Hybrid car purchases, leed-certified homes on uptick

Hartford, conn.--(business wire)--in the wake of an uptick in hybrid car purchases in the past year and growing interest in green homes, travelers (nyse: trv) reminds individual consumers and business owners about the variety of insurance benefits tied to those purchases. recent reports indicate an increase in consumer interest in “green” purchases. according to hybridcars.com and baum & associates, sales of hybrid cars increased 39 percent in february compared to february 2010. sales of all vehicles increased 27.2 percent during the same time period driven mainly by the sales of hybrid vehicles.1 similarly, the u.s. green building council recently reported that since its launch of leed certified homes in 2008, 10,161 homes have received certification with more than 38,000 additional units in the pipeline.2 “consumers are clearly seeing the financial and environmental benefits associated with green auto purchases and green home upgrades,” said elaine baisden, vice president, travelers personal insurance. “we expect to see this trend continue as consumers evaluate future auto purchases and home construction or renovations, and travelers is pleased to offer products which support our customers’ interest in environmentally responsible practices.” given the mounting interest in green products, travelers offers a greenhome upgrade allowing consumers to add more protection to existing travelers home insurance policies. under the endorsement, homeowners receive coverage that helps them repair, replace or rebuild with green materials after a loss. additionally, homeowners already certified by the leadership in energy and environmental design (leed) rating system may save up to five percent on their premiums.3 travelers continuously seeks ways to enhance its existing products and develop new services that help individuals and business owners alike protect their assets while supporting environmentally responsible practices. in addition to the greenhome upgrade, the company has an auto insurance discount on hybrid cars and a boat insurance discount on electric and hybrid boats. travelers’ green building insurance products for businesses provide specialized coverage for green building features and help customers repair, replace or rebuild with green materials after a loss. about travelers the travelers companies, inc. (nyse: trv) is a leading property casualty insurer selling primarily through independent agents and brokers. the company’s diverse business lines offer its global customers a wide range of coverage in the auto, home and business settings. a component of the dow jones industrial average, travelers has more than 30,000 employees and generated revenues of approximately $25 billion in 2010. for more information, visit www.travelers.com. 1. http://www.hybridcars.com/hybrid-clean-diesel-sales-dashboard/february-2011.html 2. http://www.usgbc.org/docs/news/leed%20for%20homes%2010k%20milestone_april%202011.pdf 3. discounts and advantages may only apply to certain coverages, may not be available in all states and are subject to individual eligibility.
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