Kohler Launches Six-Minute Shower Challenge to Bonnaroo Attendees

KOHLER, Wis., June 8, 2016 /3BL Media/ - According to research from the EPA WaterSense® program, the average American adult spends 8 minutes in the shower, using about 18 gallons of water each time they lather up.* Kohler, a global leader in the manufacture of kitchen and bath products, encourages consumers to reduce their water usage by 25 percent by cutting their shower time by two minutes.

As part of its sponsorship of the shower facilities at the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Tennessee June 9-12, Kohler urges concertgoers to take the #CommitToSix pledge before they shower, and sing along with the KOHLER Moxie Bluetooth-enabled showerheads in the facilities. For every pledge made at kohler.com/commit, Kohler in partnership with the festival’s nonprofit charitable organization, Bonnaroo Works Fund, will donate $1 to The Nature Conservancy, up to $10,000. The donation will support restoration of the nearby Duck River, which winds through the middle of Tennessee and is the water source for the Bonnaroo festival. In addition, Kohler encourages attendees and consumers across the U.S. to install WaterSense-labeled showerheads in their homes if they haven’t already, which can further reduce water use by 20 percent or more.**  

Last year 36,000 Bonnaroo attendees took showers during the four-day festival, and Kohler hopes many will choose to make the #CommitToSix pledge this year. In addition, the campaign extends beyond the event itself. All music lovers and water-conscious consumers can join the effort by visiting kohler.com/commit between June 6 and August 31 and pledging to reduce their shower time.

“Whether you sing in the shower or not, pledging to cut just a few minutes of shower time is a simple way that festival-goers, music fans and everyone else can reduce water use,” says Rob Zimmerman, senior manager of sustainability at Kohler. “It’s important for people to understand that the amount of water they use directly impacts the quality and health of the local rivers and lakes where they live, and in many parts of the country, the very ability to have enough water for the community.”

The Duck River, like many waterways in growing population centers, faces increased storm-water runoff, sewage treatment discharge, and chemical runoff from farmland. Since 1999 the Nature Conservancy has worked to conserve this resource with local communities by developing “smart growth” land-use plans, addressing water supply issues, and providing financial assistance to farmers to manage river banks and protect aquatic life. Today the Duck River is a healthy river for wildlife while also serving as a water source for more than 250,000 people.

Kohler Co. and the Kohler Trust for Preservation have worked with The Nature Conservancy on previous water restoration efforts, including projects in Wisconsin where Kohler Co. is headquartered. With a long history of supporting water efficiency and sustainability in its products, the company sponsors numerous educational programs and awareness campaigns to encourage responsible use of water supplies. Kohler is a member of the Alliance for Water Efficiency and the U.S. Green Building Council and has been recognized by the EPA WaterSense program for excellence and partnership in each of the last eight years.

*Average shower lasts 8.2 minutes; standard showerhead has a flow rate of 2.2 gallons per minute (gpm).

** Depending on flow rate of existing showerhead and WaterSense model selected.

About Kohler Co.
Founded in 1873 and headquartered in Kohler, Wisconsin, Kohler Co. is one of America’s oldest and largest privately held companies comprised of 32,000 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, Wisconsin 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 eight consecutive awards from the EPA WaterSense® program. For more details, visit kohler.com for information on water-saving plumbing products, believe.kohler.com for stories on Kohler's sustainability mission, and follow KOHLER on Twitter and Facebook.

About The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. Together with its more than 1 million members and 600 scientists, the Conservancy has protected 120 million acres of land and thousands of miles of rivers worldwide, and operates more than 100 marine conservation projects globally. The Conservancy works on the ground in all 50 U.S. states and more than 69 countries. To learn more, visit www.nature.org or follow @nature_press on Twitter.

About Bonnaroo
Held on a sprawling 700 acre farm in Manchester, Tennessee, Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival is a four-day immersive experience, celebrating the best in live music entertainment from timeless legends to emerging artists in rock, hip hop, electronic, jazz and Americana.  Since 2002, Bonnaroo has been a staple of the American music festival scene, bringing together hundreds of thousands of attendees in a one of a kind camping environment, to experience more than 125 artists and 20 comedians perform across 12 stages. Bonnaroo is the only large scale festival in the country that operates around the clock and features a variety of curated experiences including, a 24 hour cinema, comedy club, beer festival, theater performers, and more. Co-founded by Superfly and AC Entertainment, Bonnaroo is a once in a lifetime experience that happens every June.  Learn more at www.bonnaroo.com, Twitter @bonnaroo, Facebook and Instagram @bonnaroo.