Tough, Translucent GE Material Admits Full-Spectrum Natural Light into Living Spaces for Reduced Energy Costs While Providing Exceptional Weatherability The International Builders' Show 2007 ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--At the International Builders’ Show in Orlando, Fla., GE Plastics announced that its Lexan1 Thermoclear1 multiwall polycarbonate (PC) sheet will be featured on Centerpoint translucent roofs for the National Homebuilder Mainstream GreenHomeTM currently being constructed in Raleigh, N.C. The demonstration home, a joint project of Centerpoint Translucent Systems, LLC and Cherokee Investment Partners, will showcase a number of environmentally responsible features including three translucent roofs made with tough, virtually unbreakable Lexan Thermoclear sheet panels. Incorporated into Centerpoint’s patented roofing system, the GE material admits full-spectrum natural light while reflecting unwanted heat, avoiding the energy loss, and higher heating and cooling costs of glass roofing inserts. “The Mainstream GreenHome will demonstrate that green building technologies can be successfully integrated into the architecture of conventional subdivisions,” said Kendall Sayers, president of Centerpoint. “Our roofing systems featuring GE’s Lexan Thermoclear sheet are a great example of how energy efficiency can be combined with outstanding aesthetics and performance that will appeal to any homebuyer.” Centerpoint selected Lexan Thermoclear multiwall sheet for the pre-assembled roofing system based on the GE material’s outstanding performance properties: excellent light transmission; the ability to withstand wind loads of up to 140 mph; superior UV resistance and impact strength; light weight and design flexibility vs. glass; and exceptional sound and energy insulation. GE’s metallic tinted Lexan Thermoclear multiwall sheet in a custom-designed 25mm, three-wall configuration offers thermal efficiency five times greater than that of traditional insulated glass inserts and comes with a 10-year limited warranty. The home will feature three Centerpoint translucent roofs with Lexan Thermoclear sheet over three gable ends, allowing light to penetrate the home from above, yet maintaining thermal comfort by utilizing breakthrough reflective technology. The translucent Lexan panels on the roof allow soft, natural daylight into the home while reflecting unwanted heat. “With our strong focus on developing materials that can help our customers solve tough environmental challenges, GE Plastics is delighted to be a part of the GreenHome project,” said Michel van Acht, Lexan multiwall global product manager, GE Plastics. “Lexan Thermoclear sheet can make a significant difference in home energy consumption by letting in light while avoiding overheating. Innovative plastics such as Lexan Thermoclear sheet are making it practical and affordable to reduce any home’s impact on the environment.” Consumers purchasing new homes are increasingly requesting floor plans that include more natural light, both to improve appearance and reduce energy needed for interior lighting. However, intensive use of glass can cause harsh lighting effects and lead to interior heat buildup from penetration of near-infrared radiation, especially in hot and/or sunny locales. Cherokee’s GreenHome is the first home in the nation known to be built in a typical subdivision under the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) Model Green Home Building Guidelines and is just one of three green homes in the nation known to meet such guidelines. The others are non-subdivision homes. In addition, the home will be certified with the Environmental Protection Agency/U.S. Department of Energy (EPA/DOE) Energy Star Program and the North Carolina Solar Center’s Healthy Built Homes state program, among others. The GreenHome is expected to be completed in the spring of 2007 and will be available for tours. For more information on the National Homebuilder Mainstream GreenHome please visit www.MainstreamGreenHome.com or contact Jonathan Millman at +1 973-286-8293. For more information on GE’s Lexan Thermoclear sheet products, please visit GE Plastics’ website at http://www.geplastics.com/sfs/SFS/en/ProductsAndServices/ ProductFamilyName/lexanthermoclear.html (Due to the length of this URL, it may be necessary to copy and paste it into your Internet browser's URL address field. You may also need to remove an extra space in the URL if one exists.), or click here. About Centerpoint Translucent Systems Centerpoint Translucent Systems is the market leader in residential modular day lighting systems. Centerpoint is widely recognized as the manufacturing leader of high performance alternative glazing materials in the North American marketplace. Centerpoint has been awarded the “2006 Crystal Achievement Award” for the most innovative glazing product by the members of the window and door industry and the National Glass Association. Centerpoint products have also been awarded the prestigious “Must Have Product for 2006” as presented by HGTV. More information is available at the company’s website at www.cptsystems.com. About GE Plastics GE Plastics (www.geplastics.com) is a global supplier of plastic resins widely used in automotive, healthcare, consumer electronics, transportation, performance packaging, building & construction, telecommunications, and optical media applications. The company manufactures and compounds polycarbonate, ABS, SAN, ASA, PPE, PC/ABS, PBT and PEI resins, as well as the LNP1 line of high-performance specialty compounds. GE Plastics, Specialty Film & Sheet manufactures high-performance Lexan1 sheet and film products used in thousands of demanding applications worldwide. In addition, GE Plastics’ dedicated Automotive organization is an experienced, world-wide competitor, offering leading plastics solutions for five key automotive segments: body panels and glazing; under the hood applications; component; structures and interiors; and lighting. As a Worldwide Partner of the Olympic Games, GE is the exclusive provider of a wide range of innovative products and services that are integral to a successful Games.
