BENTON HARBOR, Mich.,
June 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/
-- According to recent projections from the Energy Information
Agency and USA Today, by
2025 Americans will see their water bills double and potentially
triple in major metro areas. This threat to the wallets of
homeowners across the country is adding to speculation that
pressure to the U.S. infrastructure, already desperate for
solutions to a water shortage in California, is headed toward a significant
issue in water access. At this week's Sustainable Brands Conference
in San Diego, Whirlpool
Corporation and Kohler Co. announced the two companies have
committed to identify ways to achieve net-zero water in the home in
connection with ReNEWW House, a retrofitted, net-zero energy, water
and waste research home located near the Purdue University campus.
Through their products, Whirlpool Corporation, the number one
major home appliance manufacturer in the world, and Kohler Co., a
global leader in the manufacture of kitchen and bath products, make
up nearly all of the indoor water usage in the residential home.
During the conference representatives from both companies discussed
a shared hope to create energy and water advancements that lead to
reduced consumption and allow existing buildings to become
self-sustaining systems.
"With 860 million appliances in the
United States alone, Whirlpool Corporation has reduced
energy and water consumption in our products to deliver efficient
home appliances. It's time to look at how we can leverage our
appliances to optimize and transform the total home system to try
to achieve net-zero water impact," said Ron
Voglewede, Global Sustainability Director, Whirlpool
Corporation and member of the Alliance for Water Efficiency's Board
of Directors. "We are excited to work with Kohler on the ReNEWW House as we look to
create new, viable solutions to help new and existing homeowners
save water and conserve our most vital natural resource."
"We recognize that to further extend the benefits of
water-efficient fixtures and faucets while maintaining optimum
performance, we need to look at home water consumption
holistically," said Rob Zimmerman,
Kohler Sustainability Senior Channel Manager. "We hope that by
combining our engineering resources with those of Whirlpool's to
understand the technical challenges of creating a 'net zero water'
house, we can develop new insights for designing home plumbing,
water storage and treatment systems that further reduce water use
and better protect our water supplies."
Research into new insights and opportunities for water
conservation in the home will be ongoing over the next two years as
part of the opportunity with ReNEWW House, a retrofitted, net-zero
energy, water and waste research home located near the Purdue University campus.
Both companies share a commitment to sustainability evident
through product and process innovation while lowering environmental
impact. Whirlpool Corporation created a corporate office for
environmental control in 1970, cementing the company's on-going
commitment to environmental protection and natural resource
efficiency. The company has led the development of new
sustainability standards for home appliances, and is the most
awarded appliance manufacturer by the Environmental Protection
Agency for continued commitment to energy and water efficient
products.
Kohler has a long history of
supporting water efficiency and sustainability in its products and
is aligned with organizations such as the Alliance for Water
Efficiency and U.S. Green Building Council. Recognized by the EPA
WaterSense® program for excellence and partnership for each of the
past seven years, the company has positioned itself as a
sustainability leader in the plumbing industry with educational
programs, awareness campaigns, and water-saving products.
About Whirlpool Corporation
Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) is the number one major
appliance manufacturer in the world, with approximately
$20 billion in annual sales, 100,000
employees and 70 manufacturing and technology research centers
throughout the world in 2014. The company markets Whirlpool,
KitchenAid, Maytag, Consul, Brastemp,
Amana, Bauknecht, Jenn-Air, Indesit and
other major brand names in more than 170 countries. Additional
information about the company can be found at
WhirlpoolCorp.com, or find us on Twitter at
@WhirlpoolCorp.
About Kohler Co.
Founded in 1873 and headquartered in Kohler, Wis., Kohler Co. is one of America's
oldest and largest privately held companies comprised of more than
34,000 associates. With more than 50 manufacturing locations
worldwide, Kohler is a global
leader in the manufacture of kitchen and bath products; engines and
power systems; premier furniture, cabinetry and tile; and
owner/operator of two of the world's finest five-star hospitality
and golf resort destinations in Kohler and St
Andrews, Scotland. Kohler Co. has a long history of
supporting water efficiency and sustainability and is a leading
producer of water-saving plumbing products, which has earned the
company seven consecutive awards from the EPA WaterSense® program.
For more details, please visit kohler.com for information on
water-saving plumbing products or believe.kohler.com for stories on
Kohler's sustainability
mission.
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SOURCE Whirlpool Corporation