Red is the new green: our commitment to sustainability

From the food we buy to the cars we drive, the way we live has a direct impact on our natural world. So when it comes to choosing a new HVAC system, how can you be sure that you’re making the best choice not just for your pocket and project, but also for the planet? It all starts with choosing the right provider.

Following the recent success of COP28, the spotlight on sustainability in the MENA region has never been more pronounced. With organizations and individuals actively evaluating their environmental footprint and adopting more eco-conscious lifestyle changes, more and more people are doing their bit to lessen their environmental impact.

However, at Rheem, our commitment to sustainability is nothing new; it’s been integral to our approach since day one.

Sustainable solutions, 100 years in the making

For nearly a century, we’ve been leading the way in developing innovative HVAC products that consume fewer resources, generate less waste and ensure simpler, safer operations. After all, technological efficiency doesn’t just mean lower operating costs. It also means a lower energy output, which in turn, means a cleaner, ‘greener’ living environment and less strain on the natural world.

For example, our VRF products are developed with R410A refrigerant, with an Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) of 0. We were the first HVAC manufacturer to introduce R-410A units to the GCC market back in 2009 – and we continue to develop and deliver innovative solutions that combine high performance with environmental responsibility.

Driven by our mission, guided by our values

Today, our vision for sustainable HVAC solutions remains as steadfast as ever. To support this commitment, we have created our ‘A Greater Degree of Good’ initiative, which has been designed to align with the United Nations’ 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. It is defined by three key pillars: degrees of innovation, degrees of efficiency, and degrees of leadership.

Degrees of innovation

At Rheem, sustainability begins in the design and development process. We believe in engineering with intent, to deliver solutions which ensure sustainability at every stage in the product life cycle.

Our 2025 goal: to launch a line of heating, cooling and water heating products that boast a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas footprint.

Every new product we design goes through our Product Development Process, during which key representatives from our research and development, sourcing and manufacturing teams meet to assess its environmental and social impact. This includes evaluating attributes such as product efficiency, packaging, CO2 reduction, performance, features and recyclability. Putting these measures in place also helps to reinforce the reliability and longevity of our products, so you can benefit from a system that is not only greener but also lasts longer.

These sustainability strategy sessions have enabled us to develop our ‘Sustainability Standout®’ seal – an emblem we proudly showcase to underscore our most environmentally friendly products and solutions. However it should still be emphasized that our products without the seal remain highly environmentally friendly; in fact, our packaged AC products consume 50% less refrigerant than most competitors. The seal is simply to identify those that have met the most stringent of our internally defined sustainability standards. This is to help professionals recommend the most responsible products possible and to enable consumers to make smarter, more cost-effective, and more sustainable purchasing decisions.

Degrees of efficiency

At Rheem, efficiency is integral to how we operate. We are committed to using fewer resources, generating less waste, and making our processes simpler. This means that we are always looking to improve our ways of working and optimize our processes to consume less energy, conserve water, and transport more efficiently. We are also setting firmer goals to reduce the greenhouse gasses we produce, not just in our own operations but also in those of our partners and vendors.

Our 2025 goal: to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% and achieve zero waste to landfill in our global manufacturing operations.

All our products are designed in the United States and adhere to rigorous U.S. and local regulations, to ensure that we not only meet but surpass local regulatory standards. This means when you purchase a product from Rheem you are guaranteed quality, for complete peace of mind. We also take care to measure the CO2 reduction levels in all of our existing and in-development products, to help buyers find products that will lower their environmental impact.

However, when it comes to manufacturing, we keep it local. We have established a manufacturing facility in the UAE, which leverages solar panels to help generate clean energy and significantly reduce our emissions output during the manufacturing process. In addition, approximately 70% of our regional components are sourced from UAE-based suppliers. This also helps us mitigate our carbon footprint by reducing the need for imports.

Degrees of leadership

We know that long-term sustainability isn’t just down to processes – it’s about people, too. That’s why we hire, inspire, and invest in our regional teams. We want the members of our professional community to be next-generation thinkers and responsible stewards of our industry, the greater community and the environment.

Our 2025 goal: Rheem will train 250,000 plumbers, contractors and key influencers on sustainable products or sustainable installation and recycling best practices.

Regional and global initiatives, such as the Rheem Pro Partner program and our two state-of-the-art Rheem Innovation and Learning Centers in Dubai and Riyadh, have been designed to empower professionals and foster collaboration in sustainable processes. So, when you purchase a product from Rheem, you are helping us to invest not only in environmental best practices, but also in the next generation of regional talent.

The results so far

We originally set our sustainability goals to coincide with our 100th anniversary, in 2025. However, we are delighted to reveal that we have already exceeded our ambitions.

Our recently launched ProTerra and Odin ranges are not only up to five times more efficient than a standard water heater, but also produce zero emissions. This has allowed us to hit our ‘degrees of innovation’ goal two years earlier than expected!

We’re also proud to have avoided more than 30 million metric tons of CO2 since 2019. That’s equivalent to more than 10.3 million tons of waste diverted from landfills, or the equivalent of planting nearly 496,000,000 trees worldwide.

And by 2019, we had already trained more than 250,000 people in our sustainability initiatives. In fact, by 2021 we had already hit the 300,000 mark (and it’s still climbing).

Conclusion

Rheem is committed to making a difference with the products we create, for the people we serve and through the processes that drive us, and we are proud to be an HVAC manufacturer which puts sustainability first.

From investing in product innovation to investing in our people, when it comes to environmental responsibility we want to stay one step ahead whilst always staying true to our core values.

To learn more about Rheem’s commitment to sustainability, click here.