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 Since the late '90s, Whirlpool Corporation has partnered with Habitat for Humanity, donating  appliances to the homes Habitat built. In 2000, Whirlpool pledged to donate $25 million worth of Energy Star®-qualified appliances to every Habitat home built in North America through 2005. Jeff Terry is the manager for Whirlpool's Habitat for Humanity outreach program. More about Whirlpool and Habitat.
e-FFICIENCY NEWS: Whirlpool Corporation has a great reputation as a responsible community partner, for example, through your strong relationship with Habitat for Humanity. How did this relationship come about and what role/or services does Whirlpool provide?
Jeff Terry: In the late 1990s, Whirlpool vision grew to be Every Home, Everywhere … with Pride, Passion and Performance. With our vision in mind, the leader of Whirlpool's North American operations challenged the employees to create something that in 50 years, we would all be able to look back on and say, "this is what Whirlpool is made of." We were inspired by the work of Habitat for Humanity and knew that it was in keeping with our belief that the "Home is the Heart of a Family."
Whirlpool ventured into a one-year commitment in 1999 to donate a refrigerator and range to every Habitat home in North America. Soon the relationship began, we knew were onto something very special. In 2000, the partnership was expanded to 5 years and it's grown in many wonderful ways to support the work of Habitat for Humanity. One example is in 2001, we updated our product donation package to include an Energy Star qualified refrigerator to every home throughout North America.
e-FFICIENCY NEWS: How important do you consider education about energy and money-saving practices is for new home owners?
Jeff Terry: Education is a significant component of the work of Habitat for Humanity. Habitat's motto is "We provide a hand up, not a hand out." Habitat is all about helping to grow people's lives and it’s done through building homes in partnership with them but also by providing them with the tools and education to manage that home and their lives.
Financial management is a significant part of the education provided to Habitat partner families even before they are able to buy their homes. That being said, the importance of energy conservation in how they run their home is very important and an area where there is a great need in the Habitat community.
e-FFICIENCY NEWS: Does Whirlpool incorporate any educational tips about energy efficiency in the home as part of your work relationship with Habitat?
Jeff Terry: We do in the use and care guide for each of our appliances to provide, but we are in the process of working with Habitat and the Alliance to Save Energy on developing a easy to read and understand, one-page brochure with tips on what to do to keep your home running efficiently and what will save them money in the long run. Of course we're designing it so they can be put on their refrigerator.
e-FFICIENCY NEWS: How can other companies get involved in Habitat in the same way Whirlpool did?
Jeff Terry: The work of Habitat is so vast not just here in the United States, but around the world. There is such a need in the work to eradicate substandard housing that Habitat is open to partnerships that speak directly to that vision. Product manufacturers, builders, raw material manufacturers, and I could go on – there is a need for more partners. Something I am interested in pursuing with Habitat and the Alliance is the creation of a consortium of companies that would be willing to put an energy-efficiency product package together. Collectively we could either donate or make available to Habitat affiliates throughout the country at discounted costs this package that would help make these homes more efficient.
e-FFICIENCY NEWS: Whirlpool Corporation is one of the premium appliance manufacturers of Energystar products. How else does it demonstrate its commitment to energy efficiency through its core business practices?
Jeff Terry: Whirlpool Corporation continues to play a leading role in the development of innovative technology and high efficiency home appliance products that save energy and water resources for consumers in markets worldwide. Whirlpool took its leadership to a new level in 2003 by being the first major appliance company to announce a global greenhouse gas reduction target that will be achieved in substantial part through the indirect emission reduction effect of producing resource efficient appliances.
Whirlpool has been an active partner of the ENERGY STAR® Program since August 1998, and has been honored with the ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year Award five times (1999-2002, 2004). During this time, Whirlpool has designed and produced a number of appliance models across seven product categories specifically for the ENERGY STAR program.
e-FFICIENCY NEWS: How do you think the Alliance to Save Energy could be most effective in helping to educate the public about energy-saving practices and energy-efficient appliances in the home and at work?
Jeff Terry: Frankly there are many ways ASE can and is educating the masses about the importance of energy-saving practices as well as educate consumers about products that are designed to save energy. One area of opportunity is in the growth of strategic partnership very much like what we are trying to do together in support of Habitat for Humanity. By identifying partnership organizations or non-profits that focus on housing and/or the family, ASE and its members can make a greater, direct educational impact on society and especially those individuals who will benefit the most when operating and managing a home, apartment or workplace for that matter.
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