Dishwashers that are qualified for the Energy Star must meet several strenuous requirements. Here are a couple of them:

• They must use at least forty-one percent less energy than the federal minimum requirement.

• Energy Star dishwashers use much less water than standard dishwashers.

There are several things that you can do while washing dishes:

• Always run your dishwasher with a full load. This maximizes your use of the hot water. Heating the water is where the dishwasher is least efficient, so it’s best to get the most out of it that you possibly can.

• Avoid using the settings for heated-dry and extra rinses. Use the air-dry setting instead.

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… for a new dishwasher?

Here are a few things to remember if you are looking for a new dishwasher:

• Energy Star! Number 1 consideration that will save you money in the long run.
• Capacity ~ Just like refrigerators and freezers, dishwashers have a space limit. How much space does your household require?
•  Type ~ Built-in, portable, or counter-top?
• Quietness ~ This is almost essential if you are going to be spending a lot of time in the kitchen while the dishwasher is running.
• Options or features ~ Hard-food disposal, wash cycles, and adjustable shelves and racks fall under this category.

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A national vision for energy change. HERE.

North Pole, Alaska, purchased 11,000 LED Christmas lights to decorate a 65ft. white spruce for its Christmas in Ice event. HERE.

Give the gift of efficiency this holiday season. HERE.

Make small changes towards going green. HERE.

There are really only three freezer types on the market available to the general public:

Upright ~ This type of freezer is about the size of your typical household refrigerator, and usually has one or two doors. The benefit of this type of freezer is that they take up less floor space than a chest freezer, however they are unable to contain the cold air that escapes every time the door is opened.

Chest ~ Chest freezers take up more floor space, but they are, in general, more economical. The original cost is usually a little less, and the overall running cost will be less because it allows less cold air to escape when the door is opened. This type of freezer is, however, rather awkward; it is not easy to access the food that is in the bottom of the freezer. Many chest freezers come with sliding or lift-out baskets to assist in the organization of the freezer.

Refrigerator-Freezer Combination ~ Since this is the most common and since we kind of already went over these types in the refrigerator section, I won’t go into detail here. The freezer on a refrigerator-freezer combination unit can either be on the top, bottom, or to either side of the refrigerator. This is the most efficient type of freezer for small households that don’t freeze much.

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There aren’t a whole lot of options available in the freezer department, but here are a few of them:

Chest freezers probably come with the option of removable, sliding wire baskets. This type of freezer is notoriously difficult to keep organized, and the baskets are to aid you in that effort. Interior light is another very handy option.

Some freezers come with a lock option. This is useful if you’re extra worried about your food spoiling, or perhaps if you have small kids running around that you don’t particularly trust to keep the freezer closed at all times… However, another interesting option along these same lines is a fool spoilage warranty. This is where the manufacturer will cover the cost of any spoiled food if the freezer breaks down in a certain amount of time. Like some refrigerators, some freezers come with the option of an alarm. The alarm will sound whenever the temperature falls below an acceptable freezing level.

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It can be difficult to determine the right size freezer for your needs because there are so many variables. However, here is a general rule:

For every member in your household you need 1.5 cubic feet of freezer space. You can usually store about 45-50lbs of food in that amount of space.

Remember though, that if your freezer is not at least two-thirds of the way full you will be running a much less efficient freezer than if it were full. If you cannot manage to fill it up at least two-thirds of the way, fill plastic bottles with water and freeze those.

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Energy efficient options for your home in the winter. HERE.

Blinds Express now selling even more efficient blinds. HERE.

LEDs to be used instead of mercury lamps in microscopes for faster tuberculosis detection. HERE.

More than 30,000 energy efficient light bulbs have been handed out in Cape Verde as a part of an energy-saving campaign. HERE.

… for a new freezer? There are some things you should think about before you completely commit yourself:

• Energy Star does rate freezers, so be sure to get one of those. They are at least 10% more efficient than models that aren’t qualified for the Energy Star.

The other considerations are pretty much the same as for the refrigerators, but I’ll list them again anyway.

• Size ~ Determine the capacity you need.

• Options ~ Freezers also come with special features.

• Type ~ As with refrigerators there are different types of freezers.

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Options such as adjustable shelves, temperature control, butter and meat trays, crisper drawers, and even refrigerator and freezer lights have become very commonplace, but they are still options that must be taken into consideration when you are looking to buy a new refrigerator. Ice makers are also among the options that are a little more common, but you will still pay extra for it.

Some refrigerators have very cool options like exterior moisture control sensors that sound an alarm when the interior temperature falls below an acceptable level. Then there are the unique and pricey options such as refrigerators with built-in televisions, radios, and espresso machines!

Last, but not least, are the color options. If you are looking just to replace your existing refrigerator, it is generally a good idea to go with the color scheme of your other appliances, but if you are remodeling your kitchen then comes the fun! Usually, in such circumstances, the refrigerator sets the tone of all the other appliances. Today, the most common colors are white, off-white, black, and stainless steel.

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NComputing has come out with a PC unit that uses 95-99% less energy than traditional PCs, and it only costs $70, and it will last about 10 years longer! HERE.

Sunovia announces partnership with Beacon Products, and development and marketing of LED products. HERE.

Enbridge Gas Distribution in Toronto, Ontario, is offering free Novithrem™ Reflector panels to customers in homes built before 1980. HERE.

Here’s a quick look at some of the different types of refrigerators available on the market today.

Side-by-side. When considering this type of refrigerator you need to take an especially close look at the capacity. Some models may have compartments too narrow for some of the bulkier items that often find their way to your refrigerator. Adjustable shelves and bins allow some flexibility in this area, so watch for that. This type of refrigerator typically takes up more space than other types because they require more room on either side to allow both doors to open.

Freezer on top. This is the most common type of refrigerator with the most styles on the market today. This type generally offers more capacity than other models because of its configuration. Also, with the freezer at eye-level, it is easier to access the food stored there… although, at the same time, food tends to fall out.

Freezer on bottom. This type is not as widely available, but most major manufacturers offer at least one model. These are a good option for people who desire to have their fresh food at eye-level. The dimensions are usually the same for this type as for the models with the freezer on top.

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Well, the first obvious question when you determine to buy a new refrigerator is where you are going to put it. This is something that is very preliminary in any appliance search, really. If you find the perfect appliance in every other way, but it doesn’t fit in your house, what good is it going to do you? So, if the space for your refrigerator is in any way limited, be sure to measure the area, and know what you are up against.

Once you have your measurements, you can move on to the more technical end of things: How much space inside the refrigerator does your household require? Running a larger refrigerator than you need is costly and inefficient. If the refrigerator isn’t packed to capacity, then every time you open the door all the extra cold air escapes and has to be replaced. However, it is more efficient to run a single large refrigerator rather than two smaller ones.

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