30,000 Consumers Participate in Eco-Themed Sweepstakes
ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar. 12, 2009--
Beazer Homes USA, Inc. (NYSE: BZH), one of the nation’s top 10
homebuilders, today announced an overwhelming response to its recent
eco-themed sales promotion.
Approximately 30,000 prospective homebuyers participated in Beazer’s
eco-themed sweepstakes, which launched mid-January and gave participants
a chance to instantly win one of 350 environmentally-friendly prizes.
The grand prize of a 2009 Toyota Prius was won by Catherine Deppa of
Pasadena, MD, who said the eco theme caught her attention and drove her
to explore Beazer’s website for more information.
The sweepstakes culminated with a national sales event, Feb. 6-8, which
offered buyers limited-time special incentives on new eco-friendly homes
that included features aimed at reducing the cost of homeowners’ monthly
energy bills.
“Even in this very challenging housing environment, the appeal of
ecologically-friendly homes seemed to overcome the gloom in the economy.
Our eco-promotion resonated strongly with consumers and drove more
qualified traffic to our sales centers,” said Kathi James, senior vice
president and chief marketing officer for Beazer Homes. “This led to
over 500 net new home orders in the month of February.”
As part of Beazer’s SMARTDESIGN initiative, the builder includes up to
10 eco-friendly features in every home it builds, including CFL bulbs,
programmable thermostats and EnergyStar® dishwashers. Other
standard features include water-saving faucets and showerheads, as well
as MERV-8 air filters and low-VOC paints and carpet that contribute to
healthier indoor air quality.
According to James, as more Americans look for ways to live an
eco-friendly and energy efficient lifestyle, those considering the
purchase of a new home are evaluating the many benefits of new
construction. Indeed, research by Better Homes & Gardens*
found that interest in green elements in the home is on the rise, with
some 90 percent of survey respondents saying they plan to have
energy-efficient heating and cooling systems in their next home.
In response to this trend, Beazer offers standard eco-friendly features
in all homes plus market-specific energy-efficient options. For example,
buyers in Beazer’s Indianapolis communities can select from a range of
energy-saving upgrades—including low-emissivity windows, hybrid heat
pumps and variable speed air handlers— to further personalize their
home. Additionally, Beazer is testing LED recessed lighting, the newest
generation of high-efficiency lighting, in its Las Vegas and Phoenix
divisions. “It is clear that despite the difficult economic climate, the
potential homebuyer is looking long-term, and an eco-friendly home has
great appeal. Beazer will continue to highlight the eco-friendly aspects
of our homes,” James said. “Look for enhancements to our standard
offering and the addition of new eco-friendly optional features through
our design studios later this year.”
Beazer Homes is one of the country's largest single-family homebuilders
with operations in 17 states. For more information on Beazer’s homes,
communities and eco-friendly features visit Beazer.com.
* Source: Amy Hoak, At Annual Builder’s Show, Small Is In,
MarketWatch, available at http://realestate.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=17092507
Source: Beazer Homes USA, Inc.
Beazer Homes USA, Inc.
Mandy Brooks, 678-464-2525
mbrooks@beazer.com