Air Purification - New Sub-Zero Built-In Refrigerator uses NASA technology to scrub and clean the air, food lasts longer
August 7, 2008
This is pretty cool — the new Subzero refrigerator uses NASA Technology to scrub and clean the air.
“The New Built-In Refrigerator from Sub-Zero features a new Air Purification system for cleaner air and fresher foods. Discover the new Built-In Refrigerator from Sub-Zero, the leader in kitchen appliances.”
A recent study from the University of Arizona, along with internal research, suggests that the average U.S. household throws out well in excess of $500 worth of fruits, vegetables, leftovers and other food items every year due to spoilage. Much of this waste can be reduced by proper refrigeration, the reduction of ethylene gas in the refrigerator, and food storage education.
“With prices on the rise for so many food items at the supermarket, and as people make fewer visits to the store because of increased gas prices, it’s more important than ever before to keep food from spoiling in the refrigerator,” said Christopher Parr, consumer marketing manager for Sub-Zero, Inc. “Our new built-in refrigeration series includes several features to help combat this problem.”
Like all Sub-Zero refrigerators, the new built-in includes a freshness preservation system, which is a dual-compressor operating system that separately controls the temperature and humidity of the refrigerator and freezer compartments, and holds preset temperatures within a plus-or-minus one-degree. This precise, independent control of the refrigerator and freezer compartments ensures the highest air quality and therefore, fresh food and energy efficiency. Other refrigerators utilize just one compressor to push air from the freezer into the refrigerator, and this recycled air from the freezer compartment contributes to the drying and decay of fresh foods.
Sub-Zero’s new built-in series also includes an advanced air purification system that “scrubs” the entire volume of air in the refrigerator an average of once every 20 minutes. This purification system significantly reduces odors, viruses and bacteria – as well as the ethylene gases present in some foods that cause premature ripening and, ultimately, food spoilage. Some fresh foods, such as apples, naturally emit ethylene gas, which will make carrots in the refrigerator taste bitter and leafy vegetables decay faster.
Another feature of the built-in series is its new water filtration system. Sub-Zero created one of the most-advanced water filtration systems in the industry, designed to significantly reduce contaminants such as viruses and bacteria that may be present in water and ice. Most refrigeration water filters typically reduce chlorine and sediment, but Sub-Zero’s new design takes filtration a step further. The new microbiological water filter preserves the fresh taste of clean water and ice.
Sub-Zero’s New Line of Built-In Refrigeration Helps Families Reduce Food Waste
August 7, 2008
For additional information and interaction, or to embed videos on your site, which showcase the new built-in line, visit the Sub-Zero Built-In Channel on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/subzerorefrigerator, or www.subzerofresh.com,
Sub-Zero’s New Line of Built-In Refrigeration Helps Families Reduce Food Waste
New Web Site Provides Tips and Information for Keeping Food Fresher Longer
MADISON, Wis. (August 5, 2008) – Sub-Zero, Inc., the industry leader in premium refrigeration, has introduced a new Built-In Refrigeration Series that will help significantly reduce food waste and keep food fresher longer. The revamped line, available this fall, underscores Sub-Zero’s expertise and commitment to food preservation.
A recent study from the University of Arizona, along with internal research, suggests that the average U.S. household throws out well in excess of $500 worth of fruits, vegetables, leftovers and other food items every year due to spoilage. Much of this waste can be reduced by proper refrigeration, the reduction of ethylene gas in the refrigerator, and food storage education.
“With prices on the rise for so many food items at the supermarket, and as people make fewer visits to the store because of increased gas prices, it’s more important than ever before to keep food from spoiling in the refrigerator,” said Christopher Parr, consumer marketing manager for Sub-Zero, Inc. “Our new built-in refrigeration series includes several features to help combat this problem.”
Like all Sub-Zero refrigerators, the new built-in includes a freshness preservation system, which is a dual-compressor operating system that separately controls the temperature and humidity of the refrigerator and freezer compartments, and holds preset temperatures within a plus-or-minus one-degree. This precise, independent control of the refrigerator and freezer compartments ensures the highest air quality and therefore, fresh food and energy efficiency. Other refrigerators utilize just one compressor to push air from the freezer into the refrigerator, and this recycled air from the freezer compartment contributes to the drying and decay of fresh foods.
Sub-Zero’s new built-in series also includes an advanced air purification system that “scrubs” the entire volume of air in the refrigerator an average of once every 20 minutes. This purification system significantly reduces odors, viruses and bacteria – as well as the ethylene gases present in some foods that cause premature ripening and, ultimately, food spoilage. Some fresh foods, such as apples, naturally emit ethylene gas, which will make carrots in the refrigerator taste bitter and leafy vegetables decay faster.
Another feature of the built-in series is its new water filtration system. Sub-Zero created one of the most-advanced water filtration systems in the industry, designed to significantly reduce contaminants such as viruses and bacteria that may be present in water and ice. Most refrigeration water filters typically reduce chlorine and sediment, but Sub-Zero’s new design takes filtration a step further. The new microbiological water filter preserves the fresh taste of clean water and ice.
Proper food storage is also essential to ensure that foods stay as fresh as possible. Sub-Zero’s built-in units offer a freshness guide within the refrigerator that provides easy-access reference to proper storage for fruits, vegetables and leftovers. Advice featured on the card is based on research conducted by food scientists at the University of California, Davis. A second card offers important use-and-care information so owners can truly understand how to care for their food within the refrigerator.
“People often forget that certain foods shouldn’t be placed within proximity of each other in the refrigerator,” added Parr. “Our new freshness guide offers easy-to-understand tips and reminders that can make a big difference in keeping food fresh.”
These storage tips, along with guides on how to select high quality fruits and vegetables, and other helpful information are also featured on a recently launched Web site to support the launch of the Sub-Zero built-in series, www.subzerofresh.com. The site also gives users an expanded look at the refrigerator’s new features and allows virtual interaction with its capabilities.
“This built-in technology requires its own Web site to fully communicate its benefits and features,” said Parr. “The site brings to life the advancement of the refrigerator’s freshness preservation and examines the four distinct design options available to owners, to give them limitless flexibility.”
In addition to detailed information about the built-in series’ quality, design flexibility, performance, air purification and water filtration, the site also features a video gallery, photo gallery, customization options and a virtual tour of the different units (including detailed information on the 13 improvements in the interior alone, versus previous Sub-Zero models).
Sub-Zero has redefined built-in refrigeration to not only help families keep their food fresh, but also fit the changing needs of homeowners and designers. By improving every aspect of the unit, from purifying the air quality to updating the interior, Sub-Zero reaffirms its dedication to food preservation, design and freshness.
Sub-Zero Refrigerators Think Green
July 23, 2008
For over 60 years, Sub-Zero has been a green innovator in kitchen appliances. See why Sub-Zero is ranked among the top 10 green brands — and that even the largest Sub-Zero refrigerator consumes less power than a 100-watt light bulb. Also, all Sub-Zero refrigerators are locally grown in the USA.
Industry Watch: Luxury Online Can Be Hard to Find
May 8, 2008
From MediaPost, November 2007
For high-end goods, a Web search may be futile
You can buy plane tickets, percale sheets and paper clips on the Web these days. But if you’re looking for a new Rolex, you’re out of luck.
That’s because the company doesn’t sell its watches on the Web and doesn’t plan to any time soon due to a belief that a refusal to sell on the Web policy is the best way to keep consumers from being duped by counterfeiters.
Rolex isn’t the only company playing the wallflower when it comes to the Web. Concerns about fraud and a fear that the Web isn’t a pristine enough environment for their products have kept many luxury marketers from fully embracing the Internet, says Milton Pedraza, CEO of the Luxury Institute.
But the decision to eschew the Web also poses problems for luxury brands, which are losing the opportunity to use the Internet as a sales channel. Michael Koziol, executive vice president, North America, for digital shop Nurun (which counts LVMH, Loews Hotels and Evian among its clients), offers that brands need to cede some control in favor of functionality.
“The Web is not a completely controllable medium like broadcast or print,” Koziol says, “but it offers marketers the best ability to not only reach but also engage a targeted group of consumers and allow them to truly interact with the brand.”
But even Koziol says that luxury brands should be choosy about where they put their ads; he’s a fan of Style.com, the blog DailyCandy, and the interactive online sections of The New York Times.
While luxury brands are reluctant to go online, their customers aren’t. One study by JupiterResearch found that affluent Internet users (those with annual household incomes of more than $100,000) spend three more hours online daily than their less affluent counterparts. And a recent study by the Luxury Institute, which bumped the income minimum up to $150,000, found that around 99 percent of the survey respondents used the Web to research products and services, and about 98 percent shopped online.
Message in a Bottle
The purported bathwater of choice for celebrities across the globe recently took its image even more upscale with the introduction of the Evian Palace bottle, the brand’s take on luxury bottled water that’s available only in restaurants, clubs and resorts.
The bottle features a stainless-steel spout, an engraved stainless steel coaster, and a training session in its proper use. To introduce this überwater to the public, the company chose a mix of print, digital, PR events and television product integration, with a campaign that targeted fine dining consumers and the restaurant trade. The digital portion kicked off in September and is running through December of this year on three sites: DailyCandy.com, CitySearch.com, and nymag.com (the online home of New York magazine).
The ad itself was highly stylized and interactive. Users could click on arrows at the base of the bottle, spinning it slowly around for a 360-degree view, or click through to an Evian Palace bottle microsite for more information. The ad also listed venues where users could find the bottle; mousing over the venues gave their location.
While statistics on the success of the campaign were not available as of press time, Evian is continuing to advertise online, and recently launched an integration with Second Life.
The High-End Dream Kitchen
There may be no finer fridge in which to chill your Evian than a Sub-Zero. Fashion maven Isaac Mizrahi’s got one - as visitors to Epicurious.com found out when the site featured a video tour of his kitchen. People who took the tour were shown a “Dream Kitchen Sweepstakes” advertisement running to the right of the video.
That initiative was a prime example of the integrative effort that Christopher Parr, consumer marketing manager for Sub-Zero, says is a key piece of their online marketing strategy. “There wasn’t really a destination for high-end kitchen appliances,” says Parr. “So we decided to create that destination with the help of Epicurious.” Users who click on the ad are taken to a Sub-Zero branded microsite where they can enter a contest to win a new kitchen, learn more about the featured brands, and build their own design portfolio. The online ad is supported by both targeted e-mail blasts and a print campaign, all designed to drive customers to the Dream Kitchen microsite and to highlight a premium class of appliances (which also features Wolf, a brand owned by Sub-Zero, and the brands Asko and Kohler, who partnered with Sub-Zero on the campaign).
“The process to select Sub-Zero…products differ than a common discount refrigerator you can buy at Best Buy and toss in the back of a pickup truck,” says Parr. “Our products are built-in, which usually evolves around a kitchen remodel or a new home.” To capture that customer’s attention online, says Parr, you need to educate them about design options and installation and “show them beautiful kitchens.”
The Dream Kitchen campaign has been running yearly on Epicurious since 2004, which makes Sub-Zero a trailblazer among luxury advertisers. “If you look at which luxury marketers were advertising in 2004, it really wasn’t a lot,” says Christine DeMaio, vice president and publisher of Epicurious and Concierge. “The fact that they recognized the Internet as a great way to identify and find people who are in the market is really smart.” The campaign’s repeat performance speaks to its success, and so do the numbers—DeMaio says that click-through rates on e-mails sent to the site’s registered user base are between three and seven percent, with “overall click-through rates well above industry average.”
Parr believes that the online luxury audiences are looking for substance, sticky environments where they can spend hours educating themselves about a brand, and an opt-in mechanism. “Once you capture their information, you can continue to wine and dine the customer,” he says. “That’s when the relationship really begins.”
The Original SUV
Like the people who market Sub-Zero, those who market Land Rover value integration. “When we work with publishers we don’t simply buy media online,” says Joao Machado, online associate director for Mediaedge.
Machado’s team worked with Land Rover to set strategy and objectives for a campaign to launch the all-new 2008 LR2, Land Rover’s answer to a premium compact SSUV. The online portion of the campaign ran in April and May of this year, with ads targeted to adults ages 25 to 54 who are professionals, tech enthusiasts and live active lifestyles, and featured content similar to that of the television and print pieces (so that consumers could make a connection between all media).
The Web ads ran on several sites, including CitySearch.com, FastCompany.com, Weather.com and Runner’s World Online, with each ad tailored to the site it appeared on. Land Rover also worked with CitySearch.com to put together a “sophisticated city guide,” offering entertainment, dining and nightlife information relevant to the LR2 core demographic and a co-branded microsite with an affluent-audience-focused sweepstakes.
The out-of-home wireless ads ran on JiWire, which provides free Wi-Fi to customers in targeted business and luxury hotels throughout the United States. The ads themselves appeared on both the welcome screens and confirmation pages of JiWire users.
For the mobile campaign, they worked with Enpocket (which represents Sprint) to run ads across the entire Sprint network. The ads drove demo-targeted users to an LR-specific WAP site where users were able to view LR2 screenshots, learn about product features and locate a Land Rover retailer.
All the ads gave the user the option to click through to a Land Rover site, and many did. “In April there was a 21 percent increase in site traffic from unique visitors,” says Jonathan Renker, associate account director at Wunderman, which produced all the creative assets for the campaign. Site traffic to the LR2 section of LandRoverUSA.com increased by 28 percent, and Renker noted a “fairly significant” spike in the Build Your Land Rover section of the site.
But the mobile campaign turned out to be the real star for Land Rover. “Mobile became a great source of interaction for those interested in learning more about LR2,” says Machado. “Conversion rates went well beyond any expectations.” Land Rover plans a full WAP site supporting all nameplates in 2008.
Consumer Reports Reviews Sub-Zero Refrigerators
April 26, 2008
Consumer Reports tests product performance in its labs. But it gets reliability data from consumers who respond to its yearly reliability survey. By combining this data — performance and reliability — you can find products that are most likely to work well and be trouble-free.
I always check Consumer Reports for reliability ratings before making a major purchase. But two years ago when we remodeled the kitchen, the magazine did not have reliability ratings for electric wall ovens.
This year’s survey results are based on responses from more than 950,000 readers who rated 30 different types of products, including ovens, washers, dryers, dishwashers, ranges, refrigerators, televisions, lawnmowers, and automobiles.
Upscale Sub-Zero refrigerators are a designer favorite. Consumer Reports lab tests show Sub-Zero delivers “superior food preservation.” But the editors say, based on reader feedback, Sub-Zero models are repair-prone.
During the last few years, 24 percent of all Sub-Zero models needed to be repaired, the survey shows. Compare that to the results for Whirlpool, whose refrigerators needed the fewest repairs — 14 percent for side-by-sides and 7 percent for top or bottom-freezer models.
For the most stylish and sleek looking refrigerators, go with the built-in design. Built-in refrigerators create a seamless feel in your kitchen so that the fridge will be flush with your cabinetry. Built-ins are often so well hidden behind cabinet facades it’s hard to tell where they are in a kitchen. They come in side by side models or bottom-freezer designs and are the most expensive style available with prices ranging from $4000 to $7000. Some of the cabinet depth models of built-ins are cheaper at $1500 to $3200. You will find built-ins at 36 inches wide or larger and some even come in the newer french door styles. The biggest drawback to built-in refrigerators are that they are very pricey and at the same time prone to repairs. The top rated built-ins per Consumer Reports are the Sub-Zero 650F ($6500), the GE Monogram ZICS36ONR ($6400) and the KitchenAid KBFC42F ($6800). The Sub-Zero built-in is the cheapest of the 3, but also gets terrible repair ratings. At 37 inches wide the Sub-Zero provides plenty of storage space and rates high for temperature performance. Some owners have said the icemaker is problematic and that the drawers don’t come out far enough. As for the GE, it’s quiet and does a great job on temperature control and has a beautiful stainless steel finish. The KitchenAid is the most expensive of the group but is 43 inches wide giving you plenty of storage space. It also features the french door style doors are becoming more and more popular in commercial refrigerators found in homes.
It’s natural for anyone who gets a sub-par rating to challenge the validity of the survey. So I was not surprised when Paul Leuthe, corporate marketing manager for Sub-Zero, told me, “The numbers are not accurate.”
Sub-Zero is the only built-in refrigerator on the survey. “So it has a lot more potential for problems than a free-standing refrigerator that is just plugged in,” Leuthe says. “Someone who buys a $5,000 to $8,000 refrigerator is less tolerant than other customers,” he adds.
But Leuthe admits there could be another reason why this top-of-the-line brand rated at the bottom of the reliability survey. He says about four years ago they got a bad batch of copper tubing. It was used in the evaporators for models made from 2003 to 2006.
That tubing is now rusting and causing leaks. “These evaporator problems could be skewing the ratings,” Leuthe says. He points out with some pride that Sub-Zero is making free repairs with no questions asked.
The kitchen is one of the first areas that people tend to update or upgrade when they are remodeling any portion of their house. The refrigerator is an important appliance in the kitchen that comes in many styles and designs. You can choose from top-freezer, bottom-freezer, built-in, side by side, french door, counter depth, undercounter, and more. Over 11 million refrigerators were sold in the United States just a few years ago so sales are trending upwards as new refrigerators are hitting the market. The top manufacturers for refrigerators are Whirlpool, Kenmore, Amana, GE, LG, Hotpoint, Maytag, Frigidaire, KitchenAid, Viking, Samsung, Jenn-Air, Bosch, Sub-Zero, Thermador, and Fisher & Paykel. Down below we will go into desired features on all types of refrigerators followed by reviews of the top models per Consumer Reports.
With many kitchen renovations running $15,000 to $25,000, it’s clear that homeowners are willing to invest in their vision of the perfect kitchen. Cabinets and countertops account for about half the cost, but appliances represent a big investment as well.
Over the past few months, Consumer Reports (CR) has tested hundreds of appliances - refrigerators, ranges, cooktops, wall ovens, dishwashers, microwave ovens, and high-speed cooking appliances - that cost from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand. CR has also tested cabinets, countertops, sinks, and faucets in all price ranges to determine the pros and cons of the major types. Whatever your budget, we’ll help you make smart choices and get the most for the money.
“In Consumer Reports’ most comprehensive kitchen package ever, our tests showed that you don’t have to pay top price to get top performance,” said Mark Connelly, Consumer Reports’ Director of Testing, Appliances and Home Improvement. “In fact, pricey Dacor, DCS, GE Monogram, and Viking pro-style ranges were among the lowest-scoring of the models we tested. And the premium-priced Sub-Zero built-in was among the most repair-prone brands of refrigerators, offsetting its fine performance. The package contains the three R’s of Consumer Reports: ratings, recommendations and repair histories.”
Today’s refrigerators do a good job of keeping things cold. They’re also about 30 percent more energy efficient than fridges were just a few years ago, thanks to new federal energy standards. Within any one category, model-to-model performance differences are minor. Your deciding factors will probably be type, exterior dimensions, storage capacity, convenience features, styling and price. Smart choices include the following:
Basic ($600 to $850) The Maytag MTB1956GE, $825, is feature-laden and convenient. Nearly as good, and quieter, is the Kenmore 7118, $750; it offers a lot more storage space. Among bottom-freezers, the Amana Distinctions DRB1801A, $695, is a good value, at several hundred dollars less than the other bottom-freezers we tested.
Midrange ($850 to $1,800) The real bargain among side-by-side refrigerators is the GE GSS25JFM, $890, a CR Best Buy. If you’re looking for a bottom-freezer, the GE GBS22LB, $1,050, offers the best combination of performance, capacity and flexibility.
High-end ($1,800 to $5,000) Two side-by-side, cabinet-depth refrigerators are less expensive than true built-ins and performed well overall: the Whirlpool Gold GC5THGXK, $2,300, is slightly more efficient and quieter than the GE Profile Arctica PSI23NGM, $2,300. Whirlpool is also among the more reliable side-by-side brands.
The Sub-Zero 650/F, $4,600, is the ablest bottom-freezer built-in that we tested. It’s very energy efficient. But it’s noisier than the others, and reliability is a concern with the brand. The GE Monogram ZIC360NM, $3,900, is almost as good, and it’s quieter.