LANSING, Mich., Oct. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ – Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (ECD) (NASDAQ:ENER) , the leading global manufacturer of UNI-SOLAR® thin-film flexible solar laminates, and CertainTeed Corporation, a leading North American building products manufacturer, today announced the installation of EnerGen(TM), a breakthrough solar roof system, on the official residence of Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm.
EnerGen is the first product developed through a joint venture announced between the two companies in October 2008, and is slated for official launch to the roofing industry in 2010. EnerGen combines Uni-Solar’s industry-leading expertise in photovoltaics (PV) with CertainTeed’s century-long leadership in residential roofing to create a solar roof system that seamlessly integrates the solar with roofing shingles. To celebrate this achievement, the two companies donated a 3.2 kW EnerGen system for Governor Granholm’s official residence in Lansing, Michigan.
“We are pleased that our collaboration with CertainTeed has resulted in the development of an industry first,” said Mark Morelli, ECD’s President and CEO. “In recognition of Governor Granholm’s tireless efforts to reconstruct Michigan’s economy around clean, renewable energy, it’s entirely appropriate that her home receives one of the first EnerGen residential rooftop solar power systems. She can be proud to know that the solar cells powering her rooftop system were developed and manufactured in Michigan.”
“Our goal since partnering with United Solar was to develop lightweight, aesthetically pleasing integrated solar roofing products that are affordable and available to more people,” said Guillaume Texier, President of CertainTeed Roofing. “EnerGen is a tremendous step in that direction and CertainTeed looks forward to developing a portfolio of PV products for both residential and commercial applications. As a proud Michigan employer, CertainTeed is honored to support the Governor’s energy efforts with this launch.”
The official Michigan Governor’s Residence is a single-story home on four acres in the Moores River Drive neighborhood of Lansing. Designed by American Architect Wallace Frost, the original home was built in 1957 and donated to the state in 1969. Since then, several additions and renovations have been made to expand and modernize the home using products and materials made in Michigan. Mechanical Energy Systems of Michigan assisted with the installation of the system on the Governor’s residence. The home also features CertainTeed’s Grand Manor® Luxury Shingles, a product that also adorns the historic Henry Ford home and Eastern Market in Detroit.
“Dan and I are grateful and excited that the governor’s official residence in Lansing can now generate some of its own electricity using solar technology developed right here in Michigan,” Granholm said. “These new EnerGen panels show how Michigan companies like United Solar are leading the way in alternative energy development and are helping to transform our state into a global center for green manufacturing. We hope that homes throughout Michigan and the world will take advantage of clean, renewable energy sources to help improve our environment and our economy.”
About Energy Conversion Devices
Energy Conversion Devices is a leader in building integrated and rooftop photovoltaics. Through its United Solar Ovonic subsidiary, the company manufactures, sells and installs thin-film solar laminates through its United Solar Ovonic that convert sunlight to energy using proprietary technology. United Solar’s UNI-SOLAR® brand products are unique because of their flexibility, lightweight, ease of installation, durability, and real-world efficiency. Through its Solar Integrated Technologies business, the company also designs, manufactures and installs rooftop photovoltaic systems which enable customers to transform unused space on the rooftop into a value-generating asset. For more information, please visit www.energyconversiondevices.com.
About CertainTeed
Through the responsible development of innovative and sustainable building products, CertainTeed has helped shape the building products industry for more than 100 years. Founded in 1904 as General Roofing Manufacturing Company, the firm’s slogan “Quality Made Certain, Satisfaction Guaranteed,” quickly inspired the name CertainTeed. Today, CertainTeed® is North America’s leading brand of exterior and interior building products, including roofing, siding, windows, fence, decking, railing, trim, foundations, pipe, insulation, gypsum, ceilings and access covers.
Headquartered in Valley Forge, Penn., CertainTeed and its affiliates have more than 6,000 employees and more than 65 manufacturing facilities throughout the United States and Canada. In 2009, CertainTeed was named ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a national award that recognizes environmentally responsible corporations. The group had total sales of more than $3 billion in 2008. www.certainteed.com
This release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Safe Harbor Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning our plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events, future net sales or performance, capital expenditures, financing needs, plans or intentions relating to expansions, business trends and other information that is not historical information. All forward-looking statements are based upon information available to us on the date of this release and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of our control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Risks that could cause such results to differ include: our ability to maintain our customer relationships; the worldwide demand for electricity and the market for solar energy; the supply and price of components and raw materials for our products; and our customers’ ability to access the capital needed to finance the purchase of our products; and risks associated with integrating Solar Integrated Technologies, Inc. The risk factors identified in the ECD filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, could impact any forward-looking statements contained in this release.
Source: Energy Conversion Devices, Inc.
CONTACT: Mark Trinske, Energy Conversion Devices, +1-248-299-6063, mtrinske@uni-solar.com;
or Michael B. Loughery of CertainTeed, +1-610-341-7328, mike.b.loughery@saint-gobain.com
Web Site: http://www.energyconversiondevices.com
