BENTON HARBOR, Mich.,
April 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --
Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) has a long history in
environmental stewardship including helping to draft the first
ENERGY STAR® appliance standards. The company currently sells 424
ENERGY STAR appliance models, and has been honored with 23 ENERGY
STAR Awards since the beginning of the program in 1998 – offering
more qualified products, and winning more ENERGY STAR Awards than
any other manufacturer.
"We recognize the ENERGY STAR program for the value it has
offered consumers over the years and as an important element of our
broad-based sustainability strategy," said Nick Gillespie, senior manager of government
relations for Whirlpool Corporation. "Our success over the years
has come from the realization you have to build energy efficient
appliances with the innovative features and benefits consumers
want. This is not an 'either/or' situation, we must offer
great products that are both innovative and efficient to be
effective in protecting the environment. We have done just
that and more with all of our energy saving products, including
those that we are proud to have designated as ENERGY STAR."
Whirlpool's sustainability strategy engages nearly every aspect
of its business, from materials and processes, to product
technologies and end-of-life recycling, all aimed at a more
sustainable future. With more than 860 million appliances currently
in homes in the United States –
many 10 or more years old – our biggest opportunity for overall
energy and water savings is in educating consumers on the benefits
of replacing old, inefficient appliances with new advanced
products. As an example, a new washer today is 77
percent more efficient than one from the year 2000 and only
costs $66 a year to run. Consumers who replace older
models would save $117 a year. Also, new front-load
washing machines are 70 percent more efficient using about 26 fewer
gallons of water per load than those made in 2000.
In managing the environmental effects of its business, Whirlpool
goes well beyond the products it produces, to include improving its
processes, using advanced materials and investing in
state-of-the-art facilities to minimize impact on the planet. Most
recently, Whirlpool became the first U.S. manufacturer of ENERGY
STAR refrigerators and freezers committed to using EPA
SNAP-approved environmentally friendly Solstice foam blowing agent
that delivers better energy efficiency and a 99.9% improvement in
the global warming potential (GWP) over commonly used blowing
agents in the U.S (HFC-245fa).
Whirlpool also operates a global facility sustainability program
achieving several LEED certifications. The company has ongoing
partnerships in programs that explore and test "net-zero" energy
homes. And, last year, Whirlpool introduced a suite of smart grid
compatible appliances. The company's focus on the environment
also extends to public policy and community engagement. Whirlpool
was one of 13 founding members of the Business Environment
Leadership Council, an advisory group to the Pew Center on Global
Climate Change. The Center conducts studies and international
educational programs on the issue of global climate change.
About Whirlpool Corporation
Whirlpool Corporation is the world's leading global
manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances, with annual
revenues of approximately $19 billion in 2013, 69,000
employees and 59 manufacturing and technology research centers
around the world. The company
markets Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, Jenn-Air,
Amana, Brastemp, Consul, Bauknecht and other major brand
names to consumers in nearly every country around the world.
Additional information about the company can be found
at http://www.whirlpoolcorp.com.
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SOURCE Whirlpool Corporation