TEP Provides Solar Power, Energy Efficiency to “Extreme Makeover” Home

TUCSON, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Tucson Electric Power (TEP) is donating photovoltaic panels and a solar water heating system to a house being built in Tucson by ABC-TV’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” program.

The Foothills-area house will be a TEP Guarantee Home, built to maximize energy efficiency. Because the show aims to rebuild an entire home in just seven days, TEP Guarantee Home inspectors will be available around the clock to ensure that the program’s exacting standards are met throughout the construction process.

“Our partnership with ‘Extreme Makeover: Home Edition’ offers a great opportunity to promote the environmental benefits of energy conservation and renewable power,” said Philip J. Dion, Vice President of Legal and Environmental Services for TEP and its parent company, UniSource Energy (NYSE: UNS).

The combined energy output of the six-kilowatt (kW) photovoltaic system and the solar water heater would just about cover the annual electric needs of a typical Tucson home. That renewable power will go even further in a TEP Guarantee Home that features a custom airflow design, tight insulation and other features that promote energy efficiency.

“The energy efficient features of TEP Guarantee Homes can help homeowners make the most of their solar power systems,” Dion said. “It’s a powerful combination that can significantly reduce energy costs while providing real benefits for our environment.”

TEP’s SunShare program provides rebates of up to $3,000 per kW of installed DC-rated capacity to help reduce the up-front cost of solar energy systems like the 6-kW array featured in the “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” project. TEP also offers rebates of up to $1,750 for solar water heaters. For more information, visit the “Green Energy” section of tep.com.

TEP’s Guarantee Home program works with Tucson’s leading builders to develop homes that deliver significant energy savings. Buyers of TEP Guarantee Homes receive a special low electric rate and a five-year written Heating/Cooling and Comfort Guarantee. They also enjoy a healthy home with balanced air pressure designed to keep out unwanted moisture, toxins and allergens.

SunShare rebates and TEP Guarantee Homes are part of TEP’s Bright Solutions, a portfolio of programs and services designed to protect our environment and support our community. For more information about Bright Solutions, visit tep.com.

For more information about “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” and its Tucson project, visit extrememakeovertucson.com.

Tucson Electric Power, a subsidiary of UniSource Energy, provides safe, reliable power and a variety of green energy options to nearly 400,000 customers in the Tucson metropolitan area. For more information, visit tep.com. For more information about UniSource Energy, visit uns.com.