Lennox International Inc. (NYSE: LII) headquartered in Richardson, TX[1] is a leading global provider of indoor climate-control solutions. The company designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, refrigeration, indoor air quality and hearth products for residential and commercial applications. The company’s largest business segment is the North American residential division, which distributes products through a network of more than 6,000 independent dealers.
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History
Lennox traces its roots back to 1895, when Dave Lennox designed the first riveted-steel furnace in his machine shop in Marshalltown, Iowa. By the early 1900s, the manufacture of these furnaces—a vast improvement over the cast-iron furnaces of the time—had grown into a significant business and was diverting Dave from his passion for inventing. At this time, a group of investors led by D.W. Norris bought the furnace business and, over the years, ownership of the company was passed on to succeeding generations of the Norris family. In 1999, the company completed the initial public offering of its common stock. Though the company is now based in Texas, it retains a strong presence in Iowa, with 996,000-sq.-ft. factory in Marshalltown and a 250,000-sq.-ft. distribution center in Des Moines.
Quality and Innovation
Renowned for its state-of-the-art research and development laboratories, Lennox is certified as an official test site for both the American and Canadian Gas Associations (AGA/CGA). The company also has a comprehensive audit program in place to continually evaluate the effectiveness of the entire manufacturing system.
Energy Efficiency
In 2007, for the fourth time in the past five years, Lennox International was named an ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year. Lennox is the first and only heating, ventilation and air-conditioning manufacturer to receive this award, which reflects the company’s commitment to making and selling energy-efficient solutions that help consumers save money and protect the environment. All Lennox residential cooling systems are ENERGY STAR qualified, and offer efficiency ratings from the mandated 14.00 SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating) minimum all the way up to 20.50 SEER. Lennox has several furnaces that are ENERGY STAR qualified, with energy ratings ranging from 80% to up to 95% AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency).
