Kohler Launches Water-Saving Campaign

The company will donate as much as $1 million of its products to Habitat for Humanity, enough to complete nearly 600 homes.

Nicholas Tamarin -- Interior Design, 1/29/2009 12:00:00 AM

Kohler Saile Toilet

Kohler knows a thing or two about using water. But now, the kitchen and bathroom fixture major is helping to conserve it. The company has pledged to donate as much as $1 million worth of its products to Habitat for Humanity as part of the launch of SaveWaterAmerica.com, an online campaign dedicated to water conservation.

Kohler Stillness sink fixture

Launched earlier this month at the International Builder's Show in Las Vegas, the campaign is dedicated to educating homeowners with information about water-saving products. For example, a new database lists toilet rebate programs, ranging from $25 to $150, that are available across the country to help offset the cost of replacing older fixtures.

Kohler has guaranteed at least $500,000 in product donations to Habitat for Humanity, and is encouraging homeowners to log onto the site and "virtually" match the dollar amount. Visitors to the website are asked to take a three-question quiz on the amount of water and money they would save by replacing old toilets. For every completed quiz, Kohler will donate an additional $1 in product to the charity, up to $500,000. If Kohler hits the $1 million goal, it will outfit nearly 600 Habitat homes with plumbing products.

"Kohler recognizes the looming freshwater shortage facing the United States, and that saving water inside the home represents the best opportunity for a family to make a significant difference on their water consumption," says John Engberg, Kohler's manager of global media and web development.