Eco-Friendly Appliances

Some consumers believe they have to sacrifice performance or design when selecting eco-friendly products. The good news is you really can have the best of both worlds. Many of the products we carry are sleek in design yet built to last, not to be landfilled. Invest in quality energy efficient appliances and you can save money over time and leave a smaller footprint on the earth.

Refrigerators:

[caption id="attachment_555" align="alignright" width="253"] Sub-Zero Pro 48[/caption]

Refrigerators are the only appliance in the home that runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  Since they account for 9%-15% of your home’s electricity use, consider purchasing a model that is energy efficient. ENERGY STAR designation means it uses 10-50% less energy than standard models. A leader in the industry, Liehbeherr’s CS 1611 won the ENERGY STAR Most Efficient 2012 award.  And even the largest Sub-Zero refrigerator uses less power than a 100-watt bulb. This is all possible through dual refrigeration. The two compressors share the work, so each does its job with minimal effort.  Plus, dual-refrigeration eliminates odors, viruses, bacteria, and gases that help ensure perishable food stays fresher longer.

Curious just how much money you’ll save with an ENERGY STAR refrigerator? Check out this savings calculator: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=refrig.calculator

Cooktops:

[caption id="attachment_553" align="alignright" width="300"] Miele Induction Cooktop[/caption]

Gas and electric might be the most common types of cooktops but induction is the most energy efficient.  They operate at 90-95% efficiency with heat being transferred directly to the pan.  They can even bring a pot of water to boil in less than one minute! Gas and electric cooktops lose about 60% of heat through the air.  While on, induction cooktops are cool to the touch making it a safety feature as well. Many induction cooktops also have built in timers like Miele’s ComfortControl Plus sensor control. This allows users to select a heat setting and timer for each individual burner making multi-tasking easier while saving energy as well.

Ovens:

When shopping for an oven, look for ones with a convection fan which will continuously circulate heated air around the food. This allows for reduced temperatures and cooking times which result in 20% less energy use.

Dishwashers:

[caption id="attachment_554" align="alignright" width="270"] XXL Asko Dishwasher[/caption]

Between 80-90% of a dishwasher’s energy consumption is tied to the water heater. Look at models that use less water but still have powerful cleaning.   For example, Bosch’s exclusive ActiveWater technology design uses water pressure, design and efficiency to enable 2 gallons of water to do the work of 1300. If you have a busy household or just like to entertain, consider dishwashers that have innovative dish rack designs so you can load more into the dishwasher and run less cycles. For example, Asko has a Flexiracks system that handles just about any size dish so you can do more with every wash cycle.

 

Washers:

[caption id="attachment_552" align="alignright" width="300"] Fisher Paykel Washer[/caption]

On average, a family washes 300 loads of laundry per year. By selecting an ENERGY STAR certified washer, you will use about 20% less energy and 35% less water than regular washers.  Fisher Paykel makes one of America’s most energy efficient washers available; in fact, it qualifies for the highest level (tier 3) of the Super-Efficient Home Appliance Initiative. Fisher Paykel’s AquaSmart washers feature SmartDrive technology that fills the washer with just enough water to lift the clothes off the innovative low profile agitator, so when it moves, the clothes roll over each other.  With a spin speed of 1000rpm it removes 2-1/2 liters more water per load than other washing machines, reducing drying times and cost.

Whether you are in the market to replace a refrigerator or looking to purchase all new appliances, keep appliances that will deliver big results with little carbon footprints top of mind.