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Watkins Manufacturing Earns First European ENVY Award For Energy-Efficient Hot Spring Spa

VISTA, Calif., March 24, 2008—Watkins Manufacturing has received the first-ever European ENVY Award for its outstanding efforts in environment-friendly hot tub design.

Vista-based Watkins, maker of Hot Spring� Spas—the world's number one-selling brand—provided a Sovereign� spa for testing in realistic outside conditions by the INDESIGN Institute for Innovative Design, a research-and-development institute near Munich, Germany. The Sovereign spa was installed at a demonstration home operated by INDESIGN partner DemoDomo. DemoDomo serves as a platform to demonstrate, test and develop innovative and energy-efficient products.


Watkins Manufacturing President Steve
Hammock, left, and Prof. Dr. Ulrich Beerschwinger

From December 2007 to February 2008, INDESIGN tested the Sovereign spa continuously for energy efficiency in cycles of 72 consecutive hours. The spa was found to be well within the maximum standby energy consumption set by the California Energy Commission.

Its name an acronym for "environment friendly," the ENVY Award recognizes Watkins Manufacturing for:

��� Creating trendsetting, energy-smart spas
��� Using energy-efficient spa components
��� Participating in frequent product testing carried out by independent third parties
��� Assuring that all spa owners and prospective buyers have access to valid energy-performance documentation
��� Supporting international R&D to further develop green initiatives and increase energy efficiency

"Hot Spring Spas decided to actively join this project as a primary cooperating partner because company management is open to new ideas and suggestions," said Prof. Dr. Ulrich Beerschwinger, founder and director of INDESIGN.

"They take energy efficiency very seriously in the manufacturing process and consumer use of their spas. Our exhaustive investigation of spa efficiencies reported in several tests has proven Hot Spring is a leader in energy efficiency." Steve Hammock, President of Watkins Manufacturing, accepted the award from Beerschwinger on March 19 at company headquarters in Vista, Calif.

"We're honored to be the first recipient of this impressive award," Hammock said. "It is an affirmation of our commitment to energy conservation and building ���green' spas."

About Hot Spring Spas
Established in 1977, Vista, Calif.-based Watkins Manufacturing Corp. is the manufacturer of Hot Spring Spas. More than 800,000 spas have been sold since Watkins' inception. Watkins' worldwide dealer network of more than 950 sales and service centers is in all 50 states, Canada and more than 60 other countries. Watkins is a division of Masco Corp. (MAS-NYSE), a Fortune 500 company whose quality products include Delta� faucets, KraftMaid� cabinets and Behr� paints. More information and dealer locations are available online at www.hotspring.com.

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