Based in Philadelphia, AmeriSus is a consortium of design and development professionals focused on providing creative designs and materials for energy-efficient homes that are within the price range of the average American homebuyer. The idea is to reduce environmental impact, while offering homeowners more reasonable home prices and the lower utility bills of an energy-efficient home.

"We established AmeriSus two years ago to demonstrate that affordability, efficiency and sustainability are not mutually exclusive," Kamps said. "For many households, the cost of home ownership has become a financial burden."

AmeriSus has expanded on the "kit home" concept, popularized by Sears, Roebuck and Co. in the first half of the 20th Century, allowing such pre-construction activities as design, engineering, procurement and logistics to be optimized for builders. Everything from nuts and bolts to appliances and finishes are included as part of one complete building package available through AmeriSus' proprietary Ready Build System(TM). An ever-growing line of architectural layouts is available to builders and homebuyers via the AmeriSus Web site, where selections and upgrades in such areas as appliances, flooring, fixtures and energy systems can be made. AmeriSus selected products, materials and services from more than 30 "Best-In-Class" companies across the globe, such as Whirlpool Corporation, IKEA, and FedEx, which epitomize sustainability in their products and daily operations.

"We are thrilled to partner with AmeriSus in this exciting new sustainable building venture. Whirlpool is a strong proponent of sustainable building, and this is a wonderful opportunity to make sustainably built homes available to a wider variety of people," said Mitchell Isert, North Atlantic contract division director at Whirlpool Corporation.

When the selection process is complete, AmeriSus ships all of the design plans, building materials and finishes to the home site, saving several steps for builders. For more information on AmeriSus, go to amerisus.com.

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 1-800-253-3977.

SOURCE Whirlpool Corporation

http://www.insideadvantage.com

Whirlpool Corporation is an industry leader in developing high-performance appliances that help conserve the earth's resources and allow homeowners to use resources more efficiently. The company continually strives to understand and manage the environmental effects of its business, not only by creating new and innovative products that consume less energy and water, but also by improving processes and using materials that minimize the impact on the planet.

Whirlpool Corporation has a long-term commitment to environmental protection and natural resource efficiency, which began 40 years ago with the creation of a corporate office for environmental control. In 2003, Whirlpool became the world's first appliance manufacturer to announce a global greenhouse gas reduction target. Recently, the company announced that by 2015, it will make all the electronically controlled appliances it produces -- everywhere in the world -- capable of receiving and responding to signals from smart grids.

Whirlpool Corporation has received global recognition for its social and environmental performance. The company was recently named one of the "Greenest Big Companies in America" by Newsweek magazine and is included in the FTSE4Good and the KLD Domini 400 Social and Global Sustainability Indexes. Whirlpool also was named one of FORTUNE's "Most Admired Companies," one of the "100 Best Corporate Citizens" by Chief Responsibility Officer magazine, one of the "World's Most Ethical Companies" by Ethisphere magazine and one of the "Top 50 Most Respected U.S. Companies" by the Reputation Institute.

Detailed information about the company's financial performance is available in its 2008 annual report and its 10-K filing on the corporate Web site at http://investors.whirlpoolcorp.com. More information on Whirlpool Corporation's sustainability performance can be found in the Whirlpool Sustainability Report and companion GRI Matrix, available at www.whirlpoolcorp.com/responsibility

About Whirlpool Corporation

Whirlpool Corporation is the world's leading manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances, with annual sales of approximately $19 billion in 2008, approximately 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. Additional information about the company can be found at http://www.whirlpoolcorp.com.

SOURCE Whirlpool Corporation

http://www.whirlpoolcorp.com

When comparing the Top Companies for Leaders with more than 500 other companies around the world, Hewitt identified one distinguishing characteristic that sets them apart from their peers--even during the economic downturn, Global Top Companies remained committed to building leadership capability within their organizations. In other words, tighter budgets and fewer resources forced these organizations to think and act smarter and more creatively about what really mattered when it came to leadership--but they didn't lose focus.

"At Whirlpool Corporation, leaders develop leaders to ensure we are always positioned to successfully grow our global business while engaging our workforce," said Jeff M. Fettig, chairman of the board and chief executive officer, Whirlpool Corporation. "In today's competitive environment, investment and innovation must be applied to attracting, developing, engaging and retaining talent who can create superior value for our shareholders."

"Hewitt would like to congratulate Whirlpool Corporation as being named one of the Global Top Companies for Leaders," said Bob Gandossy, global practice leader of Hewitt's Leadership Consulting practice. "All global companies today are facing a number of complex business and economic challenges. Through our research, it's clear that Global Top Companies such as Whirlpool do not abandon key leadership and talent efforts in favor of short-term goals. Leaders at these organizations are passionate and committed. They have an intense focus on talent and their leadership programs are practical, relevant and aligned with business goals--in good times and in bad. This mindset is not only what sets Global Top Companies apart from the rest, it's what differentiates successful businesses from unsuccessful ones."

About the Global Top Companies for Leaders Survey

The Global Top Companies for Leaders Study includes 537 organizations with an average employee size of 31,443. Approximately two-thirds (65 percent) of the participating companies had revenues of $100 million or more. Nearly 42 percent have operations in all regions around the globe.

Hewitt, The RBL Group and Fortune utilized a three-step screening process to identify the finalist companies. This included assessing survey responses, conducting in-depth interviews and analyzing financial performance in relation to industry. Hewitt provided this information to a panel of independent judges in each region to select and rank a 2009 Top Companies for Leaders list in Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America and North America. A separate independent judging panel, composed of one representative from each regional panel, considered all regional Top Companies to select and rank a Global Top Companies for Leaders list.

About Whirlpool Corporation

In addition to being recognized as "One of the Global Top Companies for Leaders," Whirlpool also was recently named one of Fortune's "Most Admired Companies," one of the "100 Best Corporate Citizens" by Chief Responsibility Officer magazine, one of the 500 greenest big companies in America by Newsweek magazine and one of the "Top 50 Most Respected U.S. Companies" by the Reputation Institute. Whirlpool Corporation also is included in the Dow Jones Sustainability, FTSE4Good and the KLD Domini 400 Social and Global Sustainability Indexes.

Whirlpool Corporation is the world's leading manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances, with annual sales of approximately $19 billion in 2008, approximately 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. Additional information about the company can be found at http://www.whirlpoolcorp.com.

SOURCE Whirlpool Corporation

http://www.whirlpoolcorp.com

"Whirlpool Corporation's Global Consumer Design team is proud and greatly honored to have received recognition from such influential design and style juries," said Chuck Jones, vice president, Global Consumer Design, Whirlpool Corporation. "These awards are further evidence of the strong innovation and design culture at Whirlpool Corporation, which drives the development of innovative products that delight our consumers. 2009 is proving to be a year of strong recognition for our design in the United States, Europe and Asia, with designs that promote sustainable living, outstanding style and functionality."

The design awards and recognitions Whirlpool Corporation received in 2009 include:

    --  CES AWARD for the Jenn-Air Double Wall Oven.
    --  SPARK BRONZE AWARD for the Whirlpool brand 3-Door Refrigerator.
    --  INCLUSION IN THE IDSA CATALYST PROGRAM for its commitment to design
        leadership and innovation; Whirlpool Corporation is featured in a IDSA
        CATALYST design case studies that promote design's best stories in
        business.
    --  TWO JANUS AWARDS to Whirlpool France for the Whirlpool Pure water
        purifier and the Whirlpool Glamour Oven. Whirlpool Corporation has
        received a total of 11 Janus Awards since 2002.
    --  PROFESSIONAL BUILDER 100 BEST NEW PRODUCTS 2009 for the Jenn-Air
        Ductless downdraft cook top for innovation and new technology.
    --  THREE IF AWARDS for the Whirlpool brand 3-Door Refrigerator (IF CHINA
        AWARD), the Whirlpool Glamour Oven and the GREENKITCHEN design concept
        (IF PRODUCT DESIGN AWARDS).
    --  GOOD GREEN DESIGN AWARD for the Whirlpool Duet Fabric Care System, for
        its eco-efficient design, using 67 percent less water and 77 percent
        less energy than conventional washers.
    --  NOMINATION IN THE BUSINESSWEEK MAGAZINE COOL PRODUCTS FOR THE HOME at
        2009 International Home and Housewares Show in Chicago for  the
        KitchenAid Classic Blender and KitchenAid 90(th) Anniversary Stand
        Mixer.
    --  OK! STYLE AWARD 2009 in Germany for the Whirlpool brand Espresso
        Side-by-Side Refrigerator in the high-tech category.
    --  12 PLUS X AWARDS as part of Germany's biggest technology competition.
        Nine awards were presented to the Bauknecht brand and three to the
        KitchenAid brand in the categories of Ecology, Ease of Use, Innovation
        and Design.  In addition, the Bauknecht brand won the coveted "Most
        Innovative Brand" award.
    --  THREE KUCHENINNOVATIONSPREIS AWARDS in Germany to the Bauknecht brand in
        the "LifeCare - Better Living" category, for user friendliness, product
        benefit and innovation and design. The brand also was acknowledged with
        the "Responsible Company Award 2009" for conservation of
        resources/sustainability for the GREENKITCHEN concept.

    --  TWO EXCELLENCE IN DESIGN (EID) AWARDS for the Maytag Bravos washer and
        the KitchenAid Architect Series II Gas Cook top.

About Whirlpool Corporation

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. Additional information about the company can be found at http://www.whirlpoolcorp.com.

SOURCE Whirlpool Corporation

http://www.whirlpoolcorp.com