Energy Efficient

It’s estimated that almost 80% of us have a dryer to dry our clothes indoors. A dryer is a modern convenience that most of us rely on, but a traditional dryer may not be suitable for every type of home. A typical vented dryer needs a vent, and installing a vent in many homes is simply impossible without incurring a significant cost or altering a historic building. There is an alternative; a ventless dryer is a compact option that can dry effectively without the need for a vent. In this article we will take a closer look at ventless dryers, are they safe to use? Are they energy efficient? How well will they wash your clothes? Let’s find out. Are Ventless Dryers Safe to Use? Many people are concerned that a lack of venting will lead to a buildup of heat that could pose a risk of fire. This is unfounded; a ventless dryer is perfectly safe to use; they are designed to operate safely for years. When you use a ventless dryer, there is no need to remove collected lint from the trap or a vent. This effectively reduces the risk of a fire rather than increasing them, and this makes a ventless dryer safer to use. If you need to dry your laundry indoors and you don’t have an option to install a vent, a ventless dryer is a safe alternative. Is a Ventless Dryer Energy Efficient? The short answer is yes, a ventless dryer actually uses less

Choosing energy efficient appliances is a sensible decision. Not only will these appliances save money on your energy bills each month, but you can also do your part for the environment. Unfortunately, many consumers find themselves feeling confused about energy efficient appliances, so here we’ll explore what you need to know. The Energy Star Basics The first thing you need to know is to look for the Energy Star mark and what this means. The Energy Star program is offered by the Environmental Protection Agency, and it is designed to help you make smarter decisions when powering your home. The Energy Star logo is easy to recognize, but you also need to know what all the information on those labels actually means. An Energy Guide label is designed to provide a roundup of all the features and costs associated with the appliance. This label will let you know how much energy this appliance will use and an estimate of what this will add up to on your energy bills. Only products with the highest efficiency standards are awarded the Energy Star logo, so this is a great place to start shopping. An Efficiency Guide There are a number of factors to consider when you choose a new appliance. You not only need to look at the space available for your new appliance, but also your usage needs and the features you’d like. There is no sure way to determine that this model is better than another, as a tiny refrigerator

Appliances are an essential convenience in our modern lives, but this does come at a cost. While most modern appliances are designed to be as energy efficient as possible, there are some appliance myths that could be wasting both your money and time. So, here we will explore some of the more common myths to help you avoid paying over the odds. You can’t Wash Clothes Properly in Cold Water Of course, you want your clothing to be clean and fresh, and no one likes to have to rewash items. For this reason, the myth that you can’t wash clothing properly in cold water has gained a lot of traction. In fact, most modern washing machines are designed to provide effective cleaning at a range of temperatures from cold water up to 90 degrees. Since up to 90 percent of the energy of your washing machine is used to heat water, the hotter your washing temperature, the more your laundry is costing. Unless you have specific cleaning requirements, such as stain removal, you should try using cold wash cycles to save money on your wash. Dishes Should Be Rinsed Before Running the Dishwasher Many people have an established routine of scraping and rinsing all their dishes before they are loaded in the dishwasher. While this may seem like a logical practice, it could be costing you money. Modern dishwashers and detergent products clean at their best when they begin with dirty dishes. Most detergents need food in order to activate,

If you’re planning on upgrading your cooktop, you may have considered a number of options. Although an induction cooktop may be one of the more costly options, it could be the right choice for your kitchen. A burner-less induction cooktop allows you to place cookware in any area of the cooking surface. This means that you can even use oddly shaped items such as roasting pans or griddles with ease. How it Works Induction cooktops use magnetic fields to create cooking heat, and this type of cooktop intelligently recognizes the position, shape, and size of your cookware to provide heat with no boundaries. Induction cooking offers the responsive temperature control of gas with greater efficiency and safety. This type of cooktop is far safer to use, particularly around children, as the surface remains cool to the touch. A burner-less induction cooktop uses numerous individual induction elements that creates a greater cooking area surface and eliminates the conventional standard elements. It is typically equipped with a touchscreen display that allows you to control cooking times and power settings, providing recognition of the size and shape of your pot or cookware. This means that you can accommodate even large cooking pans to make tasks such as preparing gravy simple and easy. Additional Advantages of Induction Cooktops Induction represents a technological breakthrough. This type of sophisticated cooktop was used in restaurants and is now readily available for home use. Unlike electric and gas, induction uses electromagnetism that provides faster and more controllable heat.

New French Door Refrigerator From Jenn-AirUAKC has great selection of Jenn-Air AppliancesJenn-Air has been a leader in French Door Refrigerators since they introduced the industry's first counter-depth refrigerator decades ago. Now, they've launched this exclusive smart French Door Refrigerator with state-of-the-art technology including wi-fi connectivity. Add to this, Jenn-Air's famous cooking products, Jenn-Air's other U.S. made refrigerators, wine cellars, and ice-makers and you've got the very best in super-premium and luxury appliances for the kitchen.Here are the features and specifications of this amazing new state-of-the-art refrigerator:72” Counter-Depth French Door Refrigerator with Obsidian InteriorEuro-Style Stainless HandleModel: JFFCC72EFS(also available with Pro-Style handle)This freestanding refrigerator is a premium expression of design and performance. It features our industry-exclusive Obsidian interior and WiFi connectivity through an app for iOS and Android devices. And the Twin Fresh™ Climate Control System delivers premium temperature management with additional features like a Pure Freeze™ mode which can maintain a -6°F freezer temperature.Features: Obsidian Interior WiFi Connectivity Twin Fresh™ Climate Control System Pure Freeze™ Mode Interior LED Theater Lighting 72-Inch Height Adjustable Door Bins with Metal Accents Adjustable, Clear Glass Shelves Automatic Ice Maker Counter Depth Design Electronic Temperature-Controlled Pantry Drawer Energy Saver Favorite Fill Fold-Away Glass Shelf FreshFlow™ Air Filter Gallon Door Storage Bins Glide-Out Freezer Drawer with Premium Glide System Herb Tender™ Container Humidiseal™ Crisper Drawers In-Door-Ice Storage Bin Integrated Electronic Controls with LED Display Integrated Cubed/Crushed Ice and Water Dispenser Max Cool Max Ice Measured Fill Pull-Out Platter Removable EveryDrop™ Filter by Whirlpool Water Sabbath Mode Soft,

Is it time for a new dishwasher?Houzz has published its 2017 Kitchen Trends Survey. For homeowners planning kitchen renovations, dishwashers are the most likely to be first on the list for replacement. It really isn't a big surprise considering all the changes in dishwashers over the years. Here are the top trends in dishwashers in our view.Sani-CycleHomeowners are increasingly concerned with sanitation, particularly in the kitchen. Some new dishwashers have sani-cycles that are certified by the NSF which requires that the water is heated to 155 degrees fahrenheit and kept there for a certain amount of time. This feature can be particularly important when someone in the home is sick, or if there is a baby to care for.Energy and Water SavingsWhile dishwasher manufacturers are all keen on having the EnergyStar label, some dishwashers are more energy efficient than others. They work with smaller highly efficient motors that run quieter (and longer) to get dishes clean while running at whisper quiet sound levels.In addition, though dishwashers may have long run times, they actually use far less water. That's one reason why they are more energy efficient because a big part of a dishwashers energy usage is the cost of heating the water.QuietToday's open kitchens make it critical that dishwashers run quietly, and appliance manufacturers tout their "whisper-quiet" dishwashers. In my opinion, to be considered quiet, a dishwasher would have to operate at a decibel rating in the 40's. The really quiet dishwashers are often in the low 40's with a

IBS/KBIS 2016 more new products...and one more thingLiebherr Under Counter Slide-Out RefrigeratorComing Soon to Universal Appliance and Kitchen CenterIt's no secret that there is considerable growth in the undercounter appliance category. At the January 2016 Kitchen and Bath Show (KBIS) in Las Vegas Liebherr showed a unique "pull-out" undercounter refrigerator. Here's what they said about the UPR 503:"The new UPR 503 undercounter pull-out refrigerator ensures that fresh food is always within reach. Combining high energy efficiency with optimal storage space, the UPR 503 can be adjusted in height to match that of the countertop for perfect alignment with your kitchen design. The UPR 503 offers maximum ease-of-use thanks to its SoftTelescopic system of self-retracting and fully-extendable tiered storage compartments. This is the perfect space-saving addition for any kitchen or living area."The growth in the undercounter appliance category is a reflection of the practicality and the increasing need for accessibility for everyone. This includes our largest demographic group, baby-boomers, as well as all those in our population who for any number of reasons don't have easy reach for food stored higher than counter height. While at one time, most under counter refrigerator products were inexpensive fridges for college dorm rooms, major luxury and specialty brands such as Sub Zero and U-line, and now Liebherr are recognizing that accessible is not age or price point driven, but need driven. Regardless of your interest in undercounter refrigerators or other major appliances and plumbing fixtures, you're sure to find what you need at Universal

Tips to help reduce your water usage when washing clothes.Since over 20% of the average family's water use comes from doing laundry, reducing water usage in the laundry room can have a big impact on your total household water consumption. Here are a couple of tips to save water and save money in the laundry room.Wash full loads.Whenever possible washing a full load is far more efficient and saves water over partial loads. It will also save electricity or gas when drying clothes.Wash less frequently.Nobody's suggesting that we should wear dirty clothes, but really how often do we need to wash those denims when we only wear them for light day to day use? Remember Grandma talking about Monday laundry day, and that was the only day laundry got done? The next time we're loading the washer, let's take a good look at the clothes. If a high percentage of the laundry looks like it might be just fine to use another day or two, then seriously think about saving the time, the work, the energy, and water usage by laundering less frequently.Use Energy-Saving WashersSuprisingly, there is not much else we can do to save water in clothes washing except to use a high-efficiency front-load or top-load washer. Basically, that means if we're really concerned about saving water we should not be using a traditional top-load washer with an agitator post in the middle. Agitator type top-load machines will use up to 3X the amount of water that a high-efficiency

Save water when washing dishes We've previously written about ways to save water in your home during this drought. Click on the link below: Saving Water In Your Home Now, we'd like to specifically call your attention to saving water with your dishwasher. Here are three simple ways to save water when washing dishes. 1. Use your dishwasher. Research has shown a surprising number of households who have dishwashers do not use them. Sometimes residents believe that by hand washing they'll get their dishes cleaner, that it's more sanitary, and they'll use less water. Of course, none of this is true. Hand washing dishes uses far more water, is likely to not do as good a job getting dishes clean, and is definitely less sanitary than using a dishwasher. 2. Don't pre-wash dishes. For decades dishwasher manufacturers have been imploring homemakers to forego pre-washing dishes before they put them in the dishwasher. There are two important reasons that we should not pre-wash dishes. First, it's a huge waste of water. You're bound to use as much water pre-washing the dishes as your dishwasher uses for the entire cycle. Also, pre-washing your dishes can actually cause your dishes to come out of the dishwasher dirty, and in some cases it may even damage your dishes (especially glassware). Dishwasher detergent removes dirt molecules from the dishes and suspends them in the water where they get flushed out of the dishwasher. When the dishes are pre-washed, the dishwasher is unable to capture dirt

True Professional Clear Ice Machine True Professional Those two words mean a lot. It's the brand you see when you get to peek in the back room at your favorite restaurant -TRUE. It's the cooler that keeps dairy products chilled at the grocers -TRUE. It's the wine chiller at the wine bar down the street - TRUE. And it's the premium line of specialty refrigeration refined for the home - TRUE. Continuing the tradition from the Trulaske family, True now expands their product offering to include a clear ice machine. The latest addition to the True Residential line, this undercounter ice machine is the highest-performing, most energy-efficient clear ice machine available to homeowners. With our patented TruLumina Lighting System and UL-rated for both indoor and outdoor use, it’s an incredibly convenient, energy-efficient, beautiful machine. The True clear ice machine is the ultimate addition to any home. Perfect indoors and out, it provides maximum ice production, up to 70lbs. per day with storage of 28lbs. Beautiful clear cubes will make the perfect complement to your beverage of choice. Available with either a right hand or left hand door swing stainless model, as well as right hand or left hand swing overlay model, the True clear ice machine features patented LED lighting which gently illuminates the clear ice in 15 delightful colors. Only True ice machines come standard with a built-in drain pump and water filter. True aslo has an industry exclusive 3 year full warranty, and 6 year warranty on the