Valvoline world headquarters office earns EPA's ENERGY STAR® certification

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) today announced its Valvoline world headquarters office has earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) ENERGY STAR certification, which signifies that the building performs in the top 25 percent of similar facilities nationwide for energy efficiency and meets strict energy efficiency performance levels set by the EPA.

During a celebration hosted today at the facility and attended by company, local and state officials, Ashland was commended for its efforts.

"Energy efficiency is the quickest and best step businesses and individuals can take to help Kentucky's economic growth by keeping energy costs low. Through ENERGY STAR, companies like Ashland are provided the tools and resources so that government, businesses and industry can put energy efficiency to work in the marketplace," said Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet Secretary Len Peters. "On behalf of Governor Steve Beshear and the Commonwealth of Kentucky, I commend Ashland Inc. for their commitment to preserving the environment, reducing energy consumption, and ensuring a healthy, safe work place for years to come."

"Ashland is pleased to accept the EPA's ENERGY STAR certification in recognition of our energy efficiency efforts," said Michael Cornett, director, facility services. "This achievement reflects our company's commitment to Responsible Care* and our goal of reducing or eliminating emissions, discharges and wastes from our operations while also promoting energy efficiency and resource conservation. Valvoline now joins two of our offices in Dublin, Ohio, that obtained ENERGY STAR certification in 2010."

Commercial buildings that earn EPA's ENERGY STAR certification use an average of 35 percent less energy than typical buildings and also release 35 percent less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

To earn the ENERGY STAR, Ashland took the following actions at Valvoline's office campus:

• Replaced T-12 fluorescent bulbs with T-8 Fluorescent bulbs; halogen can lights with LEDs; and parking lot lighting with LED fixtures;
• Added photo cell sensors to certain outdoor lights converting them from 24/7 operation to dusk-to-dawn;
• Added variable frequency drives to most equipment, allowing the motors to run at a reduced speed rather than 100 percent utilization;
• Adjusted the operation of the cooling towers to reduce water usage; and
• Replaced a gas-fired boiler and hot-water tank with high-efficiency boilers, and rebuilt a 300-ton chiller adding a frequency drive.

"We have worked extremely hard over the past to few years to identify and implement modifications to drive energy efficiency. In addition to our electrical and mechanical changes, our employees have assisted our efforts by focusing on energy conservation and waste reduction," said Tim Heaberlin, manager, facility services.

EPA's ENERGY STAR energy performance scale helps organizations assess how efficiently their buildings use energy relative to similar buildings nationwide. A building that scores a 75 or higher on EPA's 1-100 scale may be eligible for ENERGY STAR certification. ENERGY STAR was introduced by EPA in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. Today, the ENERGY STAR label can be found on more than 65 different kinds of products, 1.4 million new homes, and 20,000 commercial buildings and industrial plants that meet strict energy-efficiency specifications set by the EPA. Visit www.energystar.gov/labeledbuildings for more information about ENERGY STAR Certification for Commercial Buildings.

About Ashland
Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) is a global leader in providing specialty chemical solutions to customers in a wide range of consumer and industrial markets, including architectural coatings, automotive, construction, energy, food and beverage, personal care and pharmaceutical. Through our three commercial units - Ashland Specialty Ingredients, Ashland Performance Materials and Valvoline - we use good chemistry to make great things happen for customers in more than 100 countries. Visit ashland.com to learn more.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Gary Rhodes
Director, Corporate Communications
Ashland Inc.
+1 (859) 815-3047
glrhodes@ashland.com

Dick Brown
Executive Director
Office of Communications and Public Outreach
EEC/PPC/Labor Cabinet
502-564-5525
Dick.Brown@ky.gov

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