SCHOTT Solar PV, Inc. and BuiltSmart Resources Inaugurate San Antonio's First Net Zero Green Home

SAN ANTONIO, Jan. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- SCHOTT Solar PV, Inc. (SCHOTT Solar) and BuiltSmart Resources were joined by Mayor Julian Castro for the grand opening of San Antonio's first Net Zero Green Home. The BuiltSmart Resource Center achieved a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) score of negative three, making it one of the most energy efficient homes in Texas.

BuiltSmart Resources was the first home builder to achieve Build San Antonio Green's® Level 3 Solar Home certification with the completion of the Curtis & Laura Trial residence in December 2010. BuiltSmart Resources followed this achievement with the construction of its new Show Home and Resource Center. BuiltSmart earned Net Zero Green Home status for the Resource Center by researching the best way to build a home that would save money in the future by controlling energy costs, being environmentally responsible and providing homeowners a healthy living environment. MSA Architecture of San Antonio designed the Resource Center in a Contemporary Hill Country style that features an open floor plan. Lori Caldwell, award-winning Interior Designer, also collaborated on the project. The BuiltSmart Resource Center will feature an 11.28 KW photovoltaic (PV) solar system utilizing SCHOTT Solar's panels and a 30,000-gallon rainwater catchment system for all domestic and landscape use.

"We are committed to making San Antonio a leader in solar and renewable energy and are proud that San Antonio is home to one of the most energy efficient homes in Texas," said San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro. "Companies like BuiltSmart Resources and Schott Solar are helping us build a strong clean energy economy in our city and creating good local jobs. We are also pleased to have Build San Antonio Green, the local residential green building program, which developed the criteria for the Level 3 Solar Home and certified this home as green-built."

"Through remodeling or new home construction, today's homeowners have the ability to make a large impact on their future energy costs," said Mike Scott, owner of BuiltSmart Resources. "Our partnership with SCHOTT Solar was underscored not only by high quality solar panels but their responsive to the needs of our project."

SCHOTT Solar, whose flagship manufacturing facility opened on the south side of Albuquerque, N.M. in 2009, employs more than 300 workers and is a leader in U.S. solar manufacturing.

"SCHOTT Solar sees tremendous potential for our proven, high-quality modules in Texas," said Tom Hecht, President and Chief Sales Officer of SCHOTT Solar PV, Inc. "We are fortunate to have BuiltSmart Resources as a partner and to work with them to give San Antonio homeowners the opportunity to own a green home and save money. We're also proud that our efforts are creating jobs along the solar value chain in Texas and throughout the Southwest."

The system was installed by BuiltSmart Resources, a San Antonio-based source for education and implementation of sustainable building materials and practices.

The event was also attended by Cris Eugster, Executive Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer of CPS Energy; Bexar County Precinct 3 Commissioner Kevin Wolff; Michael Luzier, President of the NAHB Research Center; and Jack Uptmore, President of the Greater San Antonio Builders Association.

About SCHOTT Solar

SCHOTT Solar, with its high quality products, enables the potential of the sun as a nearly inexhaustible source of energy to be utilized. SCHOTT Solar produces important components for photovoltaic applications and solar energy power plants. In the production of receivers for solar power plants, SCHOTT Solar sees itself as a market and technology leader. Receivers from SCHOTT Solar are key components in large-scale power plants that generate electricity from solar energy centrally on the basis of parabolic trough technology and are able to supply entire cities with power. SCHOTT Solar has production facilities in Germany, the Czech Republic, the USA and Spain. The innovative power and technological competence of the company date back to the late 1950s. SCHOTT Solar is a wholly owned subsidiary of the international SCHOTT group. SCHOTT develops special materials, components and systems for the household appliance, pharmaceutical, solar energy, electronics, optical and automotive industries with approximately 17,000 employees producing worldwide sales of $3.8 billion. In North America, SCHOTT's holding company SCHOTT Corporation and its subsidiary SCHOTT North America, Inc. and their affiliates employ about 3,000 people in 14 production operations with 6 sales offices.

The company's technological and economic expertise is closely linked with its social and ecological responsibilities.

About BuiltSmart Resources

BuiltSmart Custom Homes offers a premier customizable design and build experience with all the sustainable features environmentally and fiscally responsible customers' desire. Today's homes can not only be both beautifully crafted and built to be efficient and sustainable to reflect individual values. BuiltSmart homes are scored by third-party auditors for HERS ratings and submitted for recognition in the NAHB green building program as well as Build San Antonio Green program.

BuiltSmart Resources is growing to be the nation's premier source for education and implementation of sustainable building materials and practices. BuiltSmart is dedicated to sharing the resources needed to best serve families, communities, and the planet. BuiltSmart offers energy efficient custom homes, remodeling, PV solar systems, rainwater collection systems, and spray foam insulation. More information can be found at www.builtsmartresources.com

SOURCE SCHOTT Solar PV, Inc.