As a manufacturer profoundly dedicated to sustainability, we have a lot to say—and others have a lot to say about us. Click to read some articles by and about us.
Ken Schrieber, Vice President & General Manager, Rheem Air Distribution | November 2024
At Rheem, we understand the important role our contractors play in furthering our sustainability initiatives. Through our distribution channels and family of brands under the Rheem Air Distribution (RAD) umbrella we are able to connect with contractors and support them with additional training, access to supplies and refrigerant management.
Alex Housten, Chief Operations Officer | September 2024
Our 2023 Sustainability Progress Report details how we’re tracking against our 2025 goals. See the report—and how we’re doing—below.
The Rheem 2025 Sustainability Goal Heat Pump Collection was developed to meet our goal of launching a line of heating, cooling and water heating products that boast a 50% reduction in greenhouse has footprint.1
“A big part of innovation is creating products people want, and consumers are demanding sustainable products. So we’re focusing our attention on having a positive effect—both on the air you feel at home and the air you breathe outside.”
“Sustainability is an end-to-end thing. Rheem has a responsibility to reduce energy consumption and waste during the manufacturing phase while offering consumers high-efficiency products that have a low impact on the planet.”
When you see a badge from the Rheem family of brands on a piece of equipment, you know it stands for something. It represents our commitment to doing what’s right—for people, for the industry, for the planet.
Rheem is proud to have received the Sustained Excellence award for being named ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year in 2021, 2022, 2023 and now 2024. The US Environmental Protection Agency adds the Sustained Excellence award for winners who not only have earned Partner of the Year for several years in a row, but whose achievements have surpassed those in previous years.
Rheem earned the award in the Products category, which is for companies distinguished for designing and manufacturing high-efficiency products.
Awarded By: Green Builder Magazine
Rheem was named a 2023 Eco-Leader by Green Builder magazine, earning the honor for the sixth year in a row. In 2023, Rheem was recognized for achievements in environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and corporate governance.
Awarded By: Green Builder Magazine
Green Builder magazine named the 120-volt Rheem® ProTerra® Plug-in Heat Pump Water Heater a 2023 Sustainable Product of the Year, noting it as “ideal for drop-in gas unit replacement and high-efficiency upgrades.”
Awarded By: US Environmental Protection Agency
Rheem is proud to have received the Sustained Excellence award for being named ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year in 2021, 2022 and now 2023. The US Environmental Protection Agency adds the Sustained Excellence award for winners who not only have earned Partner of the Year for several years in a row, but whose achievements have surpassed those in previous years.
Rheem earned the award in the Products category, which is for companies distinguished for designing and manufacturing high-efficiency products.
Product Awarded: Rheem® ProTerra® Plug-In Heat Pump Water Heater
Awarded By: Consumer Technology Association
In 2023, the Consumer Technology Association honored the Rheem® ProTerra® Plug-In Heat Pump Water Heater with an Innovation Award in the Sustainability, Eco-Design & Smart Energy Category. The Consumer Technology Association noted that the ProTerra is the first of its kind in the market and “provides a game-changing plug-in, ready-to-use drop-in gas replacement offering energy savings and high-efficiency performance.”
Product Awarded: Friedrich® VRP® West End Heights Project
Awarded By: U.S. Green Building Council
The West End Heights Project, a project using Friedrich® VRP® Air Conditioners to provide filtered fresh air, was named an Outstanding Affordable Project by the U.S. Green Building Council and given a 2022 LEED Homes Award.
The annual LEED Homes Awards celebrate green residential projects, developers and builders using LEED to improve the quality of life for residents, reduce a home’s impact on the environment and create healthier and more resilient communities.
Product Awarded: Rheem® Renaissance™ Packaged Commercial Units (15–25 tons)
Awarded By: The Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design and Metropolitan Arts Press Ltd.
The Rheem® Renaissance™ Packaged Commercial Line in 15–25 tons earned the GOOD DESIGN® Award, presented by the Chicago Athenaeum, as one of the most innovative and cutting-edge product designs produced around the world.
Products are selected based on criteria established in the original 1950 program for the highest aesthetic in terms of innovative design, new technologies, form, materials, construction, concept, function, utility and energy efficiency, and sensitivity to the environment.
Product Awarded: Rheem® Prestige® Series Variable Speed Heat Pump
Awarded By: Green Builder Magazine
In 2022, Green Builder Magazine named the Rheem® Prestige® Series Variable Speed Heat Pump as one of the sustainable products of the year. Green Builder noted that the Prestige Series Heat Pump “provides cooling efficiencies up to 54 percent higher and heating efficiencies up to 34 percent higher than typical heat pump designs,” as part of its reason for being honored with this distinction.
Products Awarded: Rheem® Commercial Heat Pump Systems, Rheem® Triton®.
Awarded By: FacilitiesNet.com
In 2022, FacilitiesNet.com awarded both Rheem® Commercial Heat Pump Systems and the Rheem® Triton® Commercial Water Heaters with a Vision Award. The Vision Awards honor innovation and excellence in products contributing to the efficient, profitable operations and management of institutional and commercial buildings in the United States.
Product Awarded: Rheem® Prestige® Series Variable Speeed Heat Pump
Awarded By: Green Builder Magazine
Not only did the RP20 Heat Pump earn a place in Green Builder Magazine’s Sustainable Products of the Year (formerly the Hot 50 Products) for the Cooling and Heating category. Green Builder also gave the RP20 Heat Pump special recognition by naming it an Editors’ Choice as one of the inaugural Decarbonization Dozen. The magazine highlighted the unit’s efficiency, its sound-suppression features and the fact that the RP20 can help homeowners save more than $7,000 over its lifetime.
Sustainable Product of the Year selections represent today’s most innovative products that make buildings more resilient, intelligent, efficient, healthy and safe.
Product Awarded: Rheem® ProTerra™ Hybrid Electric Water Heater
Awarded By: Green Builder Magazine
In 2021, Green Builder Magazine named the Rheem® ProTerra™ Hybrid Electric Water Heater its Editors Choice for the Heating, Cooling and Water Heating category. Green Builder noted that the ProTerra Hybrid Electric “offers four times the efficiency of standard electric water heaters, energy savings, build-in WiFi among its reasons for the Hybrid Electric earning the distinction.”
For the 2021 edition of its Sustainability Awards, Green Builder Magazine named the Rheem® ProTerra™ Hybrid Electric Water Heater the editor’s choice for the innovation of the year award. Out of all entries, the ProTerra Hybrid Electric was one of only 14 products to earn the distinction and one of only four products in the hot water category.
The Edison Awards is an annual competition honoring excellence in new product and service development, marketing, human-centered design, and innovation. Its vision is guided by the legacy of Thomas Edison and his Menlo Park team who successfully brought an unprecedented number of innovations to the market.
