Archive for the ‘Energy Efficiency’ Category
August 25, 2011
Again this year, Warners’ Stellian appliances among other eco-friendly home ideas in the Eco Experience Common Cottage exhibit at the Minnesota State Fair.
Sure the house has a smart design and is constructed from reused and reclaimed materials, but you can also learn tips to improve the house you have: increase the energy efficiency of your home with an energy audit, incorporate composting and recycling systems, improve indoor air quality and install eco-friendly kitchen surfaces and appliances.
And if that doesn’t get you going, there are backyard chickens on the patio, covered by part of the now-defunct Metrodome roof (and a super pretty natural gas grill from Warners’ Stellian).
If you’re intersted in improving the energy efficiency of your home, you’ll be introduced to the best resources for financing your energy improvements, from loans, rebates, tax credits, or grants.
My camera ran out of batteries before I could take pictures of the STUNNING kitchen, with its blue-green colored reclaimed cabinets and recycled glass counter tops, but I can show you the smart and sexy appliances we chose to showcase this year:
The architects on this project specifically requested Liebherr, and we couldn’t have agreed more. Liebherr goes beyond being super energy efficient (27% over federal standards) to become the most sustainable refrigerators; its refrigerators are manufactured in the greenest way out there. Plus, its two compressors ensure premium food preservation. Basically, your fresh (local?) foods will last way longer because the dry air from the freezer won’t disturb the humidity in the refrigerator.
Elements on this Electrolux induction range automatically detect the presence of magnetic cookware, activate the induction field and adjust it to the exact size of the pan. This means that no energy is wasted heating anything else but the cookware holding your food. Induction is 20% more efficient than electric and 70% more efficient than gas, though it boasts the same power and responsiveness that cooks love.
Not only is it whisper quiet, this Bosch dishwasher uses only 2.4 gallons of water per wash; the average kitchen faucet flows about 4 to 7 gallons per minute!
This ventless LG washer / dryer combo takes up less space and washes and dry in one appliance. Plus the washer is Energy Star rated, meaning it uses less energy and water to do its job.
Tags:Bosch, Eco Experience, Electrolux, induction, LG, Liebherr, Minnesota State Fair, Weber
Posted in Dishwashers, Dryer, Energy Efficiency, Energy Star, Events, laundry, Product Roundup, Ranges, Refrigerator, Sustainability | 1 Comment »
August 17, 2011
If you’re not ecstatic about the performance of your dishwasher and/or washer, don’t immediately blame your machine. There could be something in the water.
Using a water softener can cut detergent use in washers and dishwashers by more than half and lower washing machine temperatures from hot to cold, as shown by two independent studies released in the last two years.
Less detergent and cold water achieved the same stain removal in washing machines using softened water as double the detergent and hot water in hard water. And dishwashers using softened water needed less than half the detergent if used in areas having very hard water (Minnesota is among areas with the hardest water), while achieving the same results.
Plus, the study showed that untreated hard water can cause significant efficiency losses and added costs in water heating – up to 48% in some cases. In addition, hard water was found to rapidly lead to clogged showerheads, in some cases possibly as soon as a year and a half.
(After just one week of constant testing with hard water, more than three-fourths of showerhead nozzles became clogged, according to laboratory results. Showerheads using softened
water, meanwhile, performed nearly as well as on the day they were installed.)
All these factoids beg the question, at least for me: Do I have hard water? Is that why I have to wash my dishes after my dishwasher does?
Well, don’t look at me. I have no idea how to spot hard water. But our local guys, Water Doctors, can diagnose your water and if necessary, customize a water treatment system for your home.
Tags:detergent, hard water, home energy use, softened water, Water Doctors, water softener
Posted in Cleaning, Dishwashers, Energy Efficiency, Washer, Water Treatment | Comments Off
June 17, 2011
The average refrigerator lasts about 12 years, but what if yours is still humming along?
A week ago, we got an email from the sweetest lady EVER (don’t even try to debate it). It began:
My husband purchased a General Electric refrigerator on May 20, 1949, 6 days after our brand new daughter, Mary, was born. One of the features I liked about it was a “butter conditioner”.
This Model MF8F General Electric refrigerator is still running. But there is the possibility, it could seize to function one day.
The ‘butter conditioner’ in the door is intended to keep butter at the temperature I desire.
Thus far, I don’t know where to look for a refrigerator with this feature. I’m almost sure you can help me.
Clearly, this woman — bless her heart — should’ve replaced her refrigerator decades ago. That wolf-in-sheep’s-clothing butter conditioner, though source of such creamy deliciousness, really is just a black hole of energy.
That thing probably runs on $300-$400 worth of electricity per year, versus $50 or so of a new Energy Star refrigerator.
I’m not hating on this woman (on the contrary; I want to adopt her), as it’s hard to tell when to just break up with a “perfectly good” refrigerator.
The New York Times mused on the topic in 2008, and decided that 15-years-old is a pretty safe retirement age for your refrigerator.
What if you inherited appliances from the previous owner? If you’re like me and your home was sold to you with so-called updated appliances, you can use Energy Star’s Refrigerator Retirement Savings Calculator, a handy tool that lets you input the model number of your current fridge to see how much more you’re spending on energy use annually versus a new, Energy Star refrigerator.
Tags:1949, energy efficiency, Energy Star, GE, refrigerators, The New York Times
Posted in Budget-wise, Energy Efficiency, Energy Star, Refrigerator, Vintage Appliance | 3 Comments »
May 9, 2011
The biggest step toward making your house energy efficient is choosing Energy Star appliances. Energy Star appliances offer 10-50% energy savings compared to standard, new appliances.
So, I’m not even talking how much energy savings you’ll get from unplugging your decade-or-so old refrigerators, washers, freezers and dishwashers.
But just because Energy Star only rates those four appliance categories, doesn’t mean you can’t be energy efficient on your stove and dryer, for instance.
Here are six ways to further reduce your energy bill by staying mindful of ways you can save on home energy use.
1. Stop rinsing your dishes before putting them in the dishwasher, which wastes up to 20 gallons of water. Energy Star dishwashers use only 4 gallons of water on average.
2. Water heating consumes about 90% of the energy it takes to operate a clothes washer. Switching your temperature setting from hot to warm can cut energy use in half. Using the cold cycle reduces energy use even more.
3. Use the moisture sensor option on your dryer, which automatically shuts off the machine when clothes are dry, saving energy and reducing wear and tear on your clothes caused by over-drying.
4. Choose the right-sized pot on stove burners and keep it covered to cook more efficiently and keep your kitchen cooler.
5. Move your refrigerator away from the stove, dishwasher, or heat vents. Make sure the door seals are airtight. Also, keep your refrigerator and freezer stocked to hold temperature better and operate more efficiently.
6. Microwaves only use about half as much electricity as regular ovens, so using them is already a smart alternative. But you can save even more energy if you defrost food in the refrigerator instead of the microwave and cook food in its serving dish save the cost of the water used to do twice as many dishes.
Tags:Appliances, energy efficiency, energy efficient, Energy Star, home energy use
Posted in Dryer, Energy Efficiency, Energy Star, Microwave, Ranges, Refrigerator, Sustainability, Washer | Comments Off
May 5, 2011
When choosing our returning spot for this year’s Living Green Expo, we went with our gut…and headed straight for the food.
I have a feeling you might, too.
This Saturday and Sunday at the State Fairgrounds, watch (and taste) live cooking demonstrations by top local chefs on the Warners’ Stellian Celebrity Chefs stage in the 4-H building, part of the Local Chefs, Local Food experience.
Chefs like Scott Pampuch of Corner Table and other favorites like Birchwood Cafe, Common Roots and Chef Shack will be cooking on stage while talking about what local food means to their cooking.
Just west of the audience area of the stage, come visit us to find out how you can enter to win $5,000 in LG appliances by completing the Living Green Challenge.
Products are for representation only (we figured you'd want to pick your own stuff!).
Basically, you learn about living more sustainably by visiting different Living Green Expo exhibits and collect stamps in each category. Once your challenge card is completed, drop it in our high efficiency top load LG washer (yes, I said top load washer).
You can also talk to our appliance experts about the latest models’ energy- and water-saving technology and our own award-winning recycling program.
Tags:Energy Star, LG appliances, Living Green Expo, local food, recycling
Posted in About Warners' Stellian, cooking, Energy Efficiency, Energy Star, Food, Sustainability | Comments Off
May 2, 2011
Induction burners heat only magnetic surfaces (like cookware) and nothing else.
While visiting a home in my neighborhood on the Minneapolis – St. Paul Home Tour yesterday, a tour representative said this homeowner’s renovation included switching from an electric stove to a gas stove and how much the representative wished she had a gas stove top in her own home.
“Well, what about induction?” I asked her.
It’s no longer just a choice between gas or electric stoves; homeowners with electric hookups can enjoy all the power of gas plus more responsiveness.
What do you lose with induction? All the wasteful energy loss. Cooking with induction is 70% more efficient than gas and 20% more efficient than electric.
Clean up is easier than smooth top gas ranges because spills don’t burn onto the surface. You can stick a hundred-dollar bill between an induction burner element and a pot of boiling water without worry
Why? Induction burners only heat magnetic surfaces (so you’ll know if your pots and pans are compatible if a magnet sticks to the bottom!), which also make induction cooktops popular choices for kid- and pet-safe kitchens.
Due to its recent rise in popularity (induction has been around since the ’70s but only took off recently), brands now make induction ranges in addition to induction cooktops.
More chefs and gourmet cooks are choosing induction; we put a Thermador induction cooktop in Midtown Global Market’s Kitchen in the Market just this year. I can’t wait to see more people delight in the ability to cook like they’re using gas without the cost and hassle of switching from electric.
Tags:electric stove top, energy efficiency, gas cooktop, induction, induction cooktop, Kitchen in the Market, Thermador
Posted in Cleaning, cooking, Cooktops, Energy Efficiency, Innovative Features, Ranges | 3 Comments »
March 16, 2011
Those who’ve been on the Parade of Homes tour know the fun of imagining their own dream home, and perhaps even building it.
Hanley Wood just rated three Minnesota counties within its top 10 of 25 counties for remodeling potential in 2011, but there’s something to be said for new homes.
Not only are they just plain new with style and amenities unavailable elsewhere, they offer unparalleled options for energy efficiency.
From the tour:
All Minnesota new homes are constructed to some of the strictest energy standards in the nation. But some go a step beyond. That’s what our new Energy Efficient Home Tour is all about. The Parade of Homes is showcasing those homes that are proven energy savers, in which the builder has taken an added measure to ensure that they perform to even tighter energy standards.
While some are certified ENERGY STAR®, MN GreenStar, LEED-H, or Wisconsin Green Build, all have been rated by an independent firm to verify that they are, indeed, energy-efficient homes.
Energy efficient doesn’t mean inaccessible. EEHT homes begin as low as a $138,000 townhouse in Rosemount.
And, if you visit an Energy Tour home, pick up a special coupon good at Warners’ Stellian for 10% off Select ENERGY STAR appliances and cooking appliances. Offer good on orders $499.95 through April 30 (restrictions apply). ENERGY STAR appliances use up to 50% less energy and water than standard new appliances, saving you money in the long run even though they usually cost a little bit extra at the time of purchase.
Tags:coupon, energy efficiency, Energy Star, Energy Star appliances, new homes, Parade of Homes, Warners' Stellian
Posted in About Warners' Stellian, Budget-wise, Cash for Appliances, Discount appliances, Energy Efficiency, Energy Star, Events | Comments Off
February 2, 2011
This post is the latest in the series “How long do appliances last?” They’re written in a style I learned in journalism, called “By The Numbers,” which was often just another way to say “I need to take up space and do something visual.” Voila.
10
The number of years in the average dishwasher’s lifespan, according to data published by Appliance Magazine in 2010. The life span reflects how long the first owner of a dishwasher owned it, which doesn’t necessarily mean that it broke down.
215
The number of cycles washed annually by the average dishwasher, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. That’s a little over four cycles per week.
4
How many gallons of water an Energy Star dishwasher uses per cycle.That’s 860 gallons annually.
6
How many gallons of water a standard dishwasher uses per cycle. That’s 1,290 gallons annually.
20
Up to this many gallons of water are wasted by well-meaning homeowners still stuck on pre-rinsing their dishes. Repeat after me: scrape, don’t rinse!
$550
Average price of an Energy Star dishwasher, according to national retail data from 2009.
$538
Average price of a standard dishwasher in 2009.
1.5
Amount of years it takes for the lower operations costs (assuming gas water heating) of an Energy Star dishwasher to make up, or “pay back,” for the initial sticker price difference.
10%/$54
Overall savings of an Energy Star dishwasher over its expected lifetime (assuming electric water heating).
Tags:Appliances, By The Numbers, dishwashers, Energy Star, lifespan, watersense
Posted in Appliance Design, Dishwashers, Energy Efficiency, Energy Star, Sustainability | 1 Comment »
January 26, 2011
This post is the latest in the series “How long do appliances last?” They’re written in a style I learned in journalism, called “By The Numbers,” which was often just another way to say “I need to take up space and do something visual.” Voila.
12
The number of years in the average refrigerator’s lifespan, according to data published by Appliance Magazine in 2010. The life span reflects how long the first owner of a refrigerator used it, which doesn’t necessarily mean that it broke down.
14.75
Amount cubic feet of fresh food storage space in the average refrigerator, based on all active models in 2009.
6.76
Cubit feet of average amount of freezer space, based on all active models in 2009. Guess that means the average refrigerator unit is just under 22 cu. ft.
$1,180
Average price of Energy Star refrigerators in 2009.
$1,150
Average price of a standard refrigerator in 2009 (not much difference, eh?).
2.8
Amount of years it takes for the lower operations costs of an Energy Star refrigerator to make up, or “pay back,” for the initial sticker price difference.
$71
Net savings (energy savings minus initial higher cost) of an Energy Star refrigerator over its expected lifetime of 12 years.
Tags:Appliance Magazine, Energy Star, lifespan, refrigerators
Posted in Appliance Design, Energy Efficiency, Energy Star, Refrigerator | 5 Comments »
January 24, 2011
This post is the latest in the series “How long do appliances last?” They’re written in a style I learned in journalism, called “By The Numbers,” which was often just another way to say “I need to take up space and do something visual.” Voila.
11
The number of years in an average washing machine’s life span, according to data published by Appliance Magazine in 2010. The life span reflects how long the first owner of a washer used it, which doesn’t necessarily mean that it broke down, but it still offers a fair estimate for today’s shoppers.
392
The number of loads washed annually by the average washer, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. That’s about seven and a half loads per week.
$750
Average price of an Energy Star washer, according to national retail data from 2009.
$492
Average price of a standard washing maching in 2009.
4.7
Amount of years it takes for the lower operations costs of an Energy Star washer to make up, or “pay back,” for the initial sticker price difference.
30%
Overall savings of an Energy Star washer over its expected lifetime.
Tags:Appliance Magazine, Appliances, By The Numbers, Clothes washers, Department of Energy, Energy Star, Washing machines
Posted in Appliance Design, Budget-wise, Energy Efficiency, Energy Star, FAQ, Washer | 1 Comment »
