APPLiA represents the home appliance industry in Europe. APPLiA was founded as the European Association of National Associations in 1958. Over the past 50 years it has undergone a number of transformations to become even more effective. A permanent Brussels office was established in 1997 to better represent its members vis-à-vis the European Communities institutions. Direct membership for individual household appliance companies was also introduced that year. APPLiA Direct Member companies produce the following products: - large household appliances (including refrigerators & freezers, dishwashers, washing machines, clothes dryers, ovens, hoods); - small household appliances (covering a wide range of products from shavers to vacuum cleaners); - heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment, mainly for residential use. APPLiA represents an innovative industry. Examples of current areas of innovation are interactivity with electronic communication technology and improving performance while reducing power and, where relevant, water consumption. APPLiA's successful Energy & Environment projects shows how reduced environmental impact can be coupled to enhanced product performance.