Archive for Toilet News
Flush for Good: Raising the Standard of World Sanitation
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Did you ever think a flush could be so powerful that it’s felt in other countries? This year, American Standard is launching a campaign to raise awareness of how plumbers protect the health of the world. Deploying the same engineering know-how that led to the breakthrough Champion flushing system, the research and development team at American Standard created a new sanitary toilet pan to help solve a health crisis where plumbing infrastructure doesn’t exist.
A small plastic sanitary toilet pan designed to be connected to a simple latrine pit provides a tight seal to keep out flies and prevent dangerous cross-contamination. These sanitary toilet pans are designed to be affordable, easy to maintain and simple to use. See the sanitary toilet pan in action here.
For every Champion toilet sold in 2013, American Standard is donating a sanitary toilet pan to a developing country. Why champion a cause that is half a world away? The bathroom and kitchen symbolize the most fundamental aspects of the human condition. Our bodies bring nourishment in and expel waste out. When we look at the bathroom, we look at the core of who we are, at our deepest roots – it’s the one thing all humans share.
It’s also the story of why plumbers are so important. Be a champion to the world in 2013, and help us provide solutions to a global health crisis.
Yes, a toilet can be that powerful. Learn more at FlushforGood.com
Read the full story in Plumbing & Mechanical Elements Showroom
Orgill 2013: Speed Connect Your Way to a New iPad!
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This year’s Orgill Spring Market 2013 Dealer Show will be held in sunny Orlando, Florida on February 21st through the 23rd at the beautiful Orange County Convention Center. Along with showcasing some of American Standard’s (Booth #4222) latest innovations, Professor Toilet and the American Standard team will be giving lucky attendees a chance to win 1 of 2 iPads!
I’m Attending Orgill – How Can I Enter to Win?
Speed Connect to the internet and awesome apps with your new iPad – all you need to enter to win is attend a Speed Connect Drain demonstration at American Standard Booth #4222 on Thursday or Friday, February 21st and 22nd. Once you have completed the demonstration, simply drop off your business card or contact information with a representative and you’ll be automatically entered! Drawings will be held on February 21st & 22nd, so what are you waiting for? Good luck!
World Toilet Day 2012: Meeting the Global Challenge
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Today, November 19th, 2012, marks World Toilet Day – a day celebrated annually that is dedicated to breaking the taboo around the toilet discussion and spreading awareness of issues surrounding waste management on a global scale.
So why should you give a $h!t? Imagine life without a toilet or sewage system. Imagine having to defecate in the open. While this is nearly unthinkable for those of us living in the developed world, this is an unfortunate reality for the 2.5 billion people in the world who lack access to a clean toilet and the 1.1 billion that practice open defecation. Why does this matter? Illness and disease that are spread through human waste is the second largest killer amongst children living in developing countries; that’s more than HIV/AIDS, measles and malaria combined or 1 death every 20 seconds!
How can you help? The World Toilet Organization, the group that organizes World Toilet Day, offers several suggestions on how you can get involved including signing the Keep Your Promises Petition and contacting your local media to get involved in the discussion. Learn more ways to get involved here.
Learn how American Standard has teamed up with the Gates Foundation earlier this year to make the world better one toilet at a time by developing a new, low-cost yet efficient, toilet system that was exhibited at the 2012 Reinvent the Toilet Fair.
Follow the conversation; Follow @WorldToiletDay and #IGiveaShit via Twitter today!
Be a PRO this Election Day: Vote for the Next PRO Toilet!
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Professor Toilet and his team have been gearing up for Election Day 2012 for the past couple of months reviewing the defining moments of the past performance of the PRO Toilet Candidates and making stops at key showrooms to pick up on leading experts’ insights.
After reviewing some of the key issues on domestic policy (seat up or down?) and the PRO candidates’ platforms (versatile sizes vs. large trapways), have you decided on your leading candidate? VOTE for the Cadet PRO or Champion PRO by commenting below!
Professor Toilet reminds you to get out the VOTE today, November 6th, 2012!
Show us your Spooktacular Bathroom – 2012 Halloween Photo Contest
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It’s that time of year again to put on that zombie makeup and fire up the witches brew. Halloween isn’t merely a holiday for the kids anymore – with costume parties and trick-or-treater house guests – the holiday has become a time to dress up our homes for the festivities. Professor Toilet wants to see your creative Halloween décor ideas. This isn’t the run-of-the-mill Halloween photo contest – we want to see what you’ve got when it comes to entertaining this season in your home. Send us your creative home decorations that scare, amaze or delight your visitors for the chance to win an accessories set from American Standard! See below for some Spooktacular inspiration…
How to Enter
- Email your Halloween décor images to us at socialmedia@americanstandard.com with the subject line “SPOOKTACULAR Contest Entry” and leave a comment on this post to acknowledge your entry before November 7th, 2012 at 11:59 pm EST. The picture can be of décor anywhere in the home (bonus points for a Spooky bathroom or kitchen) that’s decorated for Halloween or the Autumn season.
- Professor Toilet and his team will choose their favorite entry and announce the winner here on ProfessorToilet.com on November 9th, 2012. Contest entries will be judged on the following criteria; ability to express the spirit of Halloween or Autumn & creativity (spooky or not!)
- Also enter a caption for one of the photos below (your choice of one) by commenting on the comments section and we will randomly select one of those comments. Randomly selected photo caption will also receive Mega Plumber Action Hero from Professor Toilet.
- (1) Winner will receive their choice of a set of JADO Stoic Collection or Pyke Collection accessories valued at $485-510 USD. Each set consists of the following; (1) Robe Hook, (1) Tissue Holder, (1) Small Towel Bar/Ring, (1) 24” Towel Bar. Must be 21 years of age or older at time of entry. Contest is open to US and Canada residents only. Approved image entries will be added to an album on the American Standard Facebook page.
NOTE: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. THIS CONTEST IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH OR ADMINISTERED BY FACEBOOK IN ANY WAY.
Here are your Prize Package Options:
Pyke Collection Accessories: 24″ Towel Bar, Tissue Holder, Towel Ring, Robe Hook
OR
Stoic Collection Accessories: 24″ Towel Bar, Tissue Holder, Small Towel Bar, Robe Hook
See more inspiration after the jump!
EDIT (November 19, 2012) : Congratulations to the winner of the photo contest, Christian F., and caption winner, Mark “Doc” H!! Winners will be contacted via email with instructions on how to claim their prize. Thank you to everyone who participated!
Professor Toilet and American Standard at Orgill 2012, Visit Booth #637
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Professor Toilet and the American Standard Team will be at the Orgill 2012 Fall Dealer Market at the Sands Expo and Convention Center, Las Vegas from August 16-18, 2012. Come visit us at booth #637 to view some of our latest products including the:
- Champion® 4 Right Height® Elongated Toilet
- Cadet® 3 Tall Height Elongated Toilet
- Jocelyn Bathroom Faucet
- McKenzie Kitchen Faucet
Enter to win a Toilet!
Click here to visit our sign-up page and receive the latest updates about new products and promotions straight to your inbox! You’ll be automatically entered to win our Cadet 3 Right Height Elongated Toilet.
Reinvent The Toilet Fair: A Vision for the Future of Sanitation
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“Every person deserves to live a healthy, productive life.”-Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
No innovation has ever done more to improve health than safe sanitation, yet 2.6 billion people don’t yet have a safe and affordable way to, well… poop. Without a sewage infrastructure in place, areas of developing countries have few options but to use latrines and practice open defecation, leading to deadly diseases and foodborne illnesses. When American Standard learned about The Gates Foundation’s “Reinvent the Toilet” Challenge, they were eager to offer their expertise in engineering some of the world’s best toilets to find a safe, yet affordable, solution.
We’re one step closer to a solution. American Standard was awarded a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Grant earlier this year to develop a new toilet system. The engineering team worked specifically on improving the current system that is used in many parts of Bangladesh that often leaves waste exposed to flies, causing cross contamination with food. Jim McHale and Daigo Ishiyama, leading engineers in this challenge for American Standard, will be demonstrating their latest working prototypes for an improved toilet system on August 14th and 15th at the Reinventing the Toilet Fair in Seattle, WA.
American Standard will be joining other participants in the Reinvent the Toilet Challenge such as Rice University, Deft University of Technology (Netherlands) and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine at the Reinvent the Toilet Fair. This three day event acts as a showcase for innovations from around the world to create a vision for the next generation of sanitation. View the video below to see one of the innovations the American Standard Team will be presenting at the fair. Read the Gates Foundation’s blog to read more about the event (and about how the “fake poop” used in the video below is used!)
Follow the conversation on Twitter: @amercanstandard #toiletchallenge #toilet #sanitation #innovation
Test your PRO Knowledge: Take the Challenge to WIN a PRO™ Toilet!
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Are you up for this PRO sized challenge?
Since its introduction, The PRO™ Series has received a tremendous response from homeowners that were frustrated with their older, clog-prone and water inefficient toilets. The PRO Series is American Standard’s latest line of toilets that combines the powerful flushing systems of the popular Champion and Cadet toilets while using a WaterSense® Certified (pending) water saving flush. While the switch to the PRO line may be a no brainer, we want to test your PRO knowledge for the chance to win your very own! Read more for details…
Edit (8/8/12) : Congratulations to David Paige and Brian Necessary who will both be receiving a brand new PRO Toilet and retiring their plungers! Thank you to all of our participants in the PRO Talk and Test your PRO Knowledge challenge.
Dwell on Design 2012: Tune in for a Cookoff Challenge to WIN!
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Do you describe yourself as a foodie or find yourself stocking up on the latest kitchen gadgets? Are you constantly fine-tuning new recipes and tuning in to Top Chef? If this sounds familiar, you’ll love what we have in store for you this weekend.
On Friday & Saturday June 22nd and 23rd, American Standard will be co-sponsoring two cookoff challenges at the Dwell on Design festival at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Watch as celebrity chef Jamie Gwen and designers/bloggers battle it out in the kitchen using Capital Cooking Ranges and American Standard faucets and sinks. We’ll be live tweeting recipes, video and photos of the event via Twitter and Facebook to all of our followers and fans, so stay tuned and join us for the fun!
Enter to WIN! Join us for the event on Twitter and tweet @AmercanStandard with #DwellCookoff to enter to win one of our two fabulous prizes: the Prevoir Appliance Sink & Pekoe Semi-Professional Faucet – two products that are fit for a chef and made for the home kitchen. Tweet both days to be entered in the giveaway! (Don’t forget to follow and tweet @AmercanStandard with #DwellCookoff )
Check out the event itinerary:
Designer Cookoff | Friday June 22nd, 2012 2p-3p PST
Two teams of designers and bloggers will battle it out to prove who really knows their way around the kitchen. They’ll be given three ingredients to create a masterpiece recipe during this cookoff and tweetup event. Guest chefs include San Diego designer Brandon Smith and more! Tune in for live streaming photos of the event on Twitter.
Pro Chef Showdown | Saturday June 23rd, 2012 2p-3p PST
The headlining cookoff event is a Pro Showdown with celebrity chef and radio personality Jamie Gwen and Capital’s Chef Doug Fletcher. Each Chef will be given the challenge of creating a stunning main course and a dessert from a secret ingredient. Watch the event unfold via Twitter!
We hope to see you there – Happy Tweeting!
Bath Trendspotting: Share your ideas to win an Outreach Faucet!
Posted by: | CommentsAt the American Standard research and design center, we’re constantly keeping an eye on emerging trends in the kitchen and bath world in order to design products that fit the end user’s needs flawlessly. In the April issue of Professional Remodeler, Gray Uhl, American Standard’s Director of Design, spoke about the latest trends in bath remodeling. Among his observations was the increase in a need for products that work in existing spaces in response to the people staying in their homes longer and creating multi-generational living spaces.
This got our gears turning; what are some other trends that are emerging in bathroom interiors? We asked Gray to clue us in on some of the hottest trends of 2012:
Now it’s your turn! Watch the video below to see how you can win an American Standard Outreach Faucet (our response to the need for a more versatile bathroom faucet) and maybe even see your product idea come to life!
For the chance to win the American Standard Outreach Faucet, leave a comment to this post with a product idea that isn’t available today that you’d love to own or with a style that you’d like to see us develop. Professor Toilet and his team will choose their favorite entry on Monday June 25, 2012 as the winner, so hurry and enter before Sunday June 24, 5PM ET.
EDIT: Congratulations to Kay Thrasher who thought of a clever way to add more counter space with minimal effort. She says, “I have a very small bathroom with limited space. I’d love a bathroom sink that had a cover or partial cover so I could have more counter space when not using the sink and remove it for full access when needed.” Congratulations Kay!
