KOHLER, WISC. – For as many years as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has been recognizing organizations with its WaterSense awards for outstanding work in the field of water efficiency, Kohler Co. has been a recipient, and 2011 is no different.
Kohler, a two-time WaterSense Partner of the Year and 2010 Excellence Award winner, was recognized with its fourth consecutive WaterSense award from EPA – this time a 2011 Excellence Award for strategic collaboration. Kohler is the only organization to garner four consecutive WaterSense awards and received its latest honor at the annual WaterSmart Innovations Conference in Las Vegas, Oct. 5.
“Kohler is honored to be recognized by the EPA four straight years, which once again acknowledged our collaborative efforts on the serious issue of water conservation,” said Rob Zimmerman, water conservation and sustainability manager for Kohler Co. “Kohler has a large stake in the availability of clean, safe water. And our company understands the ongoing importance of educating homeowners about reducing water usage.”
After winning back-to-back WaterSense Partner of the Year awards in 2008 and 2009, Kohler continued to lead the industry with back-to-back Excellence awards surrounding its innovative products and programs that bring water-saving solutions directly to plumbers, designers, specifiers and homeowners. With more than 3,000 partners eligible for the WaterSense awards program, only seven were bestowed Excellence Awards.
Specifically, the 2011 Excellence Award was given to Kohler for efforts in promoting and publicizing its WaterSense-labeled plumbing products with displays at nearly 900 wholesale showrooms and approximately 500 Home Depot and Lowe’s retail outlets.
The company also placed WaterSense fixtures and faucets at high-profile venues, such as the 2010 PGA Championship, Yellowstone National Park, historic Union Station in Washington, D.C., Charmin Holiday Restrooms in Times Square, and J.W. Marriott Corp. hotels.
Partnering with EPA to drive awareness of WaterSense-labeled products and water conservation education in the home, Kohler took to the streets in Dallas during Fix-A-Leak Week, and in California and New Jersey during the We’re For Water promotion. EPA selected City of Dallas Water Utilities to spotlight its national Fix-A-Leak Week by assisting low-income families with minor plumbing issues. The national program was a reminder to all Americans to check household plumbing fixtures and irrigation systems for leaks that can
account for more than 1 trillion gallons of water wasted each year in U.S. homes. Kohler worked closely with Lowe’s and EPA to help make the Fix-A-Leak Week event in Dallas a success by coordinating the much needed product donations and assisting with the delivery of the products.
For the We’re For Water promotion, Kohler supplied working educational plumbing product displays and conducted media outreach to garner exposure for EPA’s WaterSense awareness campaign kickoff event in Los Angeles in June, and for a second event in New Jersey. The events featured a water-saving contest between two families.
Kohler continued its Save Water America educational campaign with an interactive Web site and donating another $1 million in products to help build Habitat For Humanity homes with water-efficient plumbing products. Over a two-year period – and the Save Water America program is currently in its third year in 2011 – Kohler provided more than $2 million in product donations to help build 1,245 homes in 48 states.
“Save Water America is just one example of our strategic collaboration with EPA and was a multi-faceted initiative involving touch points with consumers and trade alike in delivering key messages about water conservation,” added Zimmerman.
Additionally, Kohler continued to leverage its national plumbing spokesperson, Master Plumber and LEED Green Associate Ed Del Grande with media, trade shows, social media, customer events, and collaborative events with EPA, such as Fix-A-Leak Week in Dallas.
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