AHAM's Blog

Meet AHAM's Newest Members: Huntsman International, LLC and Star Distribution Systems, Inc.

AHAM welcomes our two newest members of the Supplier Division:

• Huntsman International, LLC is located in The Woodlands, TX. Huntsman is a supplier of isocyante, polyols and polyol systems for use in polyurethane foam production for domestic refrigerators and freezers. Their division representative is Monica Karamagi, Regional Affairs and Industry Affairs Manager.

• Star Distribution Services is located in Plant City, FL. They are a third-party logistics company specializing in appliance warehousing and shipping throughout Florida. Their division representative is Larry Jimenez, Jr., Director of Sales & General Manager.

AHAM Members: Register Now for the 2012 Annual Meeting in Florida

Join fellow AHAM members April 22-23 at The Ritz Carlton Golf Resort in Naples Florida for the annual member meeting. This year’s theme will be “Strategies for the Future” as members look to shape the future of the appliance industry and AHAM. The agenda includes:

• AHAM’s revised strategic plan for 2012 - 2014 which focuses on the need for harmonized standards and regulations in North America and the foundation we have developed together in sustainability, safety and energy efficiency.

• Hear from senior retail executives covering AHAM's product scope about their efforts to understand today’s consumer and deal with the growing importance of public policy issues in their businesses.

• Hold business meetings for each AHAM membership division (Floor Care, Major, Portable and Supplier).

• Honor member volunteers for leadership and service to the industry through AHAM, including the Home Appliance Industry Leadership (HAIL) award. Provide opportunities for networking, recreation and relaxation.

For more information about “Strategies for the Future” and to register, click here.

If you’re not currently a member of AHAM, this is the perfect time to join!   The Annual Meeting is the premier event of the appliance industry and offers members an excellent chance to network with leaders in the industry! More information on membership can be found here.

South Carolina Offers Rebates for ENERGY STAR Appliances

If you live in South Carolina and have been holding off on purchasing a new energy efficient appliance, now is the time to get one – but you have to act fast! The Aiken Standard reported that beginning Friday, January 27^th through February 5^th, dishwashers, refrigerators and room air conditioners will receive a $50 rebate and clothes washers will receive a $100 rebate. All appliances must be ENERGY STAR certified to be eligible for the rebate.

Upgrading to ENERGY STAR appliances are not only greener than the appliances of yesteryear by consuming less electricity and water, but they will leave you with more green in your bank, too. By purchasing an ENERGY STAR washer, you could save over $135 per year on your utility bills. In fact, in 1990, the average consumption for a washer was 2.67 kilowatt hours (kWh) per cycle and one manufactured in 2010 consumes only .66 kWh per cycle – a 75 percent decrease!  Click here to find ENERGY STAR qualified washers.

For more information about the rebate program, visit the South Carolina Energy Office’s website.   If you do not live in South Carolina, click here to review savings opportunities in your area.

Smart Appliances Make Headlines at CES

Smart Appliances were the subject of quite a few news articles, including the City News in Toronto, the Chicago Tribune, USA Today and Consumer Reports, as a result of the 2012 International CES in Las Vegas, NV.

Additionally, click here to view copies of the presentations about smart appliances made during the AHAM-sponsored panel discussion "Window to Tomorrow's Connected Home."

Going to CES? Don’t Miss AHAM’s Smart Appliances Panel on January 11

If you haven’t registered yet to attend the 2012 International CES being held next week in Las Vegas, now is the time to do so!  AHAM is hosting a panel discussion on smart appliances titled “Window to Tomorrow’s Connected Home” on January 11 at 9 am. This will be a unique opportunity to learn from leaders in the retail, business and appliance manufacturing industries about the latest trends in smart appliances and how they will interact with the Smart Grid.

The discussion will be moderated by Kevin Messner, AHAM’s Vice President of Policy and Government Relations.  Panelists include:

• Kris Bowring – Senior Director, Platform Lead, New Business CSG, Best Buy
• Jean-Claude Junqua – Managing Director, Panasonic Silicon Valley Laboratory, Panasonic
• Dave McAlpin – General Manager, Home Energy Management, GE Appliances & Lighting
• Warwick Stirling – Senior Director of Energy and Sustainability, Whirlpool Corporation

Additionally, several AHAM members will be exhibiting and showing off their new products.   Be sure to stop by their booths to learn more about their lines of connected appliances.

See you next week!

Shopping Ideas to Fight Indoor Air Pollutants

When planning to do your holiday shopping – both for gifts and for decorations, it’s important to consider any allergy sufferers on your list. That’s because many allergens associated with yuletide can quickly turn celebrations into sneezin’ season.

Before you deck the halls with decorations, remember this: artificial trees and ornaments tend to build up with dust and mold that can result in allergic reactions. Fortunately, a portable CADR-certified (cealn air delivery rate) air cleaner can help remove dust and other allergens from the air.

It is also important to clean your ornaments before putting them onto your tree and to store them properly when the time comes to pack them back up.

Live evergreen trees brought into the home may be carrying mold or pollen from ragweed and/or other plants on them. Before you bring the tree inside, use a leaf blower to remove the concentration of pollens from the branches. Finally, wipe the trunk with a diluted bleach solution to help remove any mold.

Meanwhile, the following holiday shopping list can help you meet the needs of allergy and asthma sufferers.

Allergy and Asthma Gift List

1. A CADR-certified portable air cleaner
2. A dehumidifier
3. Replacement air filters for heating, cooling and air cleaning systems
4. My House is Killing Me, a book by Jeffrey C. May
5. A subscription to allergy publications, such as Coping with Allergies and Allergy and Asthma Health
6. Pet shampoos with dander sealing capapbilities
7. Micro-lined, two-ply vacuum cleaner bags that are designed to prevent dust from blowing back into the air
8. Hypoallergenic mattress and pillow covers
9. Allergen carpet treatment
10. Hypoallergenic laundry detergent formulated to fight dust and other allergens

For more information on certified room air cleaners, visit www.cadr.org.

AHAM Produces Smart Appliance Panel for the 2012 International CES

AHAM is proud to be hosting and moderating a panel discussion on January 11 titled “Window to Tomorrow’s Connected Home” at the 2012 International CES held in Las Vegas, January 10-13. It will be moderated by Kevin Messner, AHAM’s Vice President, Policy and Government Relations, and panelists include business, manufacturing and retail sector leaders.

Panelists will give the audience a peek inside tomorrow’s connected home, and will discuss what consumers can expect in terms of functionality, timing and total home integration.   Panelists include:

• Kris Bowring – Senior Director, Platform Lead, New Business CSG, Best Buy
• Jean-Claude Junqua – Managing Director, Panasonic Silicon Valley Laboratory, Panasonic
• Dave McAlpin – General Manager, Home Energy Management, GE
• Warwick Stirling – Senior Director of Energy and Sustainability, Whirlpool

Click here to register for the 2012 International CES.   See you in Vegas!

Appliances Need Routine Maintenance, Too

Appliances, even small ones, are an investment and need to be properly maintained just like an automobile. Failure to do so can shorten the lifespan of the appliance and it can become a serious safety issue.

According to a recent article on FoxNews.com, coffee machines should be cleaned regularly. “’It’s just like a car. Just because you have a $100,000 Mercedes doesn’t mean you don’t have to change the oil and check the brakes and tires,’ says Scott Kopin, president of the National Appliance Service Association. For espresso machines, Kopin recommends for daily use, clean out all removable parts every day and run a plain-water rinse cycle (e.g., without coffee) to push hot water through all the valves to flush out residue.”

Additionally, it is important to remember to properly maintain your clothes dryer to maintain performance and enhance safety.  AHAM recommends the following:

• Be sure you can feel air flowing out of the vent to the outdoors when the air is on
• Inspect the venting system behind the dryer and replace any pieces that are damaged or crushed
• Clean the lint filter after each load
• Periodically clean the back of the dyer where lint can be trapped

These tips and others can be found in AHAM’s clothes dryer safety brochure, which you may order by clicking here. There is no charge for orders of less than 250 copies, and a nominal shipping charge for larger orders.

Meet Sriram Gopal: AHAM's Policy Analyst

Sriram Gopal was recently hired as Policy Analyst, working with AHAM’s Policy & Government Relations staff in the areas of energy, end-of-life issues, green chemistry, smart grid, eco-design, climate change and sustainability.   Sriram holds a law degree, Masters in Environmental Science, and dual Bachelor’s degrees in Biochemistry and French Literature from the University of Maryland.   He has worked at EPA and other organizations in the energy and environmental areas.  Also, he has worked at a Department of Defense consulting firm dealing with materials of emerging regulatory interest and sustainability.  In his spare time, Sriram plays drums for an electric jazz quartet and is a music columnist.

Vote Wayne Morris for SGIP

Wayne Morris, Vice President, Technical Operations & Standards, is a candidate for the Smart Grid Interoperability Panel (SGIP), a division of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The SGIP engages Smart Grid stakeholders to develop standards, identifies gaps in standards and sets priorities for the Smart Grid.

AHAM offers a unique viewpoint for Smart Grid because it represents a membership that has developed innovative consumer products that will transform how energy is managed in a connected home.  Over the last four years, AHAM and its Smart Grid Task Force have written white papers on the appliance industry’s vision for the Smart Grid as well as a technical analysis rating NIST-identified communication protocols for the appliance industry.   AHAM’s Smart Grid Task Force and AHAM’s staff also contributed to a Department of Energy-funded cost benefit analysis from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory identifying the demand-response capabilities of smart appliances and their benefits to the electrical grid.

The work to have ENERGY STAR recognize the benefits of smart appliances will provide a national and international spotlight on the Smart Grid and smart appliances.  Key to the success of this federal government recognition includes the interoperability work of the SGIP.  Additionally, appliance manufacturers’ willingness to make and sell smart appliances that are adequately incentivized by ENERGY STAR, and the important interoperability work by the SGIP are also keys to the Smart Grid’s success.  AHAM would like to continue to contribute to the success of SGIP as a Board member. 

When taking into consideration AHAM’s activities relating to the Smart Grid as well as its membership of manufacturers of smart products, we ask that voting members see the strengths and benefits that AHAM would bring as a member of the SGIP. Cast your vote in favor of Wayne Morris!