CAMPBELL, Calif., Feb. 28, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Akeena Solar, Inc. d/b/a Westinghouse Solar (Nasdaq:WEST), a designer and manufacturer of solar power systems, today announced their anniversary of 10 years in business. The commemoration will kick off next month with a Silicon Valley reception to honor individuals who have helped grow the company and the industry, followed by key celebrations at major industry events across the nation throughout the anniversary year.
Founded in February, 2001 as Akeena Solar -- with the goal of installing solar on homes and businesses across America -- Akeena quickly grew to become one of America's largest solar installers, serving customers directly in the west, central and eastern regions of the U.S.
In 2007, based on the company's rooftop solar installation experience, Akeena introduced the world's first fully integrated solar panel. This new design combined the solar panel with the racking, wiring and grounding – thereby reducing the number of installable components by seventy percent and reducing labor by fifty percent. This patented solution quickly won numerous industry awards for its innovative design. In 2009, the company again led the industry with introduction of the first integrated alternating current (AC) solar panel. This innovation, which won the 2009 Popular Mechanics Breakthrough Award, has become the nation's most widely installed AC solar panel. Following the launch of its AC panel, Akeena began selling its AC solar panels to the broader market and shortly thereafter, rolled the AC panels into Lowe's home improvement stores.
In early 2010, with a goal of leveraging brand to help bring solar mainstream, Akeena partnered with Westinghouse, rebranding the company as Westinghouse Solar. With the rapidly increasing sales of their AC solar panels, Westinghouse Solar transitioned out of the installation business into a pure-play designer and manufacturer of solar power systems, with a rapidly growing network of authorized dealers nationwide.
"We founded our business on a simple philosophy: that producing clean electricity directly from the sun is the right thing to do for our environment and economy. Over the last ten years our leadership team has helped shape national and local solar policy, opened new solar markets, and developed pioneering solar power products that are consistent with both our philosophy and our vision of solar panels on every sunny rooftop. As we celebrate these last ten years of success in the solar industry, we are excited about shaping America's solar power future over the next decade," said Barry Cinnamon, CEO of Westinghouse Solar.
About Akeena Solar, Inc. d/b/a Westinghouse Solar (Nasdaq:WEST)
Westinghouse Solar is a designer and manufacturer of solar power systems. Award winning Westinghouse Solar Power Systems provide a leading combination of safety, performance and reliability, while backed by the proven quality of the Westinghouse name. For more information on Westinghouse Solar, visit www.westinghousesolar.com.
The Westinghouse Solar logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=7801
CONTACT: Public Relations Contact: Sara Blood Carmichael Lynch Spong (612) 375-8504 sara.blood@clynch.com
