The True Value of Green

                Who doesn't want to improve their quality of life, be less impactful on our environment, and save money all at the same time? One way to do all three of these things is by buying energy efficient appliances. Our home appliances take up most of our energy consumption and take a toll on our environment. In the US most of our energy is still from nonrenewable sources, such as fossil fuels and nuclear energy, which has a huge impact on our planet! When we have appliances that are not energy efficient it wastes important resources and costs more money!

                By going green, we can save green! Buying energy efficient appliances can save you 30 % or more on your energy bill every month! This is something everyone can be pleased with; at the same time these appliances are lessening our energy use which helps our environment. An easy way to go green with buying new appliances is by looking for Energy Star rated or certified appliances. Energy Star is a voluntary U.S. Environmental Protection Agency government program that assists both businesses and consumers in saving money and protecting our planet by being more energy efficient. Different examples of energy efficient appliances are dishwashers and washing machines. They can use less water and a more efficient shorter cycle. Dryers that are energy efficient use less energy in a drying cycle.

Buying appliances that are produced using recycled materials can be a cheaper option, but won’t save you on your energy bill. It can be less impactful to keep on using older machines and replace some of the parts. You can even look into buying reclaimed and used appliances as an option, but is not as energy efficient as buying an Energy Star rated machine.

                The process of living a greener lifestyle can be overwhelming, from a first glance. We have been conditioned to live a life in the manner that is not always thoughtful towards our environment. The good news is that going green with your appliances can’t be any easier now-a-day, and will not only help our planet, but will also save you money! So when shopping around always look for the Energy Star certification logo or ask your sales representative if the appliance is Energy Star rated.

6 Things You Don't Know About Dishwashers

One of the most convenient things in your home is a dishwasher. If you do not have one in your home, you really are missing out. They can save you money and time and the technology is so great in them that you won’t even hear it running. If you do own a dishwasher, there are items that you wouldn’t even think about washing that are perfect for a cycle. There are other things that you should definitely avoid putting in your dishwasher.

1. Dishwashers are the Future

93% of all newer built homes include a dishwasher. The total number of households who have at least one dishwasher is 60%. If you want to add value to your home or are about to rent out a property, think about installing a dishwasher.

2. Small Spaces

Have a small kitchen? No problem, there’s a dishwasher for you! There are slimmer models and even countertop dishwashers available that are great for smaller spaces.

3. Quiet Technology

The technologies in dishwashers have improved tremendously over the years and have gotten much quieter. There are some dishwashers that are so quiet that you can have it running during a family dinner.

4. Saving Energy, Water, and Money

You can actually save on your water bill over time by using a dishwasher rather than washing by hand every time. Dishwashers made before 1994 take more energy than some of the newer models. So it is a good idea to upgrade if you have a dishwasher older than 1994. You can even save more energy and money in the long run with energy efficiency rating dishwashers.

5. Other Things to Wash

You can wash more in your dishwasher than just dishes to make your life a little easier. Here are a few other things you can wash in your dishwasher: baby toys, baseball caps, sink and bath mats, combs, toothbrushes, sponges, dish scrubbers and starch pads, light fixtures, and more.

6. What Not to Wash

On the other side, there are a couple of things that you should not try and wash in a normal dishwasher. Such as wooden items, tin, antique or lightweight crystal, cast-iron pans, hand-painted or antique china, gold-plated dishes, and other fragile items. There are a couple of different high-end dishwashers that can handle some more fragile items, but be very cautious and check in with your appliance store to check the model specks.

We hope that this will help you decide to invest in a dishwasher or try cleaning new things. If you have any question about your dishwasher leave it in the comments section or give one of our stores a call.

Conventional or Convection Oven, What is the Difference?

What is the difference between convection and conventional ovens? This is a very common question; it’s also a very good question.

A conventional oven is a very basic piece of kitchen equipment; inside there is an exposed heating element mounted to the top and bottom of the cavity. The heating element heats the cavity to a desired temperature. However, the temperature is often uneven throughout the cavity which can cause uneven baking with cakes and breads, and dry roasts and poultry. Not to mention that the heating element on the bottom makes it more difficult to clean.

In a convection oven the heating elements are normally hidden behind the oven cavity floor and ceiling, leaving them smooth and easy to clean. Again, the elements heat the cavity to a desired temperature. But with convection there is the added benefit of a fan mounted in the rear of the oven that circulates the air inside the cavity. This makes the internal temperatures very consistent throughout. There is also the option of European/True convection which places a heating element behind the convection fan to help maintain very precise temperatures and cook at quicker speeds.

Those are the most basic differences in how the two types of ovens work. Now let’s talk about why they work.

When you put something on the oven, let’s say, a turkey. You take the turkey out of the refrigerator then you season it. When it goes into the oven it is still very cold which works like a blanket of cold that the stagnant heat of a conventional oven struggles to overcome. With a convection oven that blanket of cold is stripped away by the movement of hot air within the cavity of the oven. Because of this effect the cooking time and temperature can be reduced which means that turkey will be much more moist. Convection ovens also allow you to bake multiple sheets of cookies at the same time. That’s because there is air movement that prevents stratifying of air temperatures between the oven racks and preventing the top rack from over-cooking.