As more and more people are starting to live a “greener” life, manufacturers are rushing to launch products that are green, and therefore better not just for the environment, but your home and family as well.
If you’re planning to renovate your kitchen, these top 5 green appliances will be the perfect fit in your new, green kitchen.
Refrigerators. You can start by replacing your old or outdated fridge with a new Energy Star-rated model that uses 10%-15% less energy than its older counterpart. Choose one that is the appropriate size you’ll need, and keep in mind other amenities it may have, such as air filtration, evaporators, and other tools to maintain freshness of your foods. A few excellent brands are Kenmore’s Elite Side-by-Side and Frigidaire and GE®.
Dishwashers. Today’s energy-efficient dishwashers take less water and energy than washing dishes by hand. Some models even have sensors that can tell how soiled your dishes are, adjusting water and power to reduce waste. A few of the best energy-efficient models are: Bosch, Electrolux, Fisher and Paykel, Frigidaire, GE® Profile, Jenn-Air, Kenmore, KitchenAid, and Maytag.
Faucets. You might not think of faucets when it comes to making your kitchen greener, but today’s modern faucets are keeping up with the environmentally-friendly mentality. Moen introduced the first green kitchen faucet with their Anabelle™ and Dorsey™ Eco-Performance faucets that allows users to switch between 3 water flow settings: The Eco-Performance Aerated Stream (this aerates the water stream producing the same pressure but with less volume); the Eco-Performance Spray; and the Full Flow setting. Other brands with green faucet models include Delta, Kohler, and Peerless.
Ovens and ranges. Other types of the larger appliances you’ll buy for your kitchen, ovens and ranges can also be just as energy-efficient as refrigerators and dishwashers. Be sure to choose one either with gas, convection or electric-induction cooking for maximum energy and money savings. Here are some of the brands offering these methods: Kenmore Electric Induction Cooktop, GE® PHP900 30” Induction Cooktop, Electrolux, Viking and KitchenAid.
Microwave. One of the most energy-efficient appliances in the kitchen (in regards to heating food) is the microwave. Try looking for a greener microwave model when stocking your kitchen. Microwaves use up about 50% less energy than conventional ovens, making it perfect for those hot summer days when you don’t want to heat up your oven. Here are a few brands and models that are the most energy efficient: Emerson, Bosch, Viking, and Sharp.
