Rheem Highlights Product Innovation
Company also marks first year of sustainability initiative
DESIGN PROCESS: Heath Owens and Becky Kelly were happy to discuss Rheem’s new commercial and residential products on the show floor.
At the AHR Expo this year, Rheem’s air division showcased many of its innovative solutions, including two products that are new to the marketplace. The show also marked one year since Rheem launched its sustainability initiative, ‘A Greater Degree of Good,’ which announced a commitment to aggressive goals by 2025, the organization’s 100th anniversary. Goals include reimagining products and global manufacturing operations to reduce Rheem’s environmental footprint, along with training 250,000 plumbers and contractors on sustainable products and best practices, which is nearly a third of the industry in the U.S.
NEW INNOVATIONS
In the last 12 months, Rheem has expanded its air product offerings in the residential and commercial markets, introducing new innovations and cutting-edge technology. Two of these new innovations were highlighted at the Rheem booth.
The first is the Multi-Position Air Handler and Side Discharge Heat Pump System, which delivers high efficiency with inverter technology with efficiencies up to 19 SEER/10.7 HSPF. The system provides a year-round comfort solution and is an ideal fit for installations with sound and space constraints.
The second is the WeatherKing® Wall Mount and Low Height Air Handler, which comes in a RHXP model with a PSC motor and a RHXT model with an electronically commutated motor (ECM). These air handlers are designed with high-efficiency copper tubes/aluminum cooling coils with factory-installed R-410A thermostatic expansion valve (TXV, non-bleed type). Additionally, the WeatherKing air handler has factory-installed electric heat up to 10 kW, except for 0 kW models.
Also featured at the booth was Rheem’s Prestige® Series Modulating R98V gas furnace, which is Energy Star qualified for the highest efficiencies and controlled comfort. Designed for dependability, the Prestige Series features Rheem’s exclusive PlusOne® Ignition System.
The easy-to-install Prestige Series provides improved airflow via a patented heat exchanger, which reduces operating sound by 20 percent while delivering variable-speed technology and automatic adjustment for an ideal amount of airflow in all seasons for consistently controlled indoor comfort. The Prestige Series is available through Rheem, Ruud, and Sure Comfort®.
Another product featured in the booth was Rheem’s Ultra Low NOx gas furnace, which is the first residential gas-fired furnace certified by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) for Rule 1111. SCAQMD created the California mandate to reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) in natural gas-fired, fan-type central furnaces from 40 nanograms per joule to 14 nanograms per joule. Rheem’s Ultra Low NOx Gas Furnace complies with the strict California mandate, decreasing NOx emissions by 65 percent from the current standard. This environmentally sound furnace was designed from the inside out to not only be more efficient but to be easier to service, more durable, and quieter than most residential furnaces.
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SMART PRODUCT OF THE YEAR
Rheem was also proud to announce that it had been selected as the 2020 winner of the “Smart Heating and Cooling Product of the Year” award for its EcoNet® Zoning System for the second consecutive year.
“The EcoNet Zoning System goes well beyond standard smart thermostat features, allowing users to add EcoNet Zoning System controls and dampers to enjoy customized comfort throughout your home,” said Chris Day, vice president of product strategy and engineering at Rheem. “Rheem is committed to setting the industry standard in engineering products that not only meet and exceed consumer expectations, but remain contractor friendly in terms of installation and service. We are extremely proud to have continued to drive innovation in the space, and this award for EcoNet Zoning System represents a validation of that commitment.”
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