Rheem aims to hold 1 million plumber trainings by 2035

At the AHR Expo in early February, Rheem unveiled a sustainability vision, which it plans to achieve by 2035. 

What’s happening: The company’s goals include reducing emissions intensity by 30 percent across its products’ lifecycle; ensuring 90 percent of packaging is reusable, recyclable, or compostable; and maintaining zero-waste-to-landfill status across all factories.

• But it also aims to complete one million trainings for plumbers, contractors, and influencers across the industry on sustainable product use, refrigerant management, and best practices. 

Go deeper: A Rheem spokesperson told Homepros that trainings will take place at the company’s Innovation Learning Centers, of which there are over a dozen worldwide — and several in the U.S., including near Dallas, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Hartford. 

• In-person trainings are open to all plumbing and HVAC contractors, and include half-day and full-day sessions on topics like “Hydronics 101” and how to install and troubleshoot specific Rheem products. 
• The company’s also offering ‘Anytime E-Learning’ — videos from master plumbers and seasoned techs available on YouTube and Rheem’s online webinar catalog — and on-site field training, as part of the initiative. 

What they’re saying: “Our five unique Heat Pump Water Heater training sessions have grown to become some of our most popular offerings,” Tom McConahay, a senior manager at Rheem, told Homepros, “but we are still seeing great demand for sessions focused on tankless water heaters, EPA 608 Refrigerant Certification, as well as our FT Series and Thermaforce boiler offerings.”