With an eye toward fueling inspiration and supporting its commitment as an innovative design leader in the industry, American Standard Brands announced the opening of a new industrial design studio at its Piscataway, N.J. research facility. This state-of-the-art studio will further enhance communication and collaboration among its talented design team, while cementing the Company’s reputation for engineering industry-changing technologies. In the Read more
General News
With an eye toward fueling inspiration and supporting its commitment as an innovative design leader in the industry, American Standard Brands announced the opening of a new industrial design studio at its Piscataway, N.J. research facility. This state-of-the-art studio will further enhance communication and collaboration among its talented design team, while cementing the Company’s reputation for engineering industry-changing technologies. In the past year, American Standard has tripled the size of its design department, plus invested in an innovation team. The industrial design studio was created to accommodate these growing departments and provide an ideal work space for developing the next generation of ground-breaking product designs. The environment of this spacious 4,200 sq. ft. studio is a designer’s dream. Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the space with natural light. Large common work surfaces and a fully open space layout facilitate collaboration in which to create, discuss, and exchange ideas. Ample facilities to develop and display mock-ups, prototypes, and mobile inspiration boards further stimulate the flow of creative juices. Each designer is generously supported with access to state-of-the-art computer software, as well. “You can sense the spirit of creativity as soon as you enter the new design studio,” stated Jean-Jacques L’Henaff, vice president – design, LIXIL Water Technology Americas, American Standard and DXV, and driving force behind the redesigned facilities. “We believe that our customers, showroom and retail partners, and trade professionals will greatly benefit from the stunning design and technological innovations that will be created in this cutting-edge space.” L’Henaff also believes that the studio’s proximity to New York City, one of the richest cultural centers in the country, helps the Company attract the best and the brightest industrial designers. Plus, its metropolitan location offers American Standard a connection to the ideas and energy of the City’s influential design scene.The creative team led by L’Henaff can also enjoy the convenience of the DXV by American Standard luxury showroom and office space in the heart of the Flatiron District in Manhattan. Design Team ExpandedFurther augmenting its design proficiency, American Standard recently hired Brian Kalember to join their team of industrial designers. He previously worked as an associate industrial designer for Delta Faucet Company, where he developed faucets for both fashion and retail brands. Prior to this, he served as a design consultant for The Anvil and creative director for the pilot TEDx program at Purdue University. Kalember earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical and electrical engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in industrial and product design from Purdue University. “Brian will be a valuable, and creative, asset to our team. It is a true privilege to work with such talented and dedicated designers and engineers every single day,” said L’Henaff. “American Standard Brands has a proud, 140-plus year tradition of developing industry-changing products across all categories. I enthusiastically look forward to the innovations yet to come, which will be brought to life in our new industrial design studio.” The construction management of the new American Standard industrial design studio was handled by Gannett Fleming, South Plainfield, N.J. Plumbing system installations were provided by Schaible’s Plumbing and Heating, Hampton, N.J. For more information about the innovative technologies and inspirational designs developed by American Standard, visit www.americanstandard.com and www.dxv.com.
According to the Washington Post, a megadrought is characterized as a sustained period of sparse precipitation and significant loss of soil moisture that span generations, about 10 times as long as the normal 3 year drought.As early as the year 2050, NASA forecasts that the majority of the United States will be transformed into a giant Read more
According to the Washington Post, a megadrought is characterized as a sustained period of sparse precipitation and significant loss of soil moisture that span generations, about 10 times as long as the normal 3 year drought.As early as the year 2050, NASA forecasts that the majority of the United States will be transformed into a giant dust bowl. (Highlight to tweet) For 30 years or more, our country might fall victim to the side effects of greenhouse gases and climate change. While portions of the United States currently or previously suffer from long periods of drought, can our country handle the supposed ‘megadrought’? After all, this event is said to lead to obvious water shortages, wildfires, and loss of vegetation.The last time North America experienced a widespread megadrought was as far back as the medieval times, which fell between the 12th and 13th centuries. The difference between the past and future megadroughts is that the 2050 event is predicted to be much worse. This will particularly hit large cities because they require more water with the higher population density.In preparation for the dry future, it’s best to start from the source. Plumbers are the ones who give the public access to the water that we’ve been draining while we could be better preserving it. Below are the extra steps that both the plumbing industry and government could be taking in preparation for the drought:On-Site Water RecyclingParticipating in on-site water recycling could eventually become a standard plumbing feature for large facilities and campuses in places already experiencing droughts.Catching and Cleaning Storm WaterCatch basins allow us to collect stormwater by also filtering out debris such as leaves and litter. Usually located next to street curbs and in residential areas, catch basins are seen as another means of recycling the water created by the water cycle.Eliminating LeaksWhether one knows it or not, pipes could be leaking at any moment and increasing the water usage for any home/building. It’s best to have all pipes checked periodically to ensure that a property’s water footprint is as low as possible.With snow in May and tornadoes in November, the weather is as unpredictable as ever these days. According to Toby R. Ault, assistant professor in the department of Earth and atmospheric sciences at Cornell, our unpredictable climate and weather conditions continue to add mystery to what the future holds. However, it wouldn’t hurt to start preserving water in the most simplest of ways, whether the megadrought becomes a reality or not. After all, we owe it to H20 to at least give it a fighting chance of surviving a giant dust bowl!
TOTO, the largest plumbing manufacturer in the world with $5.1 billion in annual sales, announced today that its high-efficiency commercial wall-hung toilet, two ultra high-efficiency urinals, and wall-hung commercial lavatory have no Red List ingredients and are listed in the International Living Future Institute’s (IFLI) Declare Products Database as “Red List Free.” Declare Program Status Read more
TOTO, the largest plumbing manufacturer in the world with $5.1 billion in annual sales, announced today that its high-efficiency commercial wall-hung toilet, two ultra high-efficiency urinals, and wall-hung commercial lavatory have no Red List ingredients and are listed in the International Living Future Institute’s (IFLI) Declare Products Database as “Red List Free.”
Declare Program Status
The IFLI’s Declare Program, often compared to nutritional labeling on packaged food, has three Declaration Status options—“Declared,” “Living Building Challenge Compliant,” and “Red List Free.” If the ILFI finds a product contains an ingredient from the Living Building Challenge’s (LBC) Red List, that ingredient is listed in red on the label, and the product is listed in the Declare database as “Declared.” If it ascertains that a the product contains a Red List ingredient with a LBC exception, the exception is noted on the Declare label, and the product is listed as “LBC Compliant.” If a product has no Red List ingredients—like TOTO’s high-efficiency wall-hung commercial toilet, ultra high-efficiency urinals, and wall-hung commercial lavatory—it is listed as “Red List Free.” “Transparency is the ‘secret ingredient’ in all TOTO products. It’s the TOTO Way,” said Bill Strang, President of Operations for the Americas. “The IFLI’s Declare program offers an important opportunity for us to share our company’s industry leadership in products that contribute to healthy, environmentally-responsible design.” In addition to its “Red List Free” products, TOTO also announces three new PVC-free high-efficiency toilets (HETs) are “LBC Compliant,” five new HETs are “Declared,” and a new commercial undercounter lavatory is “Declared.” In new categories to earn Declare labels, TOTO announces four high-efficiency and ultra high-efficiency EcoPower sensor flush valves for both toilets and urinals are “LBC Compliant.” Its EcoPower high-efficiency sensor faucet is “Declared.” “TOTO is committed to making transparency reporting simpler, easy to understand, and useful to the build-design community,” said Strang. “Together with our partner, Sustainable Minds, we have furthered our commitment to moving ‘beyond compliance’ by incorporating the material health information from our new Declare labels into the existing environmental impact data for our products.”
Sustainable Minds Material Health Overviews
With its new Declare labels’ data as the foundation, TOTO has added eight new SM Material Health Overviews (MHO)—both stand alone and integrated in an existing award-winning TOTO Transparency Report. Additional MHOs will be added on a rolling basis. TOTO’s MHOs are a strategic marketing and lead generation tool that informs safer and healthier product purchase decisions. By distilling the essential technical information from TOTO’s disclosure documents, they make material health information understandable and meaningful, providing plain language interpretation and descriptions of how TOTO is improving the material health of its products. TOTO’s new MHOs may be viewed on the Sustainable Minds’ website in the TOTO Showroom. Healthy, ecologically sound products are highly prized by both design and construction professionals and consumers. However, identifying them is an often onerous burden. TOTO is dedicated to facilitating this process by providing deeper and deeper levels of transparency about its products’ material heath and environmental impacts.
Wilo USA, a provider of pumps and pump solutions for water management, building services and groundwater, has promoted Steve Maney to National Sales Manager. In this new position, Maney will be responsible for national sales growth as well as continue to grow the Midwest region for Wilo’s Building Services segment. He started his Wilo career Read more
Wilo USA, a provider of pumps and pump solutions for water management, building services and groundwater, has promoted Steve Maney to National Sales Manager. In this new position, Maney will be responsible for national sales growth as well as continue to grow the Midwest region for Wilo’s Building Services segment. He started his Wilo career in 2010 leading Wilo’s Energy Solutions Division (ESD) and quickly rose to supervisory and management positions.
In making the announcement, Matthew Beasley, Director of Sales, said, “Steve will oversee the national sales team and also lend his expertise on ESD for the excellent opportunities nationally and in the Midwest region that awaits Wilo USA.” Steve holds a Masters of Public Administration from Northern Illinois University, as well as a degree in political science.
Wilo USA LLC, 9550 W. Higgins Rd. #300, Rosemont, IL 60018
Phone: 888-945-6872, Fax: 888-945-6873
Internet: www.wilo-usa.com
Grundfos Pumps Corporation has appointed Anthony Sellers as Vice President of Finance for the company’s Americas region. He will be responsible for all financial activities for North and South America and will report directly to president and CEO Duncan Cooper. Sellers holds a degree in Corporate Finance from Wayne State University in Detroit and has Read more
Grundfos Pumps Corporation has appointed Anthony Sellers as Vice President of Finance for the company’s Americas region. He will be responsible for all financial activities for North and South America and will report directly to president and CEO Duncan Cooper.
Sellers holds a degree in Corporate Finance from Wayne State University in Detroit and has held finance and accounting positions in various large corporations, including Pentair. Most recently, he served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Finance at Siegwerk North America