United Way Partners with TOTO USA to Launch “Healthy Homes Long Island”

United Way of Long Island has officially launched “Healthy Homes Long Island,” an initiative focusing on building and retrofitting houses that are energy and water efficient, and create a healthy environment for their residents. As a key partner, TOTO USA will support these efforts by donating high-efficiency plumbing fixtures to United Way for installation in the affordable “green” homes that the organization is building for people with special needs, including veterans. To recognize this collaboration, TOTO invited United Way, along with its supporters and other leaders in the green-building industry, to its New York Gallery in Manhattan’s Flatiron District to unveil the important work that “Healthy Homes Long Island” will accomplish in the coming year.

“Building homes that stand both the test of time and have a low impact on the environment is not new, but what we are looking to accomplish with “Healthy Homes Long Island” takes sustainability to the next level,“ said Rick Wertheim, senior vice president of Housing and Green Building at United Way of Long Island. “It is crucial that homes are a healthy environment for the families living in them – by using materials that do not deteriorate or cause chronic health concerns like asthma. By partnering with TOTO, we are able to show that innovative, high-efficiency plumbing fixtures not only add to the beauty of the home but can be beneficial to the well-being of those living there.”

“At TOTO, we are committed to helping build a better way of life for all people,” said Kevin Burns, Senior Director, Northeast Sales Region, TOTO USA. “For many New Yorkers, including veterans, poor housing conditions are associated with a wide range of health issues for themselves and their families. We support United Way of Long Island’s vision that every home should built to be healthy, easy to maintain, and water and energy efficient. We are proud to contribute our high-end, high-efficiency plumbing products to provide those living in homes built by United Way with a residence that meets the highest of standards."

Guests who attended the launch event had the opportunity to network with professionals in the green-building industry while enjoying food and beverages, as well as a raffle of TOTO’s NEOREST 750H Intelligent Toilet (MSRP $10,200), Carlyle II 1G Connect+ and WASHLET S350e (MSRP $2,468), and WASHLET S350e (MSRP $1,560).

United Way of Long Island’s Housing and Green Building Department is at the forefront of efficient and sustainable development in the region, building more than 85 homes over nearly 20 years serving individuals and families in need of safe and affordable housing. Working closely with partner agencies, United Way of Long Island is tasked with managing these projects from blueprints to groundbreaking, as well as detailed finishes and utilities – ensuring that every home is built to be healthy, easily maintained, and energy efficient.

For more information on United Way’s Housing and Green Building department, visit www.unitedwayli.org/HousingandGreenBuilding

Photo caption: United Way unveils a new partnership with TOTO for “Healthy Homes Long Island” initiative. Pictured (L-R) Rick Wertheim, Senior Vice President, Housing and Green Building, United Way of Long Island; Jim Decker, Sales Representative, Northeast Sales Region, TOTO USA; and Kevin Burns, Senior Director, Northeast Sales Region, TOTO USA.