10.09.2008 — In this challenging housing market, can something actually be growing? Yes, according to GE Security.

The company says its ecomagination Homebuilder Program, introduced in May 2007, has received commitments for 30,000 housing starts from builders.

Of course, many of those homes will likely not break ground until the market stabilizes, but nonetheless, it’s positive news for home technology in general.

The ecomagination program helps residential builders and developers design homes that release fewer household emissions and are more efficient in energy and indoor water consumption than average new homes.

The company says homes built to Homebuilder Program specifications are designed to at least achieve:

• 20 percent household energy savings
• 20 percent savings on household indoor water consumption
• 20 percent reduction in emissions

At the heart of the program is GE’s SmartCommand Enviro Monitor, which helps homeowners track current and historical energy and indoor water consumption, as well as serving as the home’s programmable thermostat and security system interface.

Other options include: whole-home lighting control, intercom and home audio interface.

“In a challenging economic market, energy efficient building offers a competitive edge," according to Patrick McElhaney, manager of the ecomagination Homebuilder Program.

The primary installers of ecomagination systems are dealers in the GE Home Technologies’ Authorized Integrator Network and contractors who abide by the program as part of the Masco Contractor Services Environments for Living division.