Industry News

A lush new portfolio of bath and kitchen products draws aesthetic inspiration from the company’s storied heritage

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PISCATAWAY, N.J. (March 12, 2014) ― DXV by American Standard is a new flagship luxury bathroom and kitchen brand that celebrates and draws on the storied plumbing company’s rich history, now in its 15th decade.

Available exclusively in showrooms, the DXV portfolio will launch this spring with more than 70 unique product and style offerings curated in a revelatory manner.

“American Standard has always been an active participant in the ongoing development of product aesthetics and design,” said Margaret Monteleone, director of luxury product marketing for American Standard. “In an expression of our true heritage, we have taken the most influential design movements since our founding in 1872 and used them as a framework around which to organize the DXV portfolio of products.”

DXV by American Standard comprises a premium selection of meticulously crafted fixture and faucet collections curated into four broad movements: Classic (1880 – 1920), Golden Era (1920 – 1950), Modern (1950 – 1990), and Contemporary (1990 – today).

Each of these movements contains one or two bathroom fixture suites — tubs, toilets, sinks, and lavatories — and complementary faucet collections that reimagine and reinterpret historically significant designs.

More than reproductions, these exquisite products blend the artisanal character of the past with the aesthetic and performance sensibilities of today. At launch, the DXV portfolio ― which will continue to grow and evolve ― also includes a collection of kitchen sinks and fittings, as well as the AT Series, an advanced smart toilet and bidet seat that combine outstanding contemporary design with state-of-the-art technology.

“Fixtures are the cornerstone of the DXV brand,” Monteleone noted. “Faucets are the complementary element. They add variety and nuance, or contrast and complexity to the ensemble, just as accessories do to a suit or dress.

“And like fashion, fixtures and faucets from different movements, collections and sources can be combined to create excitingly personal spaces in which timeless designs from disparate eras fall into an aesthetically stimulating dialogue, Monteleone continued.

Decade 15

In a unique move, DXV will be establishing an online and print community for designers, architects and creative individuals to discuss their experience with the products in the real world and spark inspiration among their peers. To start the conversation, DXV is collaborating with an inaugural group of six well-established designers — all influential bloggers — to create six highly individual spaces drawing on the DXV portfolio of products.

The designers will blog about their projects, which will be published in Decade 15 print magazine as well as on the DXV website. They will not only share information, insights and inspirations generated by using the various DXV collections, but also engage in a dynamic two-way conversation with other professionals and interested consumers about the larger universe of good, beautiful design and how DXV’s philosophy and aesthetics fit into it.

High-Efficiency Plumbing Products Are Now the American Standard, Providing Superior Performance While Helping to Sustain Nation’s Water Resources

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (March 20, 2014) – Americans have saved more than 18 trillion gallons of water — roughly the volume of Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay — by embracing low-flow toilet technology over the past two decades since the U.S. enacted the 1992 Energy Policy Act (EPAct) that mandated less water per flush, according to the Alliance for Water Efficiency (AWE). That’s hard to imagine, but it is enough water to fill 27 million Olympic size swimming pools.

Since 1994, when the 1992 EPAct legislation took effect, innovative toilet technology has transitioned the nation from a water-guzzling 3.5 gallons per flush (gpf) to a low-flow 1.6 gpf toilet diet and, more recently, toward high efficiency 1.28 gpf models. In the process, the amount of water consumed has been reduced by more than half, with usage rates down by 54 percent and 63 percent, respectively. These savings have been impactful, as toilets represent the single largest source of water consumption in a home, accounting for nearly one-third of residential water use, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

In addition, today’s commercial fixtures are squeezing even more performance out of each drop, offering 1.1 gpf toilets that yield a 31 percent savings over standard 1.6 gpf toilets, and urinals that operate with a meager 0.25 gpf, and cut water use by as much as 87 percent over standard urinals.

“As we mark the EPAct’s 20th anniversary, it’s important to appreciate the significant water usage efficiencies that smart plumbing technology has brought our nation,” said Jay Gould, president and CEO of American Standard Brands. “As much of the nation faces the worst drought in half a century, it is heartening to look back upon twenty years of this successful water conservation policy and realize the enormous volume of water saved by highly efficient plumbing products.”

The estimated 18.2 trillion gallons in cumulative water savings that has resulted from the use of low-flow toilets highlights how water conservation policies, such as the 1992 EPAct, impact and help sustain the nation’s water supplies, noted Mary Ann Dickinson, president and CEO of Chicago-based AWE, the national nonprofit organization dedicated to the efficient and sustainable use of water.

“These toilets help save an estimated 4.6 billion gallons of water each and every day in the U.S.,” said Dickinson. “When you add in the further water reductions achieved by high efficiency 1.28 gpf toilets, the savings are even more outstanding. Water is the critical resource issue of our time, and smart water conservation policies work to ensure that we have sustainable supplies for the future.”

The Road to High-Performing Toilet Technology

During the early 1990s, when water use restrictions first took effect, plumbing product manufacturers struggled to produce low-flow toilets that could effectively remove all waste with only 1.6 gallons of water, prompting frustration among users who resorted to counterproductive double-flushing. However, by 1998, toilet manufacturers had successfully modified flushing systems to remove waste using less water.

As the first decade of low-flow technology drew to a close, a flushing evaluation system would be introduced that changed the industry. Maximum Performance (MaP) testing was implemented in 2003 to measure the amount of solid waste removed per flush. This independent testing program inspired toilet producers to strive for the highest rating of successfully flushing 1,000 grams (2.2 lbs.) of solid waste.

In 2006, to drive even greater water savings, the EPA created WaterSense, a partnership program modeled after the EnergySTAR labeling program to help assure consumers that products will conserve and perform as promised. WaterSense-certified toilets use 20 percent less water than low-flow models, while providing strong flushing power. Commode makers were motivated to create high efficiency toilets (HETs) that used only 1.28 gpf while delivering strong flushing performance.

The American Standard Champion PRO series toilets are a perfect example. Offering a powerful flush that can easily remove 1,000 grams of solid waste, the Champion PRO models use only 1.28 gpf, meeting the rigorous WaterSense-certification standards.

Water Savings throughout the Bathroom

Toilets aren’t the only bathroom products constantly evolving and being held to more stringent water usage requirements. All American Standard bathroom sink faucets use only 1.5 gallons per minute (gpm) and are WaterSense-certified for using 32 percent less water than standard 2.2 gpm styles, without sacrificing performance. Further supporting the use of water saving faucets, the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) reported that almost half of the designers responding to its annual 2014 Kitchen and Bath Design Trends survey specified water-saving faucets and fixtures in 2013. Forty-four percent predicted that the demand will grow for water-saving bathroom products throughout 2014, according to the NKBA.

To support its belief in water savings in the entire bathroom, the company conducted a real-life test in 21 homes in the Atlanta suburbs in 2010. The study measured pre- and post-water usage after WaterSense-certified toilets, bathroom faucets and showerheads from American Standard were installed in the residences. Water savings ranged from 20 to 25 percent, plus lowered energy costs and water bills. In a follow-up survey performed in early 2014, residents reported continued satisfaction with the performance of their water-conserving faucets and fixtures, specifically citing the excellent flushing power of the HETs installed in their homes.

Every Home, Every Family Can Save Water

·  National Savings: If every American home with older, less efficient toilets replaced them with low-flow units using 1.6 gpf, it would save nearly 640 billion gallons of water every year. Since the program’s inception in 2006, WaterSense has helped consumers save a cumulative487 billion gallons of water and over $8.9 billion in water and energy bills by using water efficient plumbing fixtures.

·  Environmental Savings: Water efficiency standards have helped reduce the amount of energy needed to heat, pump and treat water by 64.7 billion kilowatt hours, according to the EPA. Further, these water saving regulations have also helped to eliminate 24 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, equal to planting 606 million trees.

·  The Familial Flush: According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), a family of four using a single, high efficiency, 1.28 gpf toilet can save 8,760 gallons of water every year. In addition, the average household can save nearly $200 on water and sewer bills per year by installing water efficient fixtures, according to the EPA.

“American Standard is privileged to have been a part of this amazing water savings accomplishment ― conserving over 18 trillion gallons of water in the U.S over the past two decades,” concluded Gould. “It’s all part of our company’s efforts to raise the standards in bringing innovative solutions and technical leadership to the plumbing industry and our world. It’s been part of our company’s heritage for over 140 years.”

Bradford White recently announced the addition of its exclusive ICON HD™ Commercial Control System to the company’s 100-gallon, 399,999 BTU/Hr. eF Series® ultra-high efficiency water heater. The ICON HD™ is an intelligent Honeywell® integrated control with a digital LCD display that combines temperature control, diagnostic codes, system functions, and operational status into a single, intuitive control unit.

Features of the ICON HD™ Commercial Control System include the following: eight different service screens for simplified access to troubleshooting features including temperature sensor readings and current status; multiple error codes for precise diagnostics and accurate service; error code history for troubleshooting assistance; viewable flame sense current indicator for predicting and avoiding disruptions in performance; and a communication port that is compatible with Bradford White’s OnGuard RMT™ Remote Monitoring Technology and other building management systems.

Commercial water heaters equipped with ICON HD™ can also be upgraded with the optional programmable setback control kit which features 7-day, 4 period/day programmability allowing users to customize temperatures to match their usage patterns, reducing operational costs and saving energy.

Bradford White’s 100-gallon, 399,999 BTU/Hr. ultra-high efficiency water heater is the largest of 12 eF Series® models. In addition to the ICON HD™, other features include class-leading thermal efficiency ratings as high as 94%, quiet operation, a stainless steel alloy burner tube, a durable direct spark ignition system, a modulating blower, excellent installation flexibility with zero inch clearance to combustibles, and multiple venting configurations including direct or power direct venting, balanced or unbalanced venting, and vertical or horizontally venting.

To learn more about the ICON HD™ Commercial Control System and eF Series® Ultra High Efficiency water heaters, please visit www.bradfordwhite.com.

Lochinvar is pleased to announce the February winners in its VIP Contractor Program. Michael Scott of Skyline Plumbing & Mechanical Inc. in South Provo, UT, was named the latest winner of the VIP Installation Showcase, and Jason Olson of Alpine Plumbing in Brookfield, WI, was selected in the monthly drawing.  Both winning contractors will take part in Lochinvar’s Nashville Experience trip this June, which includes an all-expenses-paid trip for two and tickets to the world’s largest country music festival.

An Impressive Installation

Scott’s entry in the VIP Installation Showcase, which is housed on Lochinvar’s Facebook page as well as on www.knightheatingboiler.com, highlighted Skyline Plumbing & Mechanical’s recent update to a heating system at a Utah residence.  According to Scott, “The existing system employed a cast iron boiler, b-vent flue, inadequate combustion air, under-pumped 1,000 foot rolls of B-PEX for each loop, and a ‘rat’s nest’ of control wiring.”

Skyline Plumbing & Mechanical replaced the boiler with a 110,000 Btu/hr KNIGHT^® Wall Mount Heating Boiler (WHN110). Concurrent upgrades included Lochinvar-approved flue with alternate vertical concentric venting, which uses the existing b-vent to route the new vent pipe through and also bring fresh combustion air to the boiler. To overcome the excessive head pressure, double pumps were installed to counterbalance the existing 1,000 foot loops of half-inch PEX. The installation was completed with the connection of new controls.

“Since the upgrade, the homeowners have enjoyed consistent comfort and are very pleased with their new Lochinvar boiler system,” said Scott.

Through April, VIPs can upload a photo and brief description of any qualified boiler or boiler/Squire combination installation for a chance to be named the monthly winner of the VIP Installation Showcase. Once an entry has been submitted, it is featured in a gallery where Facebook users can vote for their favorite installation.  Those not engaged with social media can enter and vote on www.knightheatingboiler.com. The top three entries with the most votes each

month are selected as finalists, and a panel of Lochinvar judges chooses the monthly winner.  New and repeat entries can be submitted each month for additional chances to win.

Rewards for Registrations

In addition to Scott’s February win, Olson was named the winner in the monthly VIP Contractor Program drawing. His product registration card was randomly selected, earning Olson a spot on the Nashville Experience for himself and a guest.

“I’m very excited to have the opportunity to take part in this year’s Nashville Experience,” said Olson. “I’ve heard great things about the Lochinvar headquarters facility, and I’m looking forward to meeting the Lochinvar team and other VIP Contractors this summer.”

In addition to each registration offering a chance to win the Nashville Experience, registrations of the high-efficiency KNIGHT^® Boiler, Solution™ Boiler and Cadet™ Boiler also earn a $25 Visa^® Reward Card[1], while every registered Squire^® Indirect Water Heater earns a $10 reward card.