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America's largest water heater manufacturer receives ENERGY STAR'S highest distinction, the Sustained Excellence Award, four years in a row for delivering significant energy savings in the home

ASHLAND CITY, Tenn., April 22, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- , America's largest water heating manufacturer, has once again been named an ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year and Sustained Excellence Award winner by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its outstanding contributions to energy efficiency and a clean future. This marks the sixth consecutive year EPA has recognized A. O. Smith as a Partner of the Year and the company's fourth Sustained Excellence Award, ENERGY STAR's highest honor, for year-over-year contributions to support America's clean energy transition. A family-founded business with 150 years of American manufacturing expertise, A. O. Smith offers more ENERGY STAR® certified products across its brand portfolio than any other water heating manufacturer, including high efficiency that homeowners can purchase at Lowe's.

According to the one of the simplest ways homeowners can save energy is to install efficient products, and water heaters are the second highest source of energy usage in the home – more than a refrigerator, dishwasher, laundry washer and dryer combined. Available exclusively at Lowe's, A. O. Smith's ENERGY STAR-certified family of Signature 900 Series heat pump water heaters are four times more efficient than a standard electric water heater, reducing energy costs by up to 77% and saving homeowners up to $600 per year on utility bills.* Named a 2023 Good Housekeeping Home Reno Award winner, the features integrated smart home connectivity and leak protection technology to provide homeowners with exceptional energy savings and added peace of mind. At 45 dBA, it is also one of the quietest heat pump water heaters on the market.

"Heat pump technology continues to play an increasingly important role in decarbonization and efficiency efforts across the country," said Francois Lebrasseur, utility sector manager for A. O. Smith. "In addition to helping combat the effects of climate change, switching to a heat pump water heater is an easy step for homeowners to significantly reduce their home's energy bills and carbon emissions, produce substantial upfront and long-term savings and deliver plenty of hot water."

A. O. Smith recently introduced a retrofit-ready, at Lowe's for homeowners who need to switch their fuel source from gas, whether to decarbonize and/or lower their energy bills, without the up-front expense of costly electrical panel upgrades. With less space requirements than standard heat pump water heaters, the was designed to be a quick and hassle-free emergency replacement for existing gas water heaters, offering an easy 120V installation that plugs into a standard electrical outlet.

"For the first time in history, the federal tax credit and local utility incentives available to homeowners are high enough that in some parts of the country, it's more cost effective to install a certified heat pump water heater than a standard electric model," added Lebrasseur. "In addition to the potential for upfront savings, making the switch will start putting money back in your pocket immediately with long term energy savings. For roughly every $1 of energy you pay, you will receive around $4 of traditionally electric heated water."

To help offset the cost of upgrading to an ENERGY STAR-certified heat pump water heater, now is a great time to take advantage of the federal tax credit up to $2,000 under the Inflation Reduction Act, along with state and local utility incentives, including instant rebates as high as $3,100 in California (TECH Clean California program) and up to $1,600 in other states. Visit to find which incentives are available in your area.

A. O. Smith's Signature 900 Series heat pump water heaters are available for purchase exclusively at Lowe's home improvement stores and at . To learn more about A. O. Smith's high efficiency water heating and water treatment solutions, visit . For a complete list of 2024 winners and more information about ENERGY STAR's award program, visit .

About A. O. Smith Water Heating

America's largest water heater manufacturer, A. O. Smith brings a 150-year history of innovation and American manufacturing expertise to developing industry-leading, high-efficiency water heating products that are designed, engineered and assembled in the U.S. From creating the industry standard glass lining in 1933, to introducing the first 95% energy efficient water heater in 1986, A. O. Smith has continuously led the water heating industry with a tradition of innovation for almost a century. The multi-generational, family-founded business offers a wide range of water heaters – from standard gas and electric water heaters to high efficiency heat pump and tankless models – to meet most homes' unique water heating needs. For more information about A. O. Smith products, visit .

Same or next business day water heater replacement is available in select locations. Contact Lowe's by visiting or call 1-877-GOLOWES (465-6937) for details.**

*Comparing 80-gallon Signature 900 Series heat pump water heater against pre-2015 similarly sized standard electric tank type water heater using DOE EF to UEF conversion rates. Savings may vary.

**Same-day water heater installation: must purchase before noon Monday through Friday. Subject to installer availability. Installation by independent contractors, licensed and registered where applicable. License numbers and certifications held by or on behalf of Lowe's Home Centers, LLC. See store or Lowes.com/licensing for current licensing.

Media Contact

Cindy Young Vanhoutte, A. O. Smith, 1 512-585-0394, [email protected],

SOURCE A. O. Smith