American Standard Heating and Air Conditioning Forms Partnership
with Ronald McDonald House Charities®

National Partnership Brings New Level of Comfort to Families with Ill Children

Tyler, TX (April 20, 2005) – American Standard Companies Inc., one of the world’s largest and most recognized heating and air conditioning manufacturers, today announced a partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC) that will bring a new level of comfort to children and families staying at Ronald McDonald Houses® in eight cities throughout the United States.

Each year, thousands of families stay at Ronald McDonald Houses across the country while their children receive medical treatment at nearby hospitals. As a national partner of Ronald McDonald House Charities, American Standard Heating and Air Conditioning, with the help and support of its distributors and dealers, plans to donate and install heating and air conditioning (HVAC) comfort systems in Ronald McDonald Houses located across the U.S. In addition, American Standard will provide a $100,000 cash contribution to each of the designated Ronald McDonald Houses, arrange ongoing HVAC system maintenance through its local dealers, and sponsor comfy pajama parties for families staying at the houses.

The Ronald McDonald Houses that will receive comfort systems this year are located in Chicago, Ill., St. Louis, Mo., Nashville, Tenn., Sacramento, Calif., Tampa, Fla., Boston, Mass., and Dallas and Houston, Texas.

"American Standard is excited to form a 'comfort partnership' with RMHC by offering new heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems to Ronald McDonald Houses in need. Our hope is to help families feel even more comfortable at their home-away-from-home," said Paul Trotter, vice president of sales, American Standard Heating and Air Conditioning.

Bringing Comfort to Those in Need

Each of the designated Ronald McDonald Houses will receive a high-efficiency home comfort system from American Standard that can reduce energy bills by as much as 50-56 percent; whole house humidifiers, depending on the climate in which the home is located; and accessories such as touch-screen programmable thermostats. In addition, families can rest assured they’re breathing clean, healthy air while staying at the houses, thanks to donations of American Standard whole-house air cleaners, which remove up to 99 percent of unwanted particles from conditioned air.

American Standard will work with RMHC to identify Ronald McDonald Houses in the designated cities that are most in need of a new HVAC system. American Standard distributors will then work with local dealers to handle the installation of a new system. Prior to each installation, a walk-through will be scheduled so local distributors can determine if any additional HVAC work needs to be done as well, such as installing or adjusting ductwork.

Following each HVAC installation American Standard will arrange comfy pajama parties for families staying at the Ronald McDonald Houses. In addition to providing movies and games for the families, American Standard volunteers will share tips and information on how they can create a new standard of comfort in their own homes, based on the seasonal trends of their particular climate.

"Comfort is high on the minds of families with critically ill children, and American Standard Heating and Air Conditioning is uniquely positioned to help by providing systems and information that can ensure a more comfortable, healthier environment," Trotter said.

Maximum Comfort in Any Climate

American Standard comfort systems feature the latest technology to ensure maximum performance and efficiency year-round in all kinds of climates, from hot and humid areas like Tampa to cold and blustery towns like Chicago.

As part of the American Standard donation, dealers may recommend some of the following products, which are also available to homeowners:

• Freedom® Furnaces – Compact and reliable, these furnaces provide maximum heat with minimal fuel usage. All feature self-diagnostic controls and a patented heat exchanger. Also available are single-stage, two-stage and two-stage variable speed Comfort-RTM Freedom furnaces.
• Allegiance® Air Conditioners – Six model families of air conditioners feature two-stage cooling to ensure comfort regardless of the temperature outside.
• Perfect Fit™ Air Cleaners – Unwanted particles such as pollen and dust are removed from the air with these cleaners, improving comfort and system operation throughout a home.
• Humidifiers – Adding moisture to indoor air with a whole-house humidifier can greatly increase the comfort of people inside. American Standard’s humidifiers work with a home’s central heating and air conditioning system to add just the right amount of moisture to the air for optimum comfort.
• Programmable Comfort Controls – American Standard’s line of thermostats uses the latest in microelectronic technology. The thermostats automatically change the temperature to reach the desired setting at the programmed time, all from an easy-to-use touch screen.