Business & Finance
Business and Finance
Business and Finance
Wed, April 20, 2011 
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.
"Consumers are clearly seeing the financial and environmental benefits associated with green auto purchases and green home upgrades"
Recent reports indicate an increase in consumer interest in agreena 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
aConsumers are clearly seeing the financial and environmental benefits associated with green auto purchases and green home upgrades,a said Elaine Baisden, Vice President, Travelers Personal Insurance. aWe 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 customersa™ interest in environmentally responsible practices.a
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. Travelersa™ [ 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 companya™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.
