Green Building Support from the Insurance Industry Aims to Reduce Environmental Risks from Global Warming

Released on = October 25, 2006, 8:08 am

Press Release Author = Econ Corporate Services, Inc

Industry = Environment

Press Release Summary = EnvironmentStocks.com Reviews Efforts to Improve Safety of
Coastal, Flood and Fire-Prone Areas by Minimizing Risks of Climate Change

Press Release Body = Green Building Support from the Insurance Industry Aims to
Reduce Environmental Risks from Global Warming

EnvironmentStocks.com Reviews Efforts to Improve Safety of Coastal, Flood and
Fire-Prone Areas by Minimizing Risks of Climate Change

POINT ROBERTS, Wash., DELTA, B.C., October 25, 2006 - www.EnvironmentStocks.com (ES)
an investor and industry news portal for the cleantech sector, provides insight into
the growing support for 'green' technology by the insurance arena. Insurers are
showing new strategic directions as they focus on reducing the risks associated with
climate change in hopes of minimizing the occurrence and impact of natural disasters
such as fires, floods, hurricanes etc. By reducing harmful greenhouse emissions and
thus minimizing global warming, insurers are hoping to minimize losses, but also
establish new revenue channels. The green building arena and its participants such
as environmentally friendly fire resistant building materials manufacturer
International Barrier Technology Inc. (OTCBB: IBTGF - TSXV: IBH), are looking to
benefit from the additional support of this sector, which is considered to be a
driving factor towards future market growth.

Climate change poses significant risks across the United States, the consequences of
which are often felt in coastal, flood-prone and fire-prone areas, through
escalating degrees of natural disasters. According to a report from CERES, a
coalition of investment funds, environmental organizations and other public interest
groups, 2005 realized near $80 billion worldwide in insured weather-related
catastrophe losses.

Historically, the insurance industry has been pivotal in reducing the risks and
improving standards in fire and auto safety, as well as earthquakes, making their
work to minimize the threats associated with global warming a logical and productive
extension of their loss prevention efforts.

In addition, while climate change poses challenges and potential threats,
significant business opportunities have also been created. One area in particular
that will benefit from the support from the insurance arena is the green building
sector. Green building techniques represent major steps towards reducing the harmful
impacts on the environment caused by traditional energy generation and building
operations, and insurance providers are beginning to reward businesses that
incorporate these techniques. This in turn bodes well for the technology providers
who are already seeing considerable growth in the number of builders incorporating
green building practices and products into their projects.

Fireman's Fund Insurance recently announced new coverage aimed at promoting green
building with the introduction of Certified Green Building Replacement and Green
Upgrade products. While conventional policies cover building restoration to its
original condition, Fireman's Fund is now providing products that will enable
commercial property owners and managers to rebuild and replace using green
alternatives.

By working closely with the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED program and the Green
Building Initiative's Green Globes program, Fireman's Fund Insurance hopes to align
their coverage with these key certification processes.

One of the consequences associated with climate change is the growing incidence of
fires resulting from warmer weather and ensuing droughts. International Barrier
Technology (OTCBB: IBTGF; TSXV: IBH), a developer of environmentally friendly fire
resistant building materials has seen first hand the increased focus on fire
protection, but also the growth within the building industry for environmentally
safe products. Having the insurance industry providing further support for green
building products will no doubt boost demand as the insurers put their climate
strategies to work.

"Historically, building practices have been dictated primarily by Model Building
Codes, such as the International Building Code (IBC), which is administered all over
the US by the International Code Council", reports Dr. Michael Huddy, President of
International Barrier Technology. "Recently, however, insurance companies have taken
on a more active role in specifying building practices that may be even more
stringent and demanding than that referenced in building codes, especially in areas
that are prone to natural disaster such as hurricanes or wildfires. While this has
been done primarily to help insurance companies minimize their risk when they offer
policies in areas that are prone to greater loss of property and life, it may also
help direct the building industry in ways that in the long run will help mitigate
further climatic change."

Insurance giant, American International Group, Inc, (AIG) has also proclaimed its
focus on reducing the impacts of global warming, but identifies climate change
mitigation as a strategy for generating additional revenue rather than merely a loss
reduction technique. Through its various divisions AIG plans on investing in
projects, and technologies that contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas
emissions, which are considered to be the major cause of global warming.

As the benefits of clean energy and environmentally friendly products and technology
continue to represent viable solutions for reducing damage to the environment, it
has also become a loss prevention and revenue producing strategy for insurers and
businesses. With natural disasters continuing to pose serious threats financially
and physically, it is anticipated that the support from insurers for reducing
harmful emissions will grow even further.

EnvironmentStocks.com and RenewableEnergyStocks.comT, investor and industry news
portals within the InvestorIdeas.com content umbrella, do not make recommendations,
but offer unique free information portals to research news, exclusive articles and
columns, audio interviews, blogs and investor conferences for the environmental and
clean energy sector.

Visit our growing list of participating public companies in the environmental
sector: www.environmentstocks.com/Enviro_Stocks/Stock_List.asp and the renewable
energy industry:
www.renewableenergystocks.com/Companies/RenewableEnergy/Stock_List.asp.

Featured Clean Tech Sponsors: (The ES portal is compensated by Barrier as disclosed
in disclaimer below)

International Barrier Technology, Inc. (OTCBB: IBTGF; TSXV: IBH)
For More Info: www.environmentstocks.com/Companies/IntlBarrier/Default.asp or
www.intlbarrier.com.

InvestorIdeas.com Disclaimer: www.InvestorIdeas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp. Our sites
do not make recommendations, but offer information portals to research news,
articles, stock lists and recent research. Nothing on our sites should be construed
as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. We attempt to
research thoroughly, but we offer no guarantees as to the accuracy of information
presented. All Information relating to featured companies is sourced from public
documents and/ or the company and is not the opinion of our web sites. These sites
are currently compensated by its \"featured companies.\" International Barrier
Technology, Inc. (IBTGF: OTCBB): Three thousand per month and 100,000 options.
For more information contact:
Dawn Van Zant 800.665.0411
Ann-Marie Fleming 866.725.2554
Email: dvanzant@investorideas.com, or afleming@investorideas.com

Web Site: www.EnvironmentStocks.com

Source: EnvironmentStocks.com, International Barrier Technology, Inc.


Web Site = http://www.environmentstocks.com

Contact Details = Dawn Van Zant 800.665.0411
Ann-Marie Fleming 866.725.2554
Email: dvanzant@investorideas.com, or afleming@investorideas.com

Web Site: www.EnvironmentStocks.com

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