BENTON HARBOR, Mich.-- March 1, 2010 -- Whirlpool Corporation has been recognized with the 2010 ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence award by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The award recognizes the company’s continued leadership in offering consumers energy and water efficiency through its leading home appliance brands. This is the company’s eleventh top ENERGY STAR award and fifth consecutive Sustained Excellence win. Whirlpool has been honored with 22 ENERGY STAR awards overall, more than any other appliance manufacturer.

According to a 2009 Whirlpool Corporation survey conducted in conjunction with Harris Interactive, energy efficiency is more important than ever in the purchase decision of consumers shopping for major appliances. The majority of U.S. consumers (59 percent) said they would rather spend more money now to save energy (and money) later when it came to home appliances.

The company praised the federal government’s recent enforcement actions that help ensure consumers’ confidence as they purchase ENERGY STAR qualified major appliances.  These actions will help ensure manufacturers of appliances are held accountable to deliver the energy savings they promise. In turn, consumers will be able to confidently use the Energy Guide label to make energy performance comparisons among brands while shopping, and to attain, in real world use, the energy efficiency promised when they purchased the appliance. Whirlpool has been involved in helping to set and define federal energy standards since their inception in the 1970s.

“EPA is recognizing Whirlpool Corporation with our highest ENERGY STAR award - the 2010 Sustained Excellence Award,” said Gina McCarthy, EPA Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation. “Whirlpool Corporation’s continued leadership and commitment to energy efficiency is a testament to what we can accomplish to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect our global environment.”

Whirlpool Corporation offers some of the most water and energy efficient products on the market, in the kitchen and the laundry room and across all price points.