Sharp Solar Energy System Helps Power House Built on ABC's ''Extreme Makeover: Home Edition''

Business Wire, Nov 16, 2005

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. -- Sharp Electronics Corporation, the U.S. subsidiary of Sharp Corporation, the world's leading producer of solar energy products, recently contributed a solar energy system to ABC's hit show "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" for a project in Douglas, Kansas. The televised episode will air in January 2006.

The episode details the reconstruction of a house destroyed by a propane gas leak explosion. The Nutsch Family lacked the insurance or income to rebuild their home, so the "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" crew constructed a house for them that is powered only by electricity.

Sharp donated a 4.5kilowatt (kW) system solar energy system that, together with a 1 kW wind generator, will generate the electricity for heat and hot water, which will significantly reduce electricity costs for the family. Sharp contributed 27 167-watt modules and a Sunvista inverter for a system that was designed and installed by Ramsey Environmental, an energy consulting company.

"Sharp is very proud to be a part of rebuilding the Nutsch Family's life by bringing them something positive," said Ron Kenedi, vice president of Sharp's Solar Energy Solutions Group. "The family will join a growing number of Americans who use solar power for their energy needs. From the day they move in, their new solar energy system will enable them to reap the economic and environmental benefits of solar energy for years to come."

Sharp Corporation is the world's number one manufacturer of solar cells and powers over 100,000 residential and industrial installations around the world. Sharp Corporation began solar assembly operations in Memphis, Tennessee in October 2003 to meet the increasing demand for solar energy in the U.S. The solar manufacturing facility now employs more than 200 people to assemble 162-, 167-, 170-, 175-, 185- and 208-watt solar panels for residential and commercial installations.

Further information on Sharp's commitment to solar energy and its solar product line is available online at solar.sharpusa.com.

"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" is produced by Endemol USA, a division of Endemol Holding. David Goldberg is the president of Endemol USA. The series is executive-produced by Tom Forman. The show airs Sundays (8:00-9:00 p.m. ET), on the ABC Television Network.

Sharp Electronics Corporation is the Mahwah, N.J.-based marketing and sales subsidiary of Japan's Sharp Corporation, a worldwide developer of the core technologies that are integral to shaping the next generation of home entertainment products, appliances, networked, multifunctional office solutions, solar energy and mobile communication and information tools. Leading brands include AQUOS(R) Liquid Crystal Televisions, 1-Bit(TM) digital audio products, SharpVision(R) projection products, Carousel(R) microwaves, IMAGER(TM) digital multifunctional systems, and Notevision(R) multimedia projectors. Sharp Electronics Corporation employs approximately 2,000 people throughout the U.S. supporting more than 50 product lines.