NEWARK, DE — AstroPower, Inc. has announced an agreement with Clarum Homes of Palo Alto, CA, which will make solar electric power a standard feature in two new Clarum communities in northern California. AstroPower will supply 277 solar electric home power systems within the next three years, and they will be standard on every home in the new Vista Montana community in Watsonville and the new Shorebreeze IV community in East Palo Alto.

“Clarum is building homes that include solar electric power as a standard feature and incorporate green building products as well as energy-efficiency features,” stated Bob Ruggio, manager, residential system sales, for AstroPower. “By including these features as standard, Clarum is enabling homeowners to reduce their energy consumption by up to 60 percent.”

The homebuilder will use AstroPower’s 1.2-, 1.6-, 2.4-, and 3.2-kW SunLine™ packaged solar power systems, which generate electric power and deliver it through the home’s existing circuits. Extra electricity not used in the home is sent to the grid, reversing the meter and generating a credit on the homeowner’s utility bill.

“Solar electric power adds value to the homes we build,” noted John Suppes, vice president of Clarum Homes. “By giving homeowners the tools they need to generate their own electricity, we’re enabling them to save money on their utility bills. We’re also differentiating our homes in the marketplace.”

“This agreement is an example of the effectiveness of the incentives in California which are making solar electric power available to all homeowners,” said Dr. Allen Barnett, president and CEO of AstroPower.

Publication date: 06/24/2002