition to the James Hardie siding, the homes include tankless water heaters, drip irrigation systems and drought tolerant landscaping, tile floors, ENERGY STAR appliances, dual pane windows, and solar panels. The entire development has solar street lights.

About San Diego Habitat for Humanity: The mission of San Diego Habitat for Humanity is to make housing a matter of action and conscience as a means to erase poverty housing from our community and the world. San Diego Habitat for Humanity, Inc. is the local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. SDHFH welcomes everyone of all faiths or no faith to join the effort in strengthening families, neighborhoods and communities. Donors and volunteers are the foundation of Habitat's work in San Diego County. San Diego Habitat completed its 99th home and has more than 50 in the pipeline! For more information please visit www.sdhfh.org or call 619-283-HOME.

About James Hardie Building Materials: James Hardie has been manufacturing building products for more than 100 years. The company introduced fiber cement siding products to the U.S. in the early 90s as a durable, low-maintenance alternative to wood and vinyl. Currently installed on more than four million homes, James Hardie products have earned a favorable reputation within the industry and have been specified in some of the country’s most prestigious projects. More information is available at www.jameshardie.com.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6098316&lang=en

For More Information Contact:
Brad Bates, Executive Director
Office: (619) 283-4663
Email: bradb@sdhfh.org

Greg Young, APR
Vertical Marketing Network for James Hardie
Email: greg.young@verticalmarketing.net
Office: 714-258-2400, x507