Archive for FloWise
American Standard Design Center Visit: Innovation with a Side of Toilet Humor
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Design bloggers tour the American Standard Design Center. To see more photos of the trip, click the photo.
Earlier this month, the Professor was fortunate enough to spend a day at the American Standard Design Center in Piscataway, NJ with a select group of the movers and shakers of the design blogger world. It is a pleasure to share their insights, reflections, humor, and excellent photographs of the trip:
Paul Anater, who blogs at Kitchen and Bath Residential Design, was especially impressed with some of the company’s unique and functional designs and the fashionable digs the bloggers enjoyed in New York.
For J.B. Bartkowiak of Building Moxie, the trip offered opportunities to reflect on design, innovation, performance, and the impact that brands can have when they build intimacy with customers.
Meanwhile, the engineering department’s space age 3-D copier was a big hit with Laurie Burke of Kitchen Design Notes. (The Professor also appreciated the occasional plumbing pun she threw in for good measure, naturally.)
Andie Day (and her photographer’s eye) especially loved the great views and fashionable setting of the rooftop of the Standard Hotel, where the bloggers gathered the night before their Design Center tour.
American Standard’s many green initiatives, including the eco-friendly Design Center and strong emphasis on water conservation, were particularly appreciated by Saxon Henry of Roaming By Design.
Saxon and her business partner Rich Holschuh also wrote about the company’s fixture fixation, the “stylish verve” of the American Standard design team, and shared a video of a portion of the tour on the site for their social media consultancy, Adroyt.
Great shot of everyone: Laurie Burke, Rich Holschuh, Saxon Henry, Andie Day, Paul Anatar, J.B. Bartkowiak. To see more photos from the trip, click the photo.
Many thanks to everyone who attended! The Professor had a marvelous time getting to talk plumbing with everyone and truly appreciates everyone’s thoughtful commentary.
Saving Water Without Sacrifice: Flowise Showerheads
Posted by: | CommentsLow-flow shower heads are great at conserving water but often don’t deliver the most invigorating spray. The line of FloWise water-saving showerheads from American Standard aim to change that with their superior turbine technology. Find out how it works here:
Well-Deserved Recognition for Teen Toilet Guru
Posted by: | CommentsThe Professor was proud to see that fellow toilet fan John-Michael Gigliotti was recently recognized for his community spirit and extensive toilet knowledge by Sid Michaels Kavulich, his representative in the Pennsylvania State Assembly. Representative Kavulich begins to tell John-Michael’s story at minute 1:22 in the video below.
The Professor previously shared a detailed account of John-Michael’s toilet interest. It’s a great story – featuring a great photo of the toilet guru posing with the Cadet 3 FloWise toilet that American Standard donated to his family – that is always worth another look.
Outstanding Service from American Standard and HD Supply
Posted by: | CommentsWorking with manufacturers and suppliers on large scale projects can be stressful and frustrating, so the Professor was particularly impressed to read the following account from Paul Sly of Interstate Investment about his experiences working with American Standard and HD Supply to upgrade the toilets, faucets, and showerheads in a 1,000 unit apartment complex. Many thanks to Paul for taking the time to write such a thoughtful letter.
February 2, 2011
Mr. Carl Whipple, Field Account Representative
HD Supply Facilities & Maintenance
Dear Carl,
In conjunction with our planned project execution, in mid-2010 we solicited proposals in regards to the fixture replacement campaign we were planning to implement at our 1,000 unit apartment complex. We received proposals from several vendors for this project, but one “team” consistently stood out from the rest: HD Supply & American Standard.
The exemplary service & sales presentations that we received from the HD Supply team along with American Standard’s representative, Mike Gilmore, throughout the bid process was very informative, especially the spreadsheet defining the cost savings over our current fixtures in use. One of the most impressive segments of the sales process was the portable product demonstration showcasing the patented flush system which allowed our technicians to see the benefits over the competitors’ products. FYI, as of this writing we have had NO clogs or service requests with any of the American Standard toilets that we have installed.
Additionally I would like to let you & Mike know that I sincerely appreciated the above average sales approach for being solely based on addressing our needs and concerns, showcasing the quality and cost savings of American Standard products without negatively trashing the other competitors.
As you are aware HD Supply along with American Standard was chosen as our supplier for all bathroom and kitchen fixture upgrades & replacements. I would like to additionally recognize and thank both you and Mike Gilmore for “above and beyond” customer service which has been consistent since our initial meeting.
In summary it has been a real pleasure to work with both the HD Supply & American Standard teams. The entire process from initial proposal to weekly deliveries has progressed sealessly without a glitch and it is my pleasure to recommend HD & American Standard to anyone wanting quality products backed up with excellent customer service.
Best Regards,
Paul Sly
Maintenance Director
Interstate Investment
The high performing and water saving plumbing fixtures that Interstate Investment purchased for this project included:
- Cadet3 Flowise toilet, a high-efficiency toilet that uses only 1.28 gallons of water per flush, which is 60% less water than a traditional 3.5 gallon per flush model.
- Reliant3 Lavatory faucet, a WaterSense-certified faucet with a 1.5 gallons per minute (gpm) flow rate. Installing a faucet like the Reliant 3 will save up to 600 gallons of water a year.
- Colony Soft Bath/ Shower trim kit,which can save a family up to 8,000 gallons of water a year while still delivering an invigorating shower
- Colony Soft Kitchen Faucet, a durable line of faucets made with ceramic disc valving to ensure a lifetime of drip-free performance
Sounds like a job well done all around!
From Toilets to Trim: Trends in Bathroom Remodeling
Posted by: | CommentsThe Professor is obsessed with toilet performance – no doubt about that – but the interest doesn’t end there. No, the Professor also has an eye for the finer things in life – like bathroom remodeling and style trends, for example. So of course it was a real treat when Gary Uhl, Director of Design at American Standard, offered to share his thoughts on what styles are “hot” right now for bathrooms.
The most surprising trend Uhl has observed is that, in spite of the bold colors and design choices we see becoming popular in the rest of the modern home, more and more consumers are moving back to basic white for their tubs, toilets, and sinks. Why? As Uhl explained, “This is because the range of materials and colors in the bathroom has exploded. You no longer define the color of a bathroom by the tub or the sink. Instead we see wood, metal and glass providing the hue and tone.” This combination of clean, white surfaces next to dark wood makes otherwise traditional pieces look very new and modern, another style trend that Uhl expects to see more of in 2011.
As far as special features go, the Professor was pleased to hear that High Efficiency Toilets (HETs) are gaining popularity. Early models of low-flow toilets were often lacking in flushing power, but as HETs have evolved and gained the reputation for great performance they now have, homeowners have finally begun to embrace them. Over the years they will pay for themselves in savings on water bills, making them a great investment. Uhl noted that American Standard’s Cadet 3 FloWise One-Piece HET uses only 1.28 gallons of water per flush while offering maximum performance. As a one-piece it is already easier to keep clean, but it also comes with an EverClean surface that inhibits the growth of stain and odor-causing microbes.
Another emerging trend, particularly as those style-defining Baby Boomers grow older, is to think of the future and remodel with the concept of “aging in place” in mind. In the bathroom, this means choosing a “right height” toilet or a walk-in bathtub that will still be easy and comfortable to use later in life. And with the spa-like options now available with these pieces (including whirlpools and airbaths), homeowners don’t need to sacrifice luxury when planning for old age.
Still need help putting it all together? The Style Advisor is a great resource to help build a great new bath that suits your individual style to a T.
The Professor is a proud friend of John-Michael Gigliotti, a 14 year old autistic teenager and highly knowledgeable toilet fan, whose passion for the commode is impressing plumbing industry executives and improving the facilities at a public park in his hometown of Camden, PA with the help of plumbing manufacturer American Standard.
John-Michael’s parents say that he has been fascinated by toilets since the age of 3, and that as he grew older he learned all he could about the different styles, brands, and flushing mechanisms available. Earlier this year John-Michael was given a tour of American Standard’s Piscataway, NJ-based factory, where he thoroughly impressed the staff with his knowledge of the brand’s product line. John Michael’s father, Camden City Council Member John Gigliotti said that he “watched John-Michael in utter amazement at how he shared his passion and knowledge of your product line and the product line of your competitors with [Director of Design] Gary [Uhl] and other members of your team.”
John Michael and his Cadet 3 Toilet from American Standard
The company donated the toilet of John-Michael’s choosing – the Cadet 3 FloWise, a selection the Professor would fully endorse – to his family, and John-Michael has been happily giving all visitors “the demonstration” ever since. Council Member Gigliotti thanked the company for their generosity and for their engagement with his son, reflecting, “it is going to take this spirited type of thinking and approach to help transition many of these children into adulthood and obtain semi-independent living with meaningful employment.”
However, receiving a new toilet for his home didn’t stop John-Michael from thinking about other parts of his daily life that would benefit from an upgrade to a new American Standard toilet. Over the summer, while visiting a local park, he noticed that the restrooms were in poor shape. He suggested to his father that they contact the company and ask if they could help by replacing the toilets, urinals, and sinks with better models. The Professor is pleased to report that American Standard agreed to help, and has told John-Michael to identify exactly what is needed at the park. They will then donate whatever products he believes will improve the park facilities.
John-Michael is still making his selections, but the Professor looks forward to learning what his recommendations are and offers a tip of the hat to this new, civic-minded colleague, the teenaged Toilet Guru.
Elect to Save Water
Posted by: | CommentsProfessor Toilet was pleased to see conservation on the mind of Illinois Governor Patrick Quinn last month, when he announced a special one-day rebate to help residents purchase energy-efficient appliances. While visiting a Home Depot in Chicago, the Governor was introduced to high efficiency toilets (HETs) by Steven Henley of E.A. Langenfeld Associates.
Watching a flushing demonstration of a Cadet® 3 FloWise® toilet, Governor Quinn was pleased to learn that in addition to using 20 percent less water than a standard 1.6 gallons per flush (gpf) toilet, there is little likelihood of fillerbusting.
In fact, no matter how thick the partisan politics become, there are few parliamentary procedures capable of blocking an HET from its intended goal. These top-rated WaterSense®-listed flushing platforms are capable of flushing more than 2.2 pounds of solids without double flushing or clogging.
As millions of American head to the polls in November, keep in mind that American Standard is known for keeping its campaign promises.
Yurt Sweet Yurt: An Eco-Friendly, Water-Efficient Life in Western Montana
Posted by: | CommentsEco-friendly plumbing fixtures are often found in really interesting and unique eco-friendly homes. The Professor recently had the opportunity to chat with Patty Woodland, who lives in a newly-built yurt in Western Montana, about how her WaterSense-certified faucets and toilet fit into her green lifestyle. In the interview below Patty discusses her experiences as a part-time goatherd, soap maker and jewelry designer and also tells us what steps she took to make her home an earth-friendly space.
1. What is a yurt?
According to the dictionary, a yurt is: a circular tent consisting of a framework of poles covered with felt or skins, used by Mongolian and Turkic nomads of E and central Asia. But MY yurt is more permanent. It is a kit house my husband found and it arrived on two flatbed trailers. It consists of 36, 4′ panels with a 6′ skylight at the center. The ceiling is 18′ high and pie shaped paneled wood sections. The interior walls go up 9′ so it is very open and airy. We wanted a unique home with lots of windows to take advantage of the beautiful view we have of the Clark Fork River and this fits the bill.
2. Why did you choose to live in a yurt?
Yurts are very energy efficient structures. They also stand up well to high winds – which we see in our spring storm season. My husband was intrigued with the idea and once he gets an idea in his head there is no stopping him. Additionally, the price per square foot for the kit was quite affordable and we could design the interior to our needs.
3. What other funny-sounding names do you have in your life? 
I have a small herd of dairy goats that I have named after family and friends. There is this one very stubborn goat named Nora. The head goat is Pricilla and she is the SpokesGoat for Happy Goat Soap, a small business I run using the excess milk from my little herd. She takes her duties very seriously; she blogs! She posts every day to The Maaaaa of Pricilla telling tales of her life on the Happy Goats Farm with all of the goats; Abby, Mallory, Sarah, Stubborn Nora, Luke, Little Lew and Little Timmy (the new kids on the Farm). She also sometimes mentions the Farm cats Stinky, Pumpkin and Sherpa.
4. What are the eco-friendly choices you made in your yurt?
We are trying to make all of our choices as green as possible! Our flooring is bamboo and Marmoleum. Marmoleum is green alternative to linoleum made of linseed oil and jute. We used low VOC paint on the walls and will use it on the trim – whenever the trim gets added. All of the light fixtures and appliances are Energy Star rated. Our toilet and bathroom faucets are water conserving since we live in an area of the country where water use is a big concern. The windows are Low E and we added an overhang to the roof so as to keep the house cool in the summer and warmer in the winter. We also added additional windows for passive solar heating. We insulated the basement with ICF so that it helps to again keep it cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Our woodstove meets the highest standards for emissions as set by the EPA. My countertop is a recycled quartz called Caesarstone.
5. What are the eco-friendly choices you declined due to budget?
I had fallen in love with artisan made cabinets made from larch grown here in Montana but the cost was just too great. I am very happy with the cherry cabinets I did get, and the company is part of a green network, but it would have been nice to have them crafted locally. My cabinets are all hardwood and again, due to costs I only have base cabinets. The plans called for additional base and wall cabinets and more countertop. I opted to put in two sets of steel shelving. They compliment the open feel of the yurt and will provide plenty of additional storage and display space for my canning jars and pantry items. We also want to add solar hot water and electric but it will have to wait until we can save the money.
6. You live far more vibrantly than the Professor, great richness of color in your rooms. Does the Professor note a well-trained eye for art and artistic expression?
I don’t know about well-trained but my mother was an artist and I think I may have inherited her sense of color. I came late in life to a talent for making jewelry. I love pairing different gemstones and I sell my creations at Broken Teepee Designs. Why live in a beige house when you can have a cherry red kitchen, a yellow bedroom and a raspberry bathroom? If one is not comfortable picking out bold colors there are designers that are more than happy to help. And I know that not everyone wants to live in a house full of bold colors but try adding a touch of red or pinch of purple. It will make you days in your house happy.
7. Does your American Standard FloWise toilet flush well? Does it flush powerfully?
Oh yes! I am very happy with the high-efficiency toilet; especially with the fact that it uses so little water!
On Saving (Seltzer) Water at the Brooklyn Farmacy
Posted by: | CommentsLike most people, the Professor enjoys a treat now and again, and nothing hits the spot like an old-fashioned chocolate egg cream. And in Brooklyn, New York, there is now a great new place to have one, thanks in part to the assistance of the TV show Construction Intervention. The shop is called the Brooklyn Farmacy, and proprietor Peter Freeman was about to give up on his dream of opening a neighborhood ice cream shop in a beautiful 100 year-old pharmacy because of the daunting amount of renovations the building required.
A chance encounter with the casting director of the television show saved the day, and Peter agreed to let the crew of Construction Intervention renovate the shop for an episode of the show. The Farmacy’s electrical wiring was re-done, structural problems with the building were fixed, a long soda counter was installed, and two new bathrooms that now feature WaterSense-certified toilets and faucets from American Standard were built.
Having comfortable and inviting bathrooms was important to Peter, who wanted a safe, clean environment for neighborhood kids to wash their hands before digging into a slice of his strawberry-rhubarb pie. The Professor also notes that the new water-saving fixtures also compliment his eco-friendly philosophy of buying locally and sustainably made products.
Congratulations, Peter! The Professor tips his hat to you.
WaterSense Products a Key Element in Green Rebuilding Efforts
Posted by: | CommentsOn May 4, 2007, the town of Greensburg, Kansas was destroyed by an EF5 tornado. Ninety-five percent of the town was leveled by the storm and 11 people lost their lives. In the wake of this tragedy the residents of Greensburg chose to take advantage of what they realized was an historic opportunity and began to rebuild their home into the first LEED Platinum town in the country.
Today, on the 3rd anniversary of the Greensburg tornado, the Professor gives a tip of the hat to the resilient residents of Greensburg for their amazing accomplishments.
Most of the news coverage has focused on Greensburg’s wind farm, rainwater harvesting efforts, recycled building materials, and LED-powered streetlights. However, one other important feature in the town’s new, environmentally-friendly plan includes the installation of WaterSense-certified plumbing products in the reconstructed homes.
To help residents conserve water, American Standard Brands donated a number of products, including several low-flow Cadet 3 and FloWise toilets, both of which use 20% less water per flush than standard toilets. Several Greensburg homes also received water-saving Reliant 3 faucets and FloWise bath and shower kits.
Making use of clean energy technologies and reclaimed building materials are truly laudable actions, but as always, the Professor is especially pleased to see that water conservation is a key aspect of Greensburg’s low-impact lifestyle.
