Despite a difficult market for new homes, GE reports that its Ecomagination homebuilding program is going strong. The program helps designers and builders create homes that are energy efficient without being Spartan. Ecomagination homes use GE’s SmartCommand Enviro Monitor to help homeowners monitor energy and water consumption and set the thermostat for the home’s heating and cooling system.

According to Patrick McElhaney, manager of the Ecomagination homebuilding program, "Currently, builders and developers have committed to building more than 30,000 homes as part of the program. In a challenging economic market, energy efficient building offers a competitive edge.”