RONA to End Sales of Toilets With Tanks Over 6 Litres and Encourages Responsible Water Use

BOUCHERVILLE, QUEBEC, Apr 22 (MARKET WIRE) --
RONA Inc. (TSX: RON), the largest Canadian distributor and retailer of
hardware, renovation and gardening products, announced today that it will
stop selling conventional toilets with tanks over 6 litres in volume.
Given the water savings achieved and the technological advances in
efficiency with toilets of 6 litres or less, RONA believes that toilets
with tanks over 6 litres no longer represent an ecological option. This
initiative is another reflection of RONA's concern to provide responsible
consumption options for its customers, including saving drinking water.

"According to Environment Canada, Canadians consume over 300 litres
of potable water per day, nearly a third of which goes into toilets. By
using toilets that hold less water, our consumers will help safeguard
millions of litres of this precious natural resource," said RONA
executive vice president of merchandising Normand Dumont. "For RONA
ending sales of toilets over 6 litres is a way of supporting our
customers in their efforts to adopt responsible practices for a
sustainable community."

Tips for responsible water use

By completely ending sales of toilets over 6 litres in volume, RONA is
encouraging its customers to save potable water by opting for
eco-responsible products and habits.

1. Smaller toilet tanks

By installing a toilet with a 6-litre tank, Canadians can reduce their
water needs for that use by 50% to 70% per year, on average. Customers
who choose a toilet that carries a maximum performance (MaP) rating will
have a guarantee that the toilet will be more efficient than an old model
with a larger tank. As of today, all stores in the RONA network will
offer models from three categories of conventional toilets:

-- Toilets with flush volumes of 6 litres

-- Double flush toilets (4/6 litres)

-- Toilets with flush volumes of 4.8 litres

The use of dye tablets to detect leaks is another effective way to
prevent water waste and damage from water leakage.

2. Low-flow showerheads and aerated faucets

By installing a low-flow showerhead, Canadians can reduce their water
needs for that use by nearly 30% and save almost 15% on their average
electricity consumption for hot water heating. Use of aerators on faucets
will also help maintain water pressure at a comfortable level. RONA also
encourages its customers to carefully check the joints in their bathroom
and kitchen fittings and change them if any leaks, however small, are
detected.

3. Rainwater recovery

Installing a rainwater recovery system makes it possible to stock up on
water that can be used to water plants, wash the car and fill the
birdbath or even the swimming pool. With a recovery tank attached to
their gutter and drainpipe system, customers can reduce their consumption
of drinking water by not using it for activities that don't require it.

To choose the right products for saving water, it's important to do an
assessment of your home's water needs and what can be properly installed.
This may depend on the type of dwelling and the materials that the roof
is made of. For more information, please visit www.rona.ca.

Last but not least, some municipalities are also promoting responsible
water use, with offers of financial assistance to residents who decide to
replace or modernize their sanitary fixtures. Interested consumers can
ask their municipality for further information.

About RONA

RONA is the largest Canadian distributor and retailer of hardware,
renovation and gardening products and operates a network of close to 700
corporate, franchise and affiliate stores of various sizes and formats.
With nearly 30,000 employees working under its family of banners in every
region of Canada and more than 16 million square feet of retail space,
the RONA store network generates over $6 billion in annual retail sales.
Please visit www.rona.ca.

Contacts:
Media
RONA Inc.
Julie Seidel
Director, External Communications
514-599-5114
julie.seidel@rona.ca

Financial Community
RONA Inc.
Stephane Milot
Senior Director, Investor Relations
514-599-5951
stephane.milot@rona.ca

Copyright 2010, Market Wire, All rights reserved.

-0-