Top U.S. Homebuilders Turning to GE Energy's Solar Technology and Services; GE's Roof-Integrated Modules, Customer Service Crucial to Forging Ties with Top Builders.

ATLANTA -- GE Energy's industry-leading solar electric equipment and customer service have quickly become the standard for many of the nation's top homebuilders looking to meet the growing demand for energy-efficient, attractive homes.

GE Energy's roof-integrated solar electric systems are in particularly high demand. GE's roof integrated tile systems blend seamlessly with the roofline, providing a unique combination of functionality, attractiveness and increased property value to homeowners.

One of the country's most prominent solar-housing projects is located in Ladera Ranch, an 8,100-home development in southern Orange County, California. Ladera Ranch consists of six villages, including the 1,260-home Terramor Village. More than 75% percent of homes sited for solar at Terramor will feature GE solar equipment, making it the nation's largest solar-powered community when it is finished in 2005. Ladera Ranch has served as a springboard for other solar communities being planned and built in states including New York, New Jersey, Florida and Nevada.

GE Energy's growing customer roster includes some of the country's largest and most established builders: Centex Homes, Clarum Homes, K. Hovnanian, Morrison Homes, Pardee Homes, Premier Homes, Pulte Homes, Richmond American Homes, Shea Homes, Standard Pacific Homes and Warmington Homes California.

The first multi-regional builder to make a 100% commitment to EnergyStar(R), Pardee Homes has partnered with GE on energy-saving efforts for many years, most recently with GE Energy's roof-integrated solar technology for Evergreen - a Terramor Village neighborhood at Ladera Ranch - as well as for "Soleil at Bordeaux," San Diego County's first "Zero Energy Homes" (ZEH) community. Through the use of renewable energy systems, the U.S. Department of Energy's ZEH initiative aims to reduce the amount of energy consumed by single-family homes.

"Our goal is to marry the benefits of energy savings and resource conservation with the architectural quality and design livability today's buyers expect in a new home," said Pardee's Joyce Mason, vice president of marketing. "GE has contributed significantly to our LivingSmart(R) programs, which will account for nearly 2,400 new homes across our regional markets by the end of 2006."

Shea Homes began using GE equipment on some of its first developments in California and is already planning additional projects. "Because of our experience and the response of our homeowners to cleaner, 'greener' homes featuring GE's solar technology, we are already planning our fifth green-living community with GE," said Bill Pisetsky, vice president of sales and marketing for Shea Homes of Southern California.

"GE fully understands the needs of its builder customers," said Ali Iz, general manager for GE Energy's solar technologies division. "Along with our aesthetically pleasing and efficient solar technology, we provide extensive customer service with experienced, on-site engineers who provide builders and homeowners with the training and support they need."

"We get the whole package with GE: a great product, great field support and a great company that our customers know and trust," said Shea Homes' Pisetsky.

Another selling point for builders: solar equipment can help homeowners lower their monthly utility bills. While GE's equipment will generate electricity for the Ladera Ranch and Soleil at Bordeaux homes, any excess power will be fed to the public utility grid. Under a local utility "net metering" program, when renewable energy is delivered to the grid, homeowners' meters will spin backwards and yield credits on their utility bills. Both developments are served by utility San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E), a subsidiary of Sempra Energy.

When solar energy is combined with energy conservation practices, the Terramor Village homes can provide up to 70 percent of a house's power requirements using solar electricity. Conservation methods include, using fluorescent lighting, tankless water heaters, Energy Star appliances, and exceeding California's Title 24 building code requirements for energy efficiency.

The desire for reliable, affordable and renewable energy has fueled the solar industry's 30 percent annual growth for the past five years. That growth is expected to continue at an annual rate of 20 percent or more, putting it among the fastest-growing renewable energy segments of the global power industry.

GE Energy's current range of solar energy products includes solar cells, modules and pre-packaged systems. The modules range from 35 to 165 watts, while system designs can range from hundreds of watts to megawatts and can be used in either on-grid or off-grid applications.

GE Energy's solar equipment is manufactured at its Newark, Delaware facility.

About GE Energy

GE Energy (www.gepower.com) is one of the world's leading suppliers of power generation and energy delivery technology, with 2003 revenues of nearly $18.5 billion. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, GE Energy provides equipment, service and management solutions across the power generation, oil and gas, transmission and distribution, distributed power and energy rental industries.