General Electric Company : GE's "eco Kitchen" Appliances Help Consumers Save 20 Percent on Electricity

The kitchen accounts for about 25 percent of electricity use in the average U.S. household GE's ecomagination? kitchen package can help reduce electricity consumption in the average U.S. kitchen by as much as 20 percent The ecomagination? kitchen is GE's first package solution featuring a suite of energy-efficient kitchen appliances

(NYSE:GE) - Interested in a new, energy-efficient kitchen? Many consumers support the need to reduce home energy use through more efficient appliances. According to a recent survey, 78 percent of Americans think it is "very beneficial" for appliances to become more energy efficient.¹

GE® now makes it easy to assemble a kitchen full of energy-efficient appliances. GE's new "ecomagination?" suite of appliances can help reduce electricity consumption in the average U.S. kitchen by up to 20 percent (compared to standard appliances). Ecomagination kitchens include:

• GE's double-oven electric ranges: If consumers use the smaller oven 50 percent of the time, they can reduce energy use by up to 25 percent compared to GE's 5.3 cubic foot single oven.
• GE's over-the-range microwave ovens with Power Saver feature: When activated, the Power Saver feature reduces energy lost during standby mode. Regular use of the Power Saver button can reduce annual microwave energy consumption by more than 20 percent.²
• GE's ENERGY STAR®-qualified dishwashers: GE's ENERGY STAR-qualified dishwashers can reduce energy and water use by approximately 10 percent over non-qualified dishwashers.
• GE's ENERGY STAR-qualified refrigerators: ENERGY STAR refrigerators can reduce energy use by 20 percent compared to non-qualified refrigerators.

"The ecomagination initiative is GE's company-wide commitment to imagine and build innovative solutions to the world's most pressing environmental challenges," said Rod Barry, director of Efficiency and Environmental Relations for GE Appliances. "At GE Appliances we are rapidly expanding our ENERGY STAR® and ecomagination product offerings because it's what consumers want and is the right thing to do for our planet."

In 2010, GE sold 2.5 million ecomagination kitchen appliances designed to avoid more than 130,000 metric tons of associated CO₂ emissions on the U.S. grid per year. That's equivalent to the annual CO₂ emissions of more than 25,000 cars on U.S. roads.

Good for the environment and your wallet

In addition to being happily surprised by lower electrical bills, consumers may benefit in other ways, too. In some areas, the purchase of ENERGY STAR appliances can make consumers eligible for utility rebates. To learn more, consumers can visit www.geappliances.com/rebates_promotions/american-recovery-act-state-appliance-rebates.htm to see a comprehensive website on the latest rebates and incentives.

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About GE Appliances

GE Appliances is at the forefront of building innovative, energy-efficient appliances that improve people's lives. GE Appliances' products include refrigerators, freezers, cooking products, dishwashers, washers, dryers, air conditioners, water filtration systems and water heaters. General Electric (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter to build a world that works better. For more information on GE Appliances, visit www.ge.com/appliances.

¹ "Public Attitudes Toward Energy Efficiency and Appliance Efficiency Standards," Consumer Federation of America, March 2011
² Based on estimate of 12 minutes microwave use per day.

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GE Appliances
Julie Wood, Manager, Appliances PR, 502-452-5914
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