Luxaire® Distributor Solar Supply Teams Up with Make-A-Wish Foundation® to Sponsor Special Children at Houston Astros Games

HVAC distributor will send Make-A-Wish children and their families to 12 Astros games

NORMAN, OKLA. - (April 27, 2009) - April 7 was a night of firsts at Minute Maid Park, home of the Houston Astros baseball team. The team won its first game of the 2009 season, defeating the Chicago Cubs 3-2. In addition, the Astros organization launched its year-long celebration of the club's tenth season at the ballpark, and Luxaire® (www.joinluxaire.com) distributor Solar Supply, Inc. hosted the first of at least 12 Make-A-Wish® children and their families at the baseball game.

The 2009 baseball season represents the fifth year that Solar Supply has sponsored these special children and their families at Minute Maid Park. The baseball experience includes tickets to a game, food and drink money and additional funds to cover a trip to the souvenir shop.

"The goal is to create an evening of fun that will not cost the family anything," said Quitman Moon, Solar Supply regional sales manager. "These are special children and families, and we just want them to enjoy the game and everything that comes with it. If we're lucky enough to put a smile on their face, well, then we put one on ours as well."

Solar Supply's sponsorship of Make-A-Wish children at Houston Astros games complements the partnership between the nation's largest wish-granting organization and Luxaire. Luxaire recently signed its third three-year contract with the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of America. This extends the partnership into 2011 and commits $675,000 in contributions over three years.

Luxaire first embarked on a partnership with the Make-A-Wish Foundation in 2001, agreeing to donate a portion of every sale of a Luxaire product toward its minimum annual contribution of $250,000. Since that time, Luxaire has donated more than $1.75 million to the organization, enough to grant the wishes of more than 250 children diagnosed with life-threatening medical conditions.

The Luxaire network of distributors and dealers also works with Make-A-Wish chapters to organize a variety of fundraising activities, including raffles, golf outings and events affiliated with minor league baseball, Central Hockey League and Arena Football League teams. Using money raised by these and other fundraising activities, Luxaire has directly sponsored the wishes of more than 80 children in dealer markets.

"It's a way for our dealers and their employees to give back to the communities where they live and work," said Moon. "It's an incredible experience for all of us, whether it's contributing to the granting of a wish or treating a family to a baseball game. I think it's safe to say that we get as much, if not more, out of the experience as we give."

Luxaire encourages homeowners to participate in the program by donating all or a portion of product rebates to their local Make-A-Wish chapter during spring and summer promotions of Luxaire brand products. A number of redesigned marketing materials will continue to support the program and raise consumer awareness.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. It is the largest wish-granting charity in the nation, with 65 chapters in the United States and its territories. With the help of generous donors and more than 25,000 volunteers, the Make-A-Wish Foundation grants a wish every 40 minutes and has granted more than 173,000 heartfelt wishes since 1980. For more information about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, visit www.wish.org.

To learn more about the partnership between Luxaire and the Make-A-Wish Foundation, visit www.joinluxaire.com/MAW.

Luxaire® products from Johnson Controls, Inc., include high-performance residential central air-conditioners, heat pumps, furnaces and accessories and light-commercial, packaged heating and cooling systems marketed through a network of distributors and delivered to home- and building-owners through independent Luxaire heating and air conditioning dealers. For more information about Luxaire, visit www.joinluxaire.com or call 877-958-9247.

Luxaire® Adds New 14.5 SEER Heat Pump to LX and Climasure™ Series

Unit brings year-round energy savings to mid-efficiency product lines

NORMAN, OKLA. - (April 20, 2009) - A new 14.5 SEER heat pump is the latest addition to the Luxaire® (www.joinluxaire.com) LX and Climasure™ Series of residential air conditioners and heat pumps.

The sleek new unit improves year-round heating and cooling efficiencies, with a heating season performance factor (HSPF) as high as 9.0 and a seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) of 14.5. A demand defrost system reduces energy costs by cycling the unit into defrost mode only when it is needed.

"By delivering improved energy efficiencies, the new 14.5 SEER heat pumps in the LX Series are eligible for the new federal tax credit and most local utility rebates," said Walt Jacobe, Luxaire brand manager. "However, dealers should refer to the unit’s technical guide to verify that a specific model qualifies."

The heat pump uses environmentally friendly R-410A refrigerant in a system protected from moisture, dirt and other contaminants by a filter drier. The solid core filter dryer, in combination with high-pressure and low-pressure relief valves, also extends the life of the compressor.

Coils constructed of copper tubing with aluminum fins ensure durability and long-lasting, efficient operation. Operation is also quiet, due to added sound insulation and special mounting to reduce noise. Fan blades are designed to move air quietly, and the upward airflow carries normal operating noise away from the home.

The new 14.5 SEER heat pump is available in 1.5- to 5-ton capacities. Installation of the LX Series 14.5 SEER heat pump is especially easy thanks to the unit’s compact footprint. Fully exposed refrigerant connections and a single panel covering the electrical controls make servicing the new 14.5 SEER heat pump easy as well. In addition, secured re-usable service valves on both the liquid and vapor sweat connections ensure easy evacuating and charging.

Luxaire® products from Johnson Controls, Inc., include high-performance residential central air-conditioners, heat pumps, furnaces and accessories and light-commercial, packaged heating and cooling systems marketed through a network of distributors and delivered to home- and building-owners through independent Luxaire heating and air conditioning dealers. For more information about Luxaire, visit www.joinluxaire.com or call 877-958-9247.

Luxaire's® New 2009 Marketing Campaign Highlights Partnership with Make-A-Wish Foundation®

Ads, online banners and new trade destination Web site support campaign

NORMAN, OKLA. - (April 15, 2009) - Luxaire® (www.joinluxaire.com) announces the launch of a new marketing campaign that highlights the brand's exclusive partnership with the Make-A-Wish Foundation®.

The Luxaire campaign addresses the Make-A-Wish partnership in a series of "My Wish" print ads that invite prospective dealers to help make a child's wish come true. The ads also drive readers to a Make-A-Wish landing page that resides on the new dealer Web site.

In addition to information about the Luxaire partnership with the Make-A-Wish organization, the landing page features an interactive map that enables visitors to roll over distributor locations and view the number of wishes granted by a particular distributor. The page also includes a tally of the total corporate contributions to the Make-A-Wish organization.

"The entire Web site embraces a message of feeling good -- not only about Luxaire's commitment to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, but also about the products, tools and support available to Luxaire dealers," said Walt Jacobe, Luxaire brand manager.

The new Web site adds a news section, site search, distributor locator and sustainability section to the home page. Flash animation provides reasons to become a Luxaire dealer or distributor, and a features scroller at the bottom of the page highlights new products, the In-Home Selling Tool and other Luxaire initiatives. In addition, a special 70th anniversary icon takes readers to a page that highlights the history of the Luxaire brand.

According to Jacobe, product and support sections have also changed. "We expanded the product section to include the residential and commercial product content that is currently available on the consumer site," he said.

"We also updated the dealer support section to include information about the new Marketing Action Center. This extensive online collection of marketing materials includes customizable ads, brochures, direct mail, door hangers, images and public relations templates -- all designed to improve a dealer's image and boost sales with professionally produced materials."

In addition to the new Web site and trade ads, Luxaire's 2009 marketing campaign includes online banners, tent cards and a launch kit designed to educate prospective dealers and distributors about Luxaire's commitment to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

"The kit is comprised of a pocket folder with a four-page brochure insert, an updated Luxaire/Make-A-Wish DVD, a list of local Make-A-Wish chapters, a letter of introduction and a point-of-sales order form," said Jacobe. "All of these elements highlight the benefits that this winning partnership offers Luxaire distributors and dealers and points out just how easy it is to become part of the wish-granting process."

Luxaire's partnership with the nation's largest wish-granting organization began in 2001. Since then, Luxaire has contributed more than $1.75 million, based on a minimum annual goal of $250,000, and remains the only brand in the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) industry that maintains a partnership with the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

"By partnering with this highly respected organization, Luxaire makes it easy for dealers to make a difference in their communities and create goodwill with their customers," said Jacobe. "The partnership is a real differentiator that sets Luxaire dealers apart from their competition and gives their customers another reason to purchase Luxaire products."

To learn more about the partnership between Luxaire and the Make-A-Wish Foundation, visit www.joinluxaire.com/MAW.

Luxaire® products from Johnson Controls, Inc., include high-performance residential central air-conditioners, heat pumps, furnaces and accessories and light-commercial, packaged heating and cooling systems marketed through a network of distributors and delivered to home- and building-owners through independent Luxaire heating and air conditioning dealers. For more information about Luxaire, visit www.joinluxaire.com or call 877-958-9247.