COMTEX - 6/30/08

SunPower, a Silicon Valley-based manufacturer of solar cells, solar panels and solar systems, announced that new homes powered with SunPower solar electric power systems are selling more than twice as fast, on average, as new homes without solar.

Additionally, a survey of owners of new homes with SunPower systems indicates that 92 percent would recommend a new solar home to a friend, the company noted.

SunPower said it has installed, or is currently installing, its solar power technology in more than 75 new home communities throughout California. A recent study conducted by The Ryness Company found that new homes in 13 communities with SunPower solar systems were selling at an average of 3.46 homes per month, while sales of comparable homes without solar in adjacent or nearby communities were selling at a rate of 1.71 per month. Comparable communities were selected based upon geographic location, square footage and lot sizes, publicized sales prices and development concept. The data was gathered from sales in 2006 through March 2008 from three regions in the state.

-- In the Sacramento region, new solar homes are selling at a rate of 3.20 per month, while comparable non-solar homes are selling at a rate of 1.90 per month.

-- New solar homes in the San Francisco Bay Area are selling at a rate of 3.24 per month, while comparable non-solar homes are selling at a rate of 1.33 per month.

-- In the Central Valley region, new solar homes are selling at a rate of 4.72 per month, while comparable non-solar homes are selling at a rate of 2.37 per month.

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