Comerio, Varese, Italy, April 28, 2009.
Bracken Darrell, president of Whirlpool Europe, and executive vice president of Whirlpool Corporation addressed delegates participating in the plenary session at the Energy Efficiency Global Forum & Exhibition in Paris. Whirlpool Corporation is a founding sponsor of the Alliance to Save Energy’s 2009 Energy Efficiency Global event. In his speech, Darrell highlighted the efforts made by industry leaders and by Whirlpool Corporation in particular, to address the climate issue. Darrell also stressed the importance of a concerted effort between industry, government institutions and research bodies, to have “an effective impact on the environment”. In particular he showed how appliances that can respond to signals from the grid by turning into low-energy consumption mode for a period of time, or delay operation until peak-demand is over, can significantly lower overall need for power plant capacity.
Whirlpool Corporation firmly believes in the enormous benefits of an ever greater interconnection between super-efficient appliances, utility operators and the final consumers in individual households. Darrel announced: “by 2015 we are prepared to make ALL the electronically controlled appliances we produce, ANYWHERE in the world, capable of receiving and responding to a signal requesting curtailment of the appliance’s energy consumption. These products will also be capable of providing the consumer with contemporaneous information about their energy consumption. Whirlpool would also require any manufacturer that is licensed to use the WHIRLPOOL brand to add similar capability to products bearing the WHIRLPOOL brand.” He added: “Whirlpool believes this bridging technology is so important that we are going to invite the appliance industry, the utility industry, policymakers, ngos, and relevant technology companies to come together at the upcoming Copenhagen climate change conference to discuss how we can accelerate the adoption of these new capabilities.”
The Energy Efficiency Global Forum & Exhibition is the only international event that focuses solely on energy efficiency, drawing energy professionals from the private, government and nonprofit sectors worldwide. The event offers the latest technical, commercial and policy information from speakers ranging from the head of the International Energy Agency, energy and climate ministers and members of the European Parliament to executives from leading corporations, utilities and NGOs.
At the Palais des Congrès, Whirlpool is also displaying a GREENKITCHEN prototype model. Through an integrated use of appliances, this kitchen eco-system takes its model from the cycle of nature, optimizing the use of heat and water with processes that increase energy efficiency up to 70 percent. At first glance the GREENKITCHEN looks very similar to a ‘normal’ kitchen. It is the technology behind the concept that differentiates it.
Whirlpool Europe and Whirlpool Corporation
With around 14,000 employees, a sales presence in over 30 European countries and manufacturing sites in seven countries, Whirlpool Europe is a wholly owned subsidiary of Whirlpool Corporation. The world’s leading manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances, Whirlpool Corporation has annual sales of approximately $19 billion, 70,000 employees, and 69 manufacturing and technology research centers around the world. The company markets Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, Jenn-Air, Amana, Brastemp, Bauknecht and other major brand names to consumers in nearly every country around the world. Whirlpool’s European Operations’ Center is located in Comerio (VA), Italy.
“Darrell also stressed the importance of a concerted effort between industry”
True, the industry needs to do their part in finding new ways to develop energy-efficient appliances. But people need to do their part too.
With a world facing global warming, I can’t emphasize enough the importance of developping good habits as to energy consumption. It’s as plain simple as turning down the temperature of your water heater and using energy-saving settings on your refrigerator, dishwasher, washing machine and clothes dryer.