Chrysler Financial Partners with Habitat for Humanity of Oakland County to Construct First Affordable 'Green' Home in Southeast Michigan

Home will be Certified by U.S. Green Building Council for Meeting Environmental Benchmarks in Design, Construction and Operation

PONTIAC, Mich., Sept. 4, 2008 - Habitat for Humanity of Oakland County, with the support of Chrysler Financial and Gontina Building and Design, will raise the walls in Pontiac, Mich., this week on the first affordable "green" home in Southeast Michigan. The home, being built at 457 Ferry Street will meet the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification standards.

"Chrysler Financial is committed to giving back to the communities where we live and work," said Darryl Jackson, Chief Operating Officer - Chrysler Financial. "We are extremely excited to partner with Habitat for Humanity to not only benefit the Pontiac area, but the environment as well. It is remarkable to see what can be accomplished by bringing together local businesses and community members committed to the same goal."

Chrysler Financial employees will join volunteers from Habitat, in association with Gontina Building and Design who donated project planning, home design and LEED consulting services, to construct an environmentally- friendly, one-story home using building materials from Michigan-based companies. The completed home will use 30 to 50 percent less energy than other homes of similar size, saving the homeowner up to $1,000 per year in utility bills. In addition, the home will feature sustainable materials including bamboo and cork flooring and structural insulated panels, and accommodate the potential for solar technologies in a variety of areas. Other features such as low volatile, organic compound paint and paperless drywall in the bathrooms will provide a healthier indoor environment.

"We are thrilled to have Chrysler Financial as a partner in this historic building project for Habitat," said Jonathan Reckford, Chief Executive Officer of Habitat for Humanity International. "Green homes are not only good for our environment, but the substantial energy savings they foster also increase their affordability for families with modest incomes. And that's a win-win for everyone."

In 2007, the U.S. Green Building Council extended its LEED certification process to include homes in its nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. LEED-certified homes give owners an immediate and measurable effect on their home's performance, measured in eight categories including innovation, sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.

The project strives to become the standard in build and design for future Habitat for Humanity of Oakland County projects. The home will be sold to a qualified low-income family for a price that equals the Habitat cost of construction, which will be approximately $97,000. The completion of the project will be celebrated during a formal ceremony on Oct. 11, when the new owners will be presented with the keys to their green home.