GE's Kevin Nolan talks with Sara Gutterman about the appliance innovations behind net zero, all-electric homes, including hybrid heat pump water heaters, a heat pump combo washer-dryer that runs on a standard 15-amp plug, and induction cooking. He also covers GE's ESG work on US manufacturing, low-global-warming foams and packaging, and the growing appetite for appliances that double as home energy management.
00:00:03:04 - 00:00:33:01
Sara Gutterman: GE has clearly been on the leading edge with respect to sustainable innovation. And so I'd like to ask you some questions around that. First, our early adopter and first mover consumer audience, the majority of whom now are millennials and older Gen Zs, have been telling us for the last couple of years that ESG, environmental, social and governance and corporate sustainability is now the number one consideration when they are looking at products for their home.
00:00:33:02 - 00:00:38:02
Sara Gutterman: So can you tell me a little bit about GE standout ESG initiatives?
00:00:38:07 - 00:00:55:11
Kevin Nolan: It's great to see. I think consumer, the awareness and the importance that that's being put behind that, because we've always believed that that, you know, that's what our company should be about. When you look at it, it's driving a lot of decisions we make. You know, if you look at one of the big impacts of manufacturing is transportation.
00:00:55:12 - 00:01:18:27
Kevin Nolan: I mean, we invested billions of dollars in US manufacturing to make sure we're building those products closer to our consumers, those things we need to do. We're very cautious and careful on the kind of chemicals we use. Making sure from a global warming, you know, you hear a lot about the refrigerants that are in the refrigerator, but a lot of stuff that goes into refrigerators fault and, you know, so we're blowing it clean as the greenest foam.
00:01:18:27 - 00:01:39:17
Kevin Nolan: We're the ones that introduced that into America, really, to drive down greenhouse gases in an amazing fashion. So there's a lot of hidden areas that companies need to move on. You know, we're looking at packaging now. We need we need to move farther on packaging. And it's good to see the consumers being aware of that because that's going to drive industry.
00:01:39:18 - 00:01:46:13
Kevin Nolan: It's not just good for us to be driving it. We need everyone to do it, to make the kind of impact that we're going to need across the world right now.
00:01:46:16 - 00:01:53:02
Sara Gutterman: What are some of these most impactful innovations that facilitate net zero and all electric homes?
00:01:53:05 - 00:02:20:18
Kevin Nolan: So our big focus has been on energy efficiency. You know, we have, you know, regulations that are that are impactful to the industry. But we've always looked at how do we go above and beyond. We were the first introduced hybrid hot water heating into the US really drove a lot of the regulations that you see today that are really pushing the industry forward to go to hybrid hot water heaters, because if you look at in the US the amount of energy to heating hot water, it's substantial.
00:02:20:18 - 00:02:41:19
Kevin Nolan: So we really looked at what are the high use cases in your home that we can make an impact. Another big one is your dryer. You know, electric dryers, they're using a lot of energy and they're on for a long time. And they're used, you know, heavily throughout the week. You know, in the average American home. So you see, what we're introducing right now is a heat pump dryer.
00:02:41:20 - 00:02:55:25
Kevin Nolan: That's part of this combo laundry. It really doesn't have the sacrifices of a lot of heat pump before. So we really look at American behavior consumers. So how can we give you the efficiency without having to sacrifice that you might have with some of these other products that are out there.
00:02:55:27 - 00:03:07:00
Sara Gutterman: So talk a little bit about the results of these innovations for homeowners. How do your innovative appliances and water heaters and other products make their lives better and more sustainable?
00:03:07:01 - 00:03:25:26
Kevin Nolan: So the main thing is you want to get these these technologies in many homes as we can to truly have an impact across the country. And so if it's if it's efficient and really no other benefit, you don't see consumers going out and making that purchase like that washer dryer. I mean, it really takes away a big pain point.
00:03:25:27 - 00:03:44:14
Kevin Nolan: You no longer have to go down in between cycle and move from your washer to your dryer. That's what people love it for. That's what's driving the sales. And then they're finding out that, oh, by the way, it plugs into a regular 15 amp lug. And so then they're starting to see, hey, this is incredible. We get much better performance.
00:03:44:17 - 00:03:50:02
Kevin Nolan: You know something that's much more convenient. And oh by the way it's going to save a ton of energy across America.
00:03:50:03 - 00:04:04:02
Sara Gutterman: I was really interested to see that you have energy management systems integrated into your appliances, water heaters and air conditioners. Can you tell us a little bit more about that? And what are homeowners saying? What's the feedback you're getting?
00:04:04:04 - 00:04:26:25
Kevin Nolan: There is somewhat of resistance to change. You know where they're used to. Here's how. We have homes across America. But now we're seeing a dramatic shift in that, I think because of people realizing the environment, the problems that we've got, the really need to have more sustainable living around the country. We're seeing a big uptake, uptake in the need for this kind of technology.
00:04:26:26 - 00:04:47:09
Kevin Nolan: And people are talking about how do I have more sustainable homes, how do I, you know, leverage all these renewables? And that I is very thankful, is starting to put a resurgence in that kind of technology that we've quite frankly, had for years. We're still early, but you can feel this is momentum. I don't think it's going to stop.
00:04:47:10 - 00:04:52:12
Sara Gutterman: What are some of the trends that you're seeing around induction cooktops and induction cooking?
00:04:52:20 - 00:05:18:02
Kevin Nolan: The technology is just evolved so far that if people experience it and, you know, a lot of people, oh, I have to cook with gas. You know, I want that kind of speed inductions much better. And, you know, if you look to a radiant cooktop or coil cooktop induction, the performance is just incredible. So a lot of this I think people are, you know, we have to forget what the tech used to be and understand where things are today.
00:05:18:02 - 00:05:35:05
Kevin Nolan: And if you really want to have a world class cooking experience, induction is the way to go. You know you're seeing more and more Michelin restaurants go into induction away from gas because one, it's much more comfortable to cook up. You don't have the heat in the kitchen, etc., but they're also doing it because of that response time.
00:05:35:11 - 00:05:51:12
Kevin Nolan: You have much more control over induction, but there's a lot of consumer ideas and behavior that are from the past that we're bringing forward, that I think we just got to help educate and let people experience where this technology really is today.