Whirlpool and 24 utilities introduce second generation SERP refrigerators to participating stores; innovative high-tech insulation materials reduce energy consumption by up to 41% below U.S. standards.BENTON HARBOR Benton Harbor, city (1990 pop. 12,818), Berrien co., SW Mich., on Lake Michigan at the mouth of the St. Joseph River opposite St. Joseph; inc. 1869. A long-time fruit industry, tourist, and industrial center, noted for appliance manufacturing, the city declined in , Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 7, 1995--The Super Efficient Refrigerator Program (SERP (1) (Search Engine Results Page) The page of results that a search engine returns. It includes links to pages that have been automatically discovered by crawlers, manually indexed by people or that are paid for by advertisers. See search engine. ) and Whirlpool Corporation announced today the introduction of an even more energy efficient CFC-free refrigerator to participating outlets. SERP was created by 24 U.S. public and private utilities with help from the Natural Resources Defense Council The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is a New York City-based, non-profit non-partisan international environmental advocacy group, with offices in Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Beijing. Founded in 1970, NRDC today has 1. and the Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), independent agency of the U.S. government, with headquarters in Washington, D.C. It was established in 1970 to reduce and control air and water pollution, noise pollution, and radiation and to ensure the safe handling and to bring energy-efficient refrigerators to consumers years in advance of normal market projections. The second generation Whirlpool SERP unit, which reduces energy consumption by 38-41% below 1993 U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) standards, is now available under the Whirlpool and KitchenAid brand names at authorized dealers and under the Kenmore brand name at Sears, Roebuck and Co. The original SERP refrigerators, introduced to consumers last year, were 29.7% more efficient than DOE standards. The new 22, 25, and 27 cu. ft. SERP refrigerators are able to accomplish this increased energy efficiency in part through their utilization of a new vacuum panel system from Owens-Corning called AURA Superinsulation, says Mark McNally, director, Whirlpool brand refrigeration refrigeration, process for drawing heat from substances to lower their temperature, often for purposes of preservation. Refrigeration in its modern, portable form also depends on insulating materials that are thin yet effective. . The new insulation system, found in the freezer side wall panel, uses thermally tailored fiberglass encapsulated in stainless steel stainless steel: see steel. stainless steel Any of a family of alloy steels usually containing 10–30% chromium. The presence of chromium, together with low carbon content, gives remarkable resistance to corrosion and heat. foil, hermetically her·met·ic also her·met·i·cal adj. 1. Completely sealed, especially against the escape or entry of air. 2. Impervious to outside interference or influence: sealed and evacuated. The result is a lighter, more durable, higher performing insulation designed to make a significant, long-term contribution to energy savings. "By utilizing such innovative materials and manufacturing processes, we've been able to take energy efficiency in this new unit even further than Whirlpool's state-of-the-art 1993 Super Efficient Refrigerator Program (SERP) competition winner," McNally says. "And all of this is accomplished without the consumer having to give up any of the storage space or convenient features they have come to expect from other Whirlpool refrigerators. Ray Farhang, chairman of SERP, believes that as time goes on, consumers will continue to demand the best of both worlds -- energy efficiency and top-of-the-line features -- when it comes to their appliances. "Consumers increasingly want to better manage energy costs and help protect the environment," Farhang says. "The SERP refrigerators give them both." The $30 million SERP competition, sponsored in 1993 by 24 public utility companies, challenged U.S. appliance manufacturers to develop and produce a chlorofluorocarbon-free, sealed system super-efficient refrigerator. Whirlpool's original winning entry combined improved insulation, a high-efficiency compressor and an improved condenser condenser Device for reducing a gas or vapour to a liquid. Condensers are used in power plants to condense exhaust steam from turbines and in refrigeration plants to condense refrigerant vapours, such as ammonia and Freons. fan motor in conjunction with an adaptive computer microchip-controlled defrost de·frost v. de·frost·ed, de·frost·ing, de·frosts v.tr. 1. To remove ice or frost from: defrosted the windshield. 2. To cause to thaw. v. control. Hailed by Popular Science magazine as one of 1993's best product achievements, the Whirlpool SERP unit won numerous awards and was displayed at the White House when the administration announced plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2000. Whirlpool Corporation is the world's leading manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances. Headquartered in Benton Harbor, the company manufactures in 12 countries and markets products under 10 major brand names in more than 120 countries. CONTACT: Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor Carolyn Verweyst, 616/923-7200 Debbie Reinhardt, 616/923-3220 |
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