SECAUCUS, — Panasonic has formed the Panasonic Home and Environment Co., a newly independent group that focuses on "green technology" dedicated to helping improve the energy efficiency of homes and the health of homeowners in the U.S.

With the company's formation, Panasonic is also launching its Whisper series of ventilation fans and its flagship WhisperGreen fans that address the growing problem of "sick homes" and the need for whole-house ventilation.

Panasonic is dedicated to meeting the needs of current building trends and developed the WhisperGreen ventilation product line in response to the new Green Building movement in the United States.

Air-tight green buildings bring many benefits and also unintended consequences. Energy efficient, airtight homes lock in the bad air as well as the good. Synthetic building materials used in green building can release harmful chemicals into the air. Dust and mold, and fumes from common household items like air fresheners and scented candles add to the problem. As homes have been built increasingly air-tight during the past 15 years, indoor air quality has suffered. And this problem is not just relegated to new homes.

The remodeling industry is also creating air-tight building environments in older homes with new windows, caulking, insulation techniques and house wrap materials. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency lists poor indoor air quality as the fourth largest environmental threat in the United States. EPA studies show that levels of air pollution inside the home are often two to five times higher than outdoor levels. Panasonic Whisper fans are a simple and affordable solution for ensuring whole-house ventilation and are designed to run continuously and quietly.

To educate home owners on indoor air quality issues as well as cost effective, efficient whole-house ventilation, Panasonic is launching a new Web site: www.panasonic.com/ventfans.

"Whole-house ventilation is a timely and important issue," said Don T. Stevens, a member of the American Society for Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and principal of Stevens and Associates, a consulting firm specializing in residential ventilation. "In fact, changes to building codes that recommend mandating whole-house ventilation were debated by the industry at ICC's annual conference in September. Panasonic Home and Environment Company's Whisper fans offer a very cost effective alternative for improving indoor air quality."

Panasonic Home and Environment Company's formation and the introduction of the WhisperGreen line demonstrate Panasonic's ongoing commitment to enhancing the world's environment with green products, product recycling, greener distribution and marketing, and the integration of environmental considerations into business management decisions.

"Panasonic Home and Environment Company is focused on improving people's lives through the use of sound environmental practices and preservation of the natural environment, as well as spearheading a revolution in healthy whole-house ventilation," said Dan Hogan, President, Panasonic Home and Environment Company. "We hope to raise awareness about the health benefits of whole-house ventilation and the performance benefits of the WhisperGreen. This new line is leading the way not only in creating healthy homes, it is also leading the way for a new range of Panasonic household products."