MERRILL, Wis. – (January 26, 2012) – Custom Design Heating and Cooling, a dealer of the Coleman® brand of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning equipment from Johnson Controls, recently awarded 21-year-old college student Matthew Bowen with a Coleman 14.5 SEER LX Series MicroChannel air conditioner (Model TCJF). Bowen won the dealer’s “Survival of the Coolest” contest at the Lincoln County Fair in Merrill, Wis., and gave the air conditioner -- valued at $4,000 -- to his mother.
“We had heat waves all summer; it was 90 degrees every day,” said Bowen. “I wanted to do something nice for my mother. She works really hard in the mill for me, so this was something I could do for her.”
During the event, which lasted nearly 35 hours, contestants remained in a booth with their hands on an air conditioner. The objective was to see which contestant could touch the air conditioner for the longest period of time. The event began at 11 a.m. on a Friday and ended at 9:50 p.m. the next day.
Throughout the contest, the 15 participants were permitted a five-minute bathroom break every four hours. Originally, five contestants were assigned to one of three air conditioners that were placed under a canopy. Friends and relatives of the contestants delivered food and water to them.
“The contestants were allowed to have cell phones, listen to their iPods and eat and drink, as long as one of their hands remained on the air conditioner,” said Josh Hipke, owner of Custom Design. The participants were closely monitored by employees of Custom Design and local radio station WMZK Z104, who served as judges.
By 9 a.m. Saturday, seven contestants remained, and they were no longer allowed to switch hands on the air conditioners or lean against them. At 9:00 that evening, only three contestants remained. One lost his balance swatting a mosquito, leaving Bowen and a 45-year-old factory worker as the two remaining contestants. Less than an hour later, at 9:50 p.m., Bowen was declared the winner.
Custom Design, the fair’s main sponsor, teamed up with Christine Vorpagel, formerly of Z104, which broadcasted the event live. “The venue was crucial to the success of the contest,” said Vorpagel. “The fair is the biggest draw in Lincoln County each year.”
Custom Design installed the air conditioner about two weeks following the contest. “The neat thing about Matt winning was that we installed his mother’s furnace about two years ago, and everything matches,” said Hipke.
Hipke chose the Coleman LX series because of its unique MicroChannel technology, which creates a superior heat exchange surface, allowing the smaller unit to provide more performance in less space.
HVAC products from Johnson Controls, marketed under the well-known Coleman® brand, include highly reliable 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 Coleman heating and air conditioning dealers. For more information about Coleman HVAC systems, visit www.colemanhvacdealer.com or call 877-926-5362.
Johnson Controls
Johnson Controls is a global diversified technology and industrial leader serving customers in over 150 countries. Our 162,000 employees create quality products, services and solutions to optimize energy and operational efficiencies of buildings; lead-acid automotive batteries and advanced batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles; and interior systems for automobiles. Our commitment to sustainability dates back to our roots in 1885, with the invention of the first electric room thermostat. Through our growth strategies and by increasing market share we are committed to delivering value to shareholders and making our customers successful. In 2011, Corporate Responsibility Magazine recognized Johnson Controls as the #1 company in its annual "100 Best Corporate Citizens" list. For additional information, please visit http://www.johnsoncontrols.com.
Coleman
As an international leader in the innovation and marketing of outdoor products, The Coleman Company, Inc. helps people have fun and make memories by providing the gear integral to their favorite outdoor experiences. The company’s products include its legendary lanterns and stoves, as well as coolers, tents, sleeping bags, airbeds, backpacks, furniture, and grills under the Coleman® brand. Additionally, the company provides flotation devices, towables, rainwear, waders, hunting and fishing gear as well as safety and survival equipment under its Stearns®, Sevylor®, Sospenders®, Hodgman®, Mad Dog Gear®, and Helium® brands. Founded in 1900 and based in Wichita, Kan., Coleman is a wholly owned subsidiary of Jarden Corporation and can be found online at COLEMAN.com.
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Please Direct Reader Inquiries to:
Mary Mocarski
Coleman Brand Manager
Johnson Controls – Unitary Products
507 E. Michigan
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Photo Caption:
Josh Hipke, owner of Custom Design Heating and Cooling, awarded a Coleman® 14.5 SEER LX Series MicroChannel air conditioner to Matt Bowen, winner of the first Survival of the Coolest contest.