WaterSense announces Partners of the Year
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently honored five organizations as 2012 WaterSense Partners of the Year. The awards program recognizes WaterSense partners who help advance the overall mission of WaterSense, increase awareness of the WaterSense brand and demonstrate overall excellence in the water efficiency arena.
WaterSense-labeled products and more than 2,600 WaterSense partners nationwide have helped American businesses and households save 287 billion gallons of water and $4.7 billion in water and energy bills.
“WaterSense is proud to partner with these champions of water efficiency who share our mission to protect the future of our nation’s water supply,” said Nancy Stoner, EPA’s acting Assistant Administrator for Water. “The 2012 WaterSense Partners of the Year were exceptional in their efforts to support innovative approaches to help people and companies save water and money on utility bills nationwide.”
WaterSense recognized the following Partners of the Year:
Manufacturer Partners of the Year
American Standard Brands earned a Manufacturer Partner of the Year Award for developing a WaterSense-labeled toilet model that can be installed without tools. American Standard also toured the country with an educational display that demonstrated how WaterSense-labeled faucets, toilets and showerheads work.
Kohler Co., a three-time WaterSense Manufacturer Partner of the Year, introduced its most water-efficient dual-flush toilet in 2011. The company also more than doubled the number of WaterSense-labeled showerheads it offers and supported and participated in the “Wasting Water Is Weird” consumer education campaign to promote water conservation.
Retailer Partner of the Year
Lowe’s Companies became a three-time WaterSense Retailer Partner of the Year by supporting and participating in the “Wasting Water Is Weird” campaign to promote water conservation and training its sales associates on water savings and usability of WaterSense-labeled products. Lowe's customers saved about 4 billion gallons of water in 2011 with WaterSense products.
Promotional Partner of the Year
Colorado Springs Utilities was named the WaterSense Promotional Partner of the Year for helping a local builder create the first WaterSense-labeled home in Colorado. The utility also encouraged commercial kitchens in the area to try pre-rinse spray valves that helped save more than 20 million gallons of water.
Builder Partner of the Year
KB Home, a two-time WaterSense Builder Partner of the Year, built nearly 100 WaterSense-labeled homes in 2011 and introduced a model home designed to achieve net-zero energy use and the highest levels of water and other resource efficiency.
The Partner of the Year awards were presented at the WaterSmart Innovations conference in Las Vegas.