GE Appliances CEO Invited to Prestigious White House Energy-Efficiency Technology Forum; President Bush Hosts 10 CEOs to Discuss Energy-Efficiency Technology

Business Wire, June 27, 2001

Business Editors

LOUISVILLE, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 27, 2001

GE Appliances (GEA) President and CEO James Campbell will attend a forum at the Department of Energy (DOE) on Thursday, June 28, to show President Bush examples of energy efficient 2001 GE appliances. This is the first forum of its kind, featuring appliances, to be attended by President Bush. The purpose of the forum is to discuss how technology can promote energy efficiency while delivering value and innovative features to consumers.

"We're honored to be one of only 10 companies and the only white goods company selected to attend the energy forum," said GEA President and CEO James Campbell. "We have a great `energy efficiency through innovation' story to tell. Our new GE Profile(TM) Arctica(TM), Energy Star(R) refrigerator, for example, saves half the energy and has exclusive features that will also save consumers another valuable resource - time."

In a demonstration, Campbell will show President Bush that it takes less energy to run TWO GE Profile Arctica refrigerators than it does ONE refrigerator manufactured 12 years ago. In other words, consumers with older refrigerators can cut their appliance energy bill in half by purchasing a 2001 Energy Star model. In fact, based on DOE estimates, if U.S. consumers replaced their average 10-year old refrigerator, dishwasher and washer with comparable new Energy Star models, the nation would save enough energy to power 14.5 million homes.

"We think the President's focus on government/industry cooperation through voluntary, consumer information programs like Energy Star is a vital part of an effective national energy policy," said Campbell.

During his presentation to the President, Campbell will cover three Energy Star products; the GE Profile Arctica and a new Profile dishwasher and washing machine that will be on the market this fall. All these products are energy efficient and have innovative timesaving features. Some features of each include:

GE Profile Arctica

-- ExpressThaw(TM) that safely thaws meat in hours, not days

-- ExpressChill(TM) that chills in minutes, not hours

-- QuickIce(TM) that accelerates ice production up to 40%

-- FrostGuard(TM) which uses electronic sensors to help prevent freezer burn

-- Energy Star model uses 53% less energy saving $613 over ten years(a)

GE Profile dishwasher

-- Use sensor technology to adjust water temperature and length

of wash cycle to clean more efficiently

-- Speed wash and dry light loads in 30 minutes faster than

regular cycle

-- Energy Star model uses 44% less energy saving $357 over 10

years(a)

GE Profile washer

-- Ribbed basket removes more water reducing drying time

-- Sensors control heat of water and overall washing process

better

-- Speed wash and dry a soccer or school uniform or golf outfit

in 30 minutes or less

-- Energy Star model uses 55% less energy saving $593 over 10

years(a)

(a) Based on DOE average unit cost of energy ($0.0829 KwH) versus

comparable 1989 model.

Campbell will show President Bush just three of the products resulting from nearly $1 billion investment - the largest in its history - GEA made to develop innovative products that would be energy efficient and provide today's busy consumers with quality, stylish products to enhance their lives.

General Electric (NYSE:GE) has been bringing good things to life for more than a century, and sells products under the Monogram(R), Profile(TM), GE(R), Hotpoint(R), and SmartWater(TM) brands. For more information about GE appliances, consumers can call the GE Answer Center(R) at 800.626.2000 or visit the company's Web site at www.GEAppliances.com.