Improving Our Products' Environmental Performance

We are continually exploring ways to reduce indirect emissions from the amount of energy appliances consume over their lifetime.  Indirect emissions are created through the production of electricity, natural gas and other resources appliances use to operate.

When considering the role of resource efficient appliances in environmental stewardship, it is important to consider the entire appliance life cycle rather than focusing on one component, such as manufacturing. Since 1992 the United Kingdom Ecolabeling Board has studied the air, water and solid waste pollution generated by an appliance during each lifecycle phase - production, distribution, use and disposal. They consistently find that an appliance creates 10 to 20 times the air, water and solid waste pollution (annualized) during its normal use life than in all other phases.

The U.K. data underscore the significance of resource efficient appliances in overall home efficiency. Home appliances are important in reducing household emissions, which  consume an average of 15 percent of a home's total energy.  Energy-efficient appliances go even further to reduce the energy use impact, leaving a softer environmental footprint.