30% Tax Credit for Tubular Daylighting System

Available for self installation or with installation from Elements of Green!

VISTA, CA, June 19, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Solatube International Inc. the worldwide leading manufacturer and marketer of Tubular Daylighting Devices (TDDs), is proud to announce the launch of eChoice, the latest iteration of Solatube Daylighting Systems. Solatube eChoice is the only TDD available with a thermal performance strong enough to meet the requirements for a 30 percent federal tax credit.

Under the recent legislation that encourages homeowners to choose more energy-efficient home products, those who choose to purchase and install Solatube eChoice Daylighting Systems are eligible for a 30 percent federal tax credit on all units installed between June 15, 2009, and Dec. 31, 2010.

"We have moved beyond perceived limitations in our industry with Solatube eChoice," said Robert E. Westfall Jr., president of Solatube International. "This confirms that our new product is designed for optimum energy efficiency. Being the first to meet the stringent government requirements is an honor and we feel that the eChoice series showcases our continued commitment to innovation."

The "Stimulus Bill" (The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009) gives homeowners the opportunity to earn up to $1,500 in tax credits for making energy efficient improvements to their existing homes. The Solatube 160 DSe (10in/250mm Daylighting System) and the Solatube 290 DSe (14in/350mm Daylighting System) are both eligible for the tax credit when installed in a primary residence.

Solatube International has long been known to for "Innovation in Daylighting " in both residential and commercial applications. The company has continued to push the envelope in daylighting technology and design, seeking new ways to apply smart daylighting applications in new and retrofit structures. Daylighting continues to play a major role in the sustainable movement domestically and worldwide.

Using advanced optics, each Solatube Daylighting System captures sunlight on the roof and transfers it down a highly reflective tube, delivering light through a diffuser at the ceiling level. Ideal for window-less spaces and lower-level rooms, the daylighting systems bring natural light indoors, allowing homeowners to reduce energy consumption and lower their electric bills by not having to turn lights on.

Homeowners are encouraged to visit http://www.solatube.com for more information about the Solatube eChoice Daylighting Systems and the accompanying tax credit certification information.

*Solatube International makes no warranty as to the qualification of the products for federal tax credits if there are changes in requirements or applicable law after such date.

Solatube International, Inc. is not a tax advisor. Taxpayers claiming a tax credit should consult a tax professional with any questions. Solatube International is not responsible or liable for the taxpayer's ability to receive tax credits. This document is not intended to constitute legal or tax advice. More comprehensive information will be made available by the IRS.

The user maintains the full and complete responsibility to comply with all codes, laws and regulations applicable to the safe and proper use, handling and installation of the product and should consult with a professional for all construction and design-related questions. The information contained herein is believed to be accurate as of the time of preparation. However, Solatube International makes no warranty as to the accuracy of this information.

About Solatube International

Solatube International Inc., based in Vista, Calif. (northern San Diego County), is the worldwide leading manufacturer and marketer of Tubular Daylighting Devices (TDDs). The company's flagship product, the Solatube Daylighting System, provides a revolutionary natural lighting solution for all types of residential and commercial applications and is the only spec-grade TDD currently available on the market. The maxim "Innovation in DaylightingTM" reflects the company's commitment to the development of breakthrough daylighting technologies, which has resulted in numerous patents dating back to the mid-1980s. Widely recognized as the industry innovator, Solatube International has earned acclaim around the globe for its unrivaled ability to transform interior spaces with the power of daylight. For more information on the Solatube Daylighting System or other products manufactured and marketed by Solatube International, including solar-powered attic ventilation fans, please visit the Solatube Web site at http://www.solatube.com or call 888-SOLATUBE (888-765-2882).

You have got to see this!

Electric Unicycle?!?!?! I want one when it becomes available. The EniCycle: http://enicycle.com/movie.html self-balancing and it recharges when moving downhill. There is a video on the website.

19 miles on a single charge. Can you ride a unicycle for 19 miles to work; okay, but how about around the office to lunch and back?

EnviroGLAS

We have been receiving a great deal of interest in the EnviroGLAS terrazzo countertops and flooring products lately. If you are not familiar with this product this post should open your eye's to new possibilities. EnviroGLAS is all custom blended to your liking - it's unlikely that anyone else will ever select the exact same blend so your countertops will be unique! First we select a color for the resin binder and then we select from all the possible glass aggregate colors including porcelain and mother-of pearl. For a truly unique touch you can even choose to add shavings of aluminum from drill shavings.

EnviroGLAS will make us a sample based on the blend that we work together to create, this will take about 3 weeks. Upon our approval of the blend EnviroGLAS will begin production of your slabs and ship them to the local fabricator who will cut out for sinks and cook tops, add the edge and install your new kitchen or bath. This process will take about 9-10 weeks. This is not a short production cycled so lets get started with your custom kitchen today.

1st Friday and thoughts of 'green' products

Yes, today is the 1st Friday of the month and that, in the Crossroads Arts District, means it's time to get out and play; go to diner, go to the art galleries and visit all the unique retail stores in between. Elements of Green will stay open tonight until the crowds thin out and that is usually between 9 and 10 o'clock. We hope you can join us for the fun with great Friends and friends who we have yet to meet.

This has me thinking about a couple of the products that are always popular on 1st Friday's; the recycled glass countertops and the recycled paper countertops. We offer 3 different recycled glass countertop products; Vetrazzo, IceStone and EnviroGLAS and 3 different recycled paper products; PaperStone, Richlite and EcoTop. I will be spending more time on the features and benefits of each of these products in the future but thought for today you might like to see a kitchen with these products installed. This kitchen uses Vetrazzo and PaperStone.

What should you do to your home to add value during this down economy

70% of buyers are either more or much more inclined to purchase a green home over a conventional home in a down housing market, according to a McGraw-Hill Construction survey. http://www.builderspace.com/sustainability/47-green-building.html

It's is true, 'greening' your home can help you in this economy. More and more home buyers are looking for the benefits of sustainably built or remodeled homes. So just what does this mean...first, energy consumption is the number one concern and this speaks an efficient furnace / heat pump and air-conditioner, insulation (properly installed), and setback thermostat, but then what. If you are not building a new house it's difficult if not impossible to pick your house up and turn it to take advantage of the sun or to reconfigure the space for optimum daylighting. That's where the use of 'green' building products comes into play. By choosing products produced with rapidly renewable resources or recycled materials adds value, but even more important can be choosing products that do not contribute to allergies or asthma.