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    Danfoss
    CEC
    Alliance Air
    DOE
    Rheem
    Rheem Sustainability Report Cover 64ac11bb57082
    1. Manufacturer News

    Rheem Releases 2022 Sustainability Report

    July 10, 2023
    The report chronicles environmental awareness and conservation successes, including programs launched at Friedrich Air Conditioning and IBC™ Technologies Inc.
    Rheem
    Rheem Sustainability Report Cover 64ac11bb57082

    ATLANTA, July 7, 2023 – Rheem®, a leading global manufacturer of water heating and HVAC products, released its 2022 Sustainability Progress Report showcasing notable updates on its environmentally-focused programs. Since the company launched its sustainability initiative, A Greater Degree of Good™, in 2019, the Atlanta-based manufacturer has proactively implemented programs to provide more environmentally sustainable solutions in North America and abroad. Two of the case study examples included within the newly released report showcase Rheem’s Friedrich® and IBC™ businesses.

    Zero Waste to Landfill: Reimagining Facilities for the Future

    To achieve an industry leading "Zero Waste to Landfill" goal by 2025, Rheem’s global manufacturing facilities are redesigning, reducing, reusing and recycling materials that would otherwise become trash.

    As a member of the Rheem family of brands since 2021, Friedrich plays an active role in the company's commitment to
    Rheem
    Rheem’s global manufacturing facilities are redesigning, reducing, reusing and recycling materials that would otherwise become trash.
    Rheem’s global manufacturing facilities are redesigning, reducing, reusing and recycling materials that would otherwise become trash.
    sustainability. Friedrich’s Monterrey, Mexico, plant began with a landfill diversion rate of 63 percent. In 2022, employees switched to reusable plates and cutlery in the cafeteria, routed leftover food scraps to a local pig farm and identified a specialized recycler for nine tons of foam. Employees also brought the spirit of Zero Waste to Landfill into the community, filming videos with their families about how to help the environment and engaging kids in a recycled toy competition. By the conclusion of 2022, Friedrich's manufacturing plant increased its landfill diversion rate to an impressive 88 percent.

     At the Friedrich headquarters in San Antonio, Texas, in 2022, employees placed recycling bins throughout high-traffic areas to promote increased recycling, expanded electronic and battery recycling, and evaluated the opportunity to implement composting for organic waste. Friedrich’s dedication to recycling and sustainability recently earned it a Gold Certification from ReWorksSA, an environmental program led jointly by the City of San Antonio’s Solid Waste Management Department and Office of Sustainability.

    Conserving Water and Reducing Emissions: Innovations with Impact

    Innovation is a driving force for sustainability. IBC, another Rheem family brand, is innovating its manufacturing processes for residential and commercial boilers to conserve water and reduce emissions from avoided gas consumption, saving money and creating a more comfortable environment.

    Rheem
    Chris Peel: “When we train contractors and plumbers on our sustainable innovations, we’re equipping them to recommend these products to consumers, who then spread the word to family, friends and neighbors. Other channel partners and stakeholders—including distributors, retailers, builders and specifying engineers—are joining forces with us, as well.”
    Chris Peel: “When we train contractors and plumbers on our sustainable innovations, we’re equipping them to recommend these products to consumers, who then spread the word to family, friends and neighbors. Other channel partners and stakeholders—including distributors, retailers, builders and specifying engineers—are joining forces with us, as well.”
    Before any boiler at Rheem’s IBC plant in British Columbia, Canada, finishes production, its ability to bring large quantities of water to a high temperature is tested. Without a recovery mechanism, all the heat is rejected into the outdoor air, leading to an unfortunate waste of warmth in a cold climate. IBC’s production, operations and R&D teams developed a creative in-house solution. First, they diverted the hot water to air handling units to cool and cycle it back into production for continued use in testing. Next, they engineered the air handler system to push the concentrated hot air back into the building to warm the plant during cold weather, achieving both energy and cost savings.

    Chris Peel, Rheem president and CEO, from the report: "In 2022, we continued to invest heavily in sustainable technology, such as heat pumps, operated greener and leaner factories by reducing emissions and waste and empowered our industry’s workforce with sustainability training. We are the only company in the industry, in fact, with a stated goal to train the trade around the world on sustainability. Last year, we achieved our 2025 goal— three years early—to train more than 250,000 plumbers, contractors and key influencers," Peel said.

    Comprehensive updates on Rheem’s A Greater Degree of Good efforts are provided annually in Rheem’s Sustainability Progress Reports at www.rheem.com/progress.