Munich, June 22, 2011 (bsh) – Super-efficient household appliances clearly contribute to significantly reducing energy and resource consumption in private households. Modern household appliances consume up to 73 percent less electricity than comparable appliances of 15 years ago and thus offer enormous potential for reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions. As the first household appliance manufacturer, BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH has collected its most efficient appliances into a Super Efficiency Portfolio, which it has systematically expanded during the last two years. Just the super-efficient appliances alone that were sold in Europe in 2010 by BSH will lead to electricity savings of 1.9 billion kilowatt hours. The latest figures for the Super Efficiency Portfolio are given in the sustainability report published today called “Environmental and Corporate Responsibility 2010″ and have been confirmed by auditors.

“Because of our super-efficient appliances, we are making a measurable contribution to climate protection,” said BSH CEO Dr. Kurt-Ludwig Gutberlet. “Energy-efficient household appliances offer enormous potential for climate protection and without the need for consumers having to compromise on convenience.” For many years, BSH engineers have been working hard to continuously reduce consumption by appliances through innovative technologies. “Because energy efficiency is the most simple and quickest option that can be implemented to save energy and reduce CO2 emissions,” said Gutberlet. “The production and widespread marketing of super-efficient appliances are an integral part of our sustainability-oriented company strategy.”

19th sustainability report published
In the meantime, the company is indicating which sustainability goals are being pursued and how they are being met in its 19th sustainability report. To direct sustainability activities in a targeted manner, BSH established a new Corporate Responsibility (CR) area for the Group on January 1, 2011, which is headed by Dr. Peter Böhm. Dr. Böhm is responsible for the global sustainability strategy of the Group. As a basis for the systematic development of its CR strategy, BSH has evaluated the results of a previous stakeholder survey and an internal topic prioritization within the framework of a materiality analysis. The results show that the development and broad marketing of super-efficient appliances are considered to be of particular importance.

Special assembly line with ergonomic operator stations
Another key topic in the sustainability report is dealing with the challenges of demographic change. To address this change, BSH is working intensively on ergonomic measures to both maintain the health of older workers and their ability to work for the long term. As a result, the Group has established, for example in its cooker factory in Traunreut (Germany), a special assembly line for older employees with health restrictions. On that assembly line, there are ergonomically designed operator stations that make it easier for employees to carry out the sequences of movements that are necessary for appliance assembly. This successful model is also to be carried over to other factories of the Group.

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The impact of the wall oven was immediate and widespread. Consumers throughout the nation, formerly bound to the traditional kitchen design of a stove top range, were now allowed a newfound flexibility since wall ovens could be placed on practically any wall, anywhere in the kitchen. Not only did they open up the kitchen floor plan, they also brought freedom to create a more signature look in the kitchen. The wall oven could be matched to the styling of cooktops and refrigeration and provided increased functionality to the consumer.

The built-in wall ovens liberated consumers from their previous reliance on the traditional range to supply all their cooking functions. Ahead of its time ergonomically, the Thermador wall oven freed home chefs from having to bend down every time they needed to check on or remove items from the oven, making food preparation and serving much easier. As stated in the ad headline for the first wall oven ads, “The Art of Fine Living” and “For Those Who Can Afford the Finest” – this was a true testament of the luxury that this product brought to the home.

Improving on its breakthrough, Thermador brought the double wall oven to market in 1956. This new configuration granted consumers additional capacity and was perfect for large families or those who entertained regularly at home. Prior to this, it was nearly impossible to secure this added capacity.

Thermador’s first wall ovens were true advancements that were ahead of their time, with such features as a recessed broiling unit for more usable space, double-compartment door insulated with fiberglass and ventilated for air circulation so they were never too hot to touch. A protective hood was also included to deflect heat and vapors. Created by Thermador founder Bill Cranston, an electrical engineer and graduate of Yale University, the wall oven came to market during the post-World War II building boom and offered new opportunities for the homeowners of the time.

“After the war, families were focused on getting back to the routines that had been interrupted, such as family meals,” said the Bill Cranston Estate. “The Thermador wall ovens, with their glamorous new look and capabilities helped put the spotlight back on the kitchen as the focus of the home and helped families recapture this aspect of their lives.”

Since it was first introduced to the market, the Thermador wall oven has maintained its elegant style, high functionality, durability and ease of use that have made it the preferred brand of choice among a wide audience that includes architects, amateur and professional chefs, cooking schools and consumers.

One of the world’s most influential modern architects, Richard Neutra, used the Thermador wall oven in projects including his son’s home, the Dion Neutra/Reunion House. The clean design of the wall oven fit well into Neutra’s blending of indoor and outdoor spaces and modernist visions. A Thermador “Masterpiece” wall oven was also incorporated into the famed Case Study House (CSH) program, which provided an in-depth examination of significant residential architecture post-World War II. The design, CSH #17 in Beverly Hills, by Craig Ellwood was featured in Arts and Architecture in 1955. And developer Joseph Eichler, known for his dramatic facades and breezy interiors and responsible for more than 10,000 homes throughout California in the 1950’s and 1960’s, used Thermador wall ovens in most of his projects determining that they were “vastly better” than the competition. Many of these wall ovens function today and are highly prized by their owners.

Contemporary interior designers like award-winning Certified Kitchen Designer Joan DesCombes of Winter Park, FL, recipient of more than 10 National Kitchen and Bath Association Awards, hails the Thermador wall oven for its classic yet contemporary, upscale look. She personally likes the way wall ovens free space in the kitchen, providing unlimited design options.

“Many of my clients love the capacity wall ovens offer,” said DesCombes. “They also allow for a lot of versatility when designing a kitchen and are a good choice regardless of room size.”

A favorite of professional chefs, cookbook authors and home cooks, Thermador wall ovens have also achieved celebrity status with appearances in Julia Child’s PBS shows and as the much used oven for the blended family of “The Brady Bunch” television series. Julia Child’s oven, part of her personal kitchen, can now be seen at the Smithsonian Natural Museum of American History.

One can often find a Thermador wall oven hard at work by stepping into the home kitchens of professional chefs and restaurateurs – clear evidence of their superior cooking results. Both Michael McCarty of the trend-setting Michael’s in New York and Santa Monica, CA, and Cecilia Chang of the groundbreaking Pan-Asian restaurant, Betelnut in San Francisco, have Thermador wall ovens. Chang has owned her current set of two Thermador wall ovens for 17 years – her first set she owned for more than 30 years – attesting to the brand’s quality and durability.

Not only has the Thermador wall oven been a proven design and culinary favorite, it’s also found its place in learning environments. Aspiring professional chefs at Johnson & Wales College of Culinary Arts, one of the most prestigious cooking schools in the United States, use a Thermador wall oven as a learning tool. In addition to its presence in the classroom setting, the Thermador wall oven, along with other Thermador appliances, will be featured in the PBS series filmed at the famed school, the “Master Class at Johnson & Wales.”

For home cooks, New York’s Culinary Loft, a popular cooking school in the trendy SoHo neighborhood, uses a Thermador wall oven to give those taking lessons – from celebrities to business people – an at-home experience on a top-rated appliance. Culinary Loft owner, Corrine Colen, whose parents owned a Thermador double wall oven throughout her childhood, is excited to now use one in her professional life.

“I always knew that Thermador was the best,” said Colen. “The wall oven’s performance is as beautiful as its appearance. The chefs that use it for cooking demonstrations say it works wonderfully, provides smooth operation, and perfectly combines high quality, new technology and a gorgeous aesthetic.”

In its fifty-year history, Thermador has maintained its status as the industry leader in the wall oven category, and has been copied by virtually every manufacturer since its inception. Other wall oven “firsts” pioneered by Thermador include the first oven/microwave combination and three-way combination unit, introduced in 1975 – in fact, the three-way combination still remains an industry exclusive. In 1976, Thermador launched the “Speed Cooking” oven, a combination microwave thermal built-in oven. And at the turn-of-the-century, Thermador introduced its exclusive CookSmart™ technology, a combination of microwave and convection heating resulting in optimal temperatures and cutting cooking time by up to 50% without compromising taste or texture.

Thermador’s latest advancement in wall ovens – the Personal Culinary Assistant™ – allows users to see and operate all cooking modes with single touch programming, for a step by step guided tour, allowing for superior & easy cooking results.

In honor of its 50th Anniversary, Thermador has produced a special limited edition 30” wall oven model. The mirror oven anniversary model makes a stylish and dramatic statement with its striking exterior finish, and promises to become a collector’s item for the 21st century.

• Professional Series 48 inch Rangetop PCG486GD – Porcelain Rangetop
• Professional Series 30 inch Combination Wall Oven PODM301 – Stainless Steel
• Freedom® Collection 36 inch Built In French Door Bottom-Freezer Model T36IT71NNP
• Freedom® Collection 24 inch Built-in Wine Preservation Column Model T24IW50NSP
• DWHD650GFP 24 inch Sapphire 6 Wash Cycle Steel Dishwasher with Heavy Duty Door and Pro Handle

Thermador wine fridge T24IW50NSP, the fridge is T36IT70NNP, the dishwasher is DWHD651GFP, the oven is PODMW301, the cooktop is PCG486GD, and the hood is PH48GS.

t24iw50nsp

podmw301

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t36it70nnp

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thermador kitchen design

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Gaggenau Refrigeration

Side-by-side Gaggenau 36″ two-door refrigerators offer the ultimate in flush fit elegant luxury.

Stainless steel interior for clean appearance and sanitary surfaces

Tempered Glass shelves

Gallon door bins

EnergyStar rated

• Single point ignition for quiet operation
• Sealer burner for easy cleaning
• Porcelain maintop for easy cleaning

NGM8654UC

• Powerful 18,000 BTU center-mounted burner
• PowerSim® – Quick Heating with Large Flame or Gentle Simmering with a Diffuser Cap.
• OptiSim® – Simmer Delicate Sauces without Scorching (400 BTU)
• Automatic Electronic Re-Ignition

• Dual 11″ Heating Element with Powerful 4400W. Most Powerful Induction Element in its Class.
• SpeedBoost™ – This Fast-heat Mode Boils Water Twice as Fast as Conventional Electric Cooktops , Saving Time and Energy.
• CountDown Timer – Built-In Timers for Each Element. Doubles as General-Purpose Kitchen Timer.
• AutoChef™ Sensor – A Bosch Exclusive. Maintains Exact Frying Temperature for Perfect Results and Convenient, Healthy, Nutritional Cooking.
• SteelTouch™ with PreciseSelect™ – A Bosch Exclusive. High-end, Stainless Steel Touch Controls with Direct Cooking Selection (17 Settings)

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