Low-Priced Westinghouse Solar Panels Now Shipping

Customers Benefit From Premium Panels at Value Pricing


CAMPBELL, Calif., Aug. 24, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Westinghouse Solar, Inc., (Nasdaq:WEST), a designer and manufacturer of solar power systems, today announced that its new, large-format AC solar panels are in stock and shipping to customers in the U.S.

Westinghouse Solar's 235 watt AC panels have been designed from the ground up to meet the needs of residential rooftop installers. Improving on the original patented design, the racking, wiring, grounding and inverter are built into a larger-format 235-watt panel, thereby delivering higher performance and dramatically reducing installation costs.

"Our new contract manufacturing process allows us to price Westinghouse Solar AC panels at about the same price as an ordinary DC system. Moreover, by eliminating the installation of racking, inverters and panel grounding, our dealers and installers are able to reduce their labor costs by 50% or more," said Jeff Kiel, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Westinghouse Solar. "The lower panel and installation costs, combined with 5-25% better energy output, make Westinghouse Solar's AC panels the best choice for residential installers."

"Prices for solar panels have declined dramatically over the past year.  While these lower prices have been a challenge for commodity solar panel manufacturers, lower prices are actually quite good for our customers.  Since the Westinghouse Solar 'value add' has always been focused on reducing installation costs with our patented technology, we are quite happy with trends that help make solar more affordable. Shipping these new lower-priced panels in August is consistent with our expectations," said Barry Cinnamon, CEO of Westinghouse Solar.

About Westinghouse Solar (Nasdaq:WEST)

Westinghouse Solar is a designer and manufacturer of solar power systems. In 2007, Westinghouse Solar pioneered the concept of integrating the racking, wiring and grounding directly into the solar panel. This revolutionary solar panel, originally branded "Andalay", quickly won industry acclaim. In 2009, the company again broke new ground with the first integrated AC solar panel, reducing the number of components for a rooftop solar installation by approximately 80 percent and lowering labor costs by approximately 50 percent. This first AC panel, which won the 2009 Popular Mechanics Breakthrough Award, has become the industry's most widely installed AC solar panel. Award-winning Westinghouse Solar Power Systems provide the best 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

Safe Harbor

Statements made in this release that are not historical in nature, including those related to future revenue, revenue growth, operating expense rates, transition expenses, achievement of cashflow and EBITDAS breakeven and profitability, and product introductions and cost reductions in future periods, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Safe Harbor Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "expects," "projects," "plans," "will," "may," "anticipates," believes," "should," "intends," "estimates," and other words of similar meaning. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that cannot be predicted or quantified, and our actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks associated with the inherent uncertainty of future financial results, additional capital financing requirements, development of new products by us or our competitors, uncertainties in the timing of availability of new products from a new supplier, the effectiveness, profitability, and marketability of our new products, our ability to protect and defend proprietary rights and information, the impact of current, pending, or future legislation, regulation and incentive programs on the solar power industry, the impact of competitive products or pricing, technological changes, our ability to identify and successfully acquire and grow distribution customers, and the effect of general economic and business conditions. All forward-looking statements included in this release are made as of the date of this press release, and Westinghouse Solar, Inc. assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements.



            

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