In November, BASF Corp. was awarded the New Jersey 2006 Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award. The award is in recognition of the company’s demonstration home located in Paterson, N.J., and its subsequent educational program promoting affordable, energy-efficient homes and environmentally sensitive homebuilding for the average homeowner.

BASF received the award in the category of Healthy Homes and Communities for its 2006 program, the “BASF Better Home, Better Planet: Near-Zero Energy Home,” in Paterson, N.J.

According to Jack Armstrong, BASF manager of construction industry sector, the state of New Jersey was uniquely qualified to host the demonstration project.

“BASF national headquarters are in Florham Park. N.J.,” he said. “So when we decided to create this national educational initiative, we wanted to make sure we started by giving back to the community that has provided such a hospitable business environment. BASF also recognized that the forward-thinking policies here in New Jersey were a perfect compliment to our national Better Home, Better Planet campaign.”

New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine addressed the award recipients for all categories, stating, “The winners embody the talent, dedication and creativity that are essential to improving environmental quality in our state. Using new and innovative practices, these individuals and organizations have shown that environmental preservation techniques can continually be expanded and improved.”

Armstrong said the New Jersey Solar Initiative Program, which rebates up to 60 percent of the installed costs for a home’s solar power system, allowed the project to demonstrate the unique advantages inherent in combining advanced BASF building systems with renewable energy.

Additional recent distinctions and accolades for the project include a Gold rating from the U.S. Green Building Council (Platinum pending); a 94.5 HERS score by Energy Star and Fortified for Safer Living Certification, The New Jersey Clean Energy Award and The Northern New Jersey Urban Land Institute Award.

The BASF Near-Zero Energy home is designed to demonstrate to a national audience how BASF chemistry can improve the overall performance of both residential, as well as commercial buildings.