BENTON HARBOR, Mich., Dec. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Whirlpool Corporation today announced that the company will be the exclusive supplier of energy- and water-efficient appliances to one of the country's largest home builders, Beazer Homes USA, Inc. (NYSE:BZH). Headquartered in Atlanta, Beazer Homes has ongoing operations in 16 states across the country, building high-performance homes designed to appeal to homebuyers at various price points across a wide-range of demographic segments. As part of the agreement, Beazer homes will now include in all of its homes ENERGY STAR® qualified Whirlpool brand dishwashers, which incorporate advanced technologies that use 10-50 percent less energy and water than standard models. In addition, homebuyers can select from a wide-range of other Whirlpool Corporation kitchen appliance brands, such as Whirlpool or KitchenAid. "Partnering with Whirlpool gives us the tools to provide homebuyers with high-quality homes that feature appliances to complement their individual lifestyles," said Tony L. Callahan, senior vice president of national purchasing, planning & design at Beazer Homes. "Whirlpool has shown a true commitment to building professionals and trade customers through their Inside Advantage(TM) program, as well as other quality service initiatives, making them an ideal partner for Beazer Homes." The Inside Advantage(TM) is designed to meet the needs of Whirlpool Corporation's trade customers and other building and design professionals. More than a program, The Inside Advantage(TM) allows the customer to leverage the strength of powerful brands that consumers recognize, innovative products, market insight and targeted services, all from one company. "This partnership leverages technologies and resources from both companies and shows Beazer Homes' commitment to offering its homebuyers sustainable solutions for conserving water and energy through everyday home appliances," said Kelly Safis, national director of contract sales at Whirlpool Corporation. "We look forward to a long, successful working relationship with Beazer Homes." As part of Beazer Homes' SMARTDESIGN® initiative, the builder includes up to 10 eco-friendly features in every home it builds, including CFL bulbs, programmable thermostats and ENERGY STAR dishwashers. Other standard features include water-saving faucets and showerheads, as well as MERV-8 air filters and low-VOC paints and carpet, which contributes to healthier indoor air quality. About Whirlpool Corporation Whirlpool Corporation works to exceed expectations with appliances that help building professionals create homes of distinction. The company's The Inside Advantage(TM) Program offers Powerful Brands, Innovative Products, Targeted Services and Market Insight to support building professionals. Whirlpool Corporation is the world's leading manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances, with annual sales of approximately $19 billion in 2008, 70,000 employees, and 67 manufacturing and technology research centers around the world. The company markets Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, Jenn-Air, Amana, Brastemp, Consul, Bauknecht and other major brand names to consumers in nearly every country around the world. For more information on Whirlpool Corporation and its offerings for building professionals, please visit insideadvantage.com or call 1-800-952-2537. About Beazer Homes USA, Inc., Beazer Homes USA, Inc., headquartered in Atlanta, is one of the top ten homebuilders in the United States, based on the number of homes closed. Its operations are geographically diversified in 16 states across the country and their homes are designed to appeal to homebuyers at various price points across various demographic segments. Beazer's long-term business strategy focuses on providing its customers with a higher measure of home. Beazer Homes' legacy includes building homes for America's families for over 50 years - over 100,000 in the last 10 years alone. Beazer Homes has been listed on the New York Stock Exchange since 1994 under the ticker symbol "BZH." DATASOURCE: Whirlpool Corporation CONTACT: Whitney Dean, Miller Brooks, +1-317-873-8100,

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