Survey: Most Homeowners Believe Reusing Water is Safe, Beneficial

WASHINGTON, December 7, 2015 /3BL Media/ - Water conservation is a high priority for the vast majority of homeowners, and 77 percent of them believe it is safe and beneficial to reuse water within the home, according to a survey released by Whirlpool Corporation.

Sustainability experts from Whirlpool—the world’s No. 1 selling major appliance manufacturer — was on hand to discuss the new findings about water efficiency and conservation at the Greenbuild International Conference and Expo, the premier event for sustainable building, Nov. 18-20 in Washington, D.C.

A random sample of more than 1,200 homeowners were surveyed on behalf of Whirlpool to determine their water and energy efficiency preferences. The results yielded several important findings, including:

• Nearly all respondents (94 percent) said reducing household energy consumption is top of mind, and nine out of 10 people say they’d like to be better about conserving water and energy.
• More than eight in 10 homeowners said reducing water use in their home and making their home more sustainable is important to them, while also admitting they would like to be better about conserving water and energy.
• Nearly all agreed they would like to have home appliances that are both efficient and affordable.
• Homeowners most interested in water efficiency are 35 years old or younger with a college degree and children.

“Whirlpool has been a leader in the sustainable building industry for more than 40 years, and this data reinforces our commitment to the environment,” said Ron Voglewede, global sustainability director, Whirlpool Corporation. “Many of our products allow our trade customers to give homeowners what they desire: high-performing appliances that lower operating costs and water consumption.”

Additional findings of the survey include:

• 74 percent of respondents agree that it’s safe to reuse household water from sinks or showers for flushing toilets or outdoor irrigation.
• 58 percent would reuse water from sinks or showers to reduce their household water consumption by half.

Reusing water is a vital component of water conservation, and this study reaffirms the importance of Whirlpool Corporation’s involvement in the ReNEWW House (Retrofit Net zero Energy Water Waste) initiative. In partnership with Purdue University and Kohler Co., the ReNEWW House is a world-class research laboratory and sustainable living showcase retrofitted from an 87-year-old home near Purdue’s campus in West Lafayette, Indiana.

After the home’s inaugural year focused on net-zero energy, Whirlpool sustainability experts are now installing water systems that will filter and reuse water throughout the home, eliminating its reliance on the city’s water supply.

“We expect the ReNEWW House to provide Kohler and Whirlpool with new insights on how people use water, and the energy associated with that water, in their normal routines,” said Rob Zimmerman, senior manager of sustainability at Kohler. “The project will allow us to gain a deeper understanding of how our products can be improved and how user behavior can contribute to higher levels of water efficiency.”

Sustainability experts from Whirlpool and Kohler will be speaking about water conservation using insights from the ReNEWW House during a Greenbuild educational track at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19. Attendees can gain valuable insights from Eric Bowler, a senior engineer at Whirlpool, and Rob Zimmerman, senior manager of sustainability at Kohler, at the session, “Retrofitting a Single Family Home Targeting Net Zero Water.”

Also at the show, Whirlpool will display a few of its select sustainable appliances, including a slim Whirlpool® HybridCare^TM Heat Pump Dryer. When using the Eco Dry setting, the dryer uses up to 73 percent less energy* utilizing a revolutionary refrigeration system to dry and recycle the same air.

This smaller model offers more versatility on location and is not limited to a basement or area with special ventilation. The dryer can be put in a closet, or anywhere with a drain and uses the same technology as the larger, 7.3 cubic-foot Heat Pump Dryer, which earned a 2014 ENERGY STAR Emerging Technology Award.

Greenbuild attendees could visit Whirlpool sustainability experts during the conference at booth 3607. For more information about Whirlpool Corporation, its portfolio of brands and other offerings for industry professionals, visit InsideAdvantage.com.

A one-page fact sheet about the survey results is available upon request. Whirlpool partnered with Ipsos Public Affairs, an independent research practice and the third-largest market research company in the world, to conduct the study.

*Compared to pre-2004 traditional dryers, when paired with a matching washer, Normal cycle, electric only.

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. 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.