August 9, 2006—Louisiana-Pacific Corporation (LP) announced July 14 that it will donate an additional 1.2 million square feet of oriented strand board (OSB) product to Hurricane Katrina rebuilding efforts, bringing the total LP product contribution to 2.7 million square feet. LP had previously donated 1.5 million square feet of OSB to rebuilding efforts in the days immediately following Hurricane Katrina.
The OSB product donated, which includes sub-flooring and wall and roof sheathing, will be used to construct the core structure of more than 500 affordable homes in the Gulf region as part of Habitat for Humanity’s Operation Home Delivery.
LP says that the new Habitat homeowners in New Orleans will experience the long-term benefit and savings of increased energy efficiency, as LP TechShield Radiant Barrier roof sheathing will be used in every home.
Manufactured with a thin, durable sheet of aluminum overlay laminated to LP OSB, LP TechShield prevents up to 97 percent of the sun’s radiant heat in the panel from radiating into the attic, so homes stay cooler and air conditioning units operate more efficiently, ultimately reducing energy consumption by up to 20 percent, says the company.
In addition to product contributions, LP donated $500,000 to the American Red Cross for Katrina relief, and in July a group of LP executives and employees worked alongside Southern governors to construct a home in Musicians’ Village, an 81-home Habitat community for displaced New Orleans musicians, as part of the Southern Governors’ Association (SGA) annual meeting.
