If you have been considering buying a new kitchen appliance, now might be the time to act. LG is offering a rebate of up to $500 on their kitchen appliances. The deal starts at $250 for two appliances and goes up to the $500 if you buy four. You can outfit your whole kitchen if you choose, as LG makes gas and electric ranges, dishwashers, refrigerators and microwaves, all of which are part of the rebate program. The offer ends May 12, 2008. You can view the details here.
Ranges Ovens and Cooktops
Miele Unveils CombiSets- For Customized Cooking
Miele will introduce an entirely new CombiSet assortment in Fall 2008. Miele CombiSets are unique units that stand alone or combine to fully customize any cooking surface, or even create multiple cooking stations.
All CombiSet™ modules are matched to one another in terms of their design and functional characteristics so consumers can mix and match to form their own personal cooking space. Every imaginable combination of individual elements is available from induction, gas or electric, to an indoor grill or teppanyaki. Integrating gas with electric or even induction offers opportunities that just aren’t available with standard cooktops.
Miele’s new CombiSets feature a new stainless design, with sleek steel knobs and an ergonomically inclined control panel. The new line boasts innovative new products including an induction unit and a Japanese teppanyaki. A slightly larger width dimension of 15” now offers small space chefs room for large pots.
The CombiSet is a solution for designers and homeowners who are seeking something completely unique and customized to their cooking style, space and needs,” concludes Schmidt.
How to Pick an Energy Efficient Appliance
If you are confused by the different claims of energy efficiency by appliance manufacturers, JamesDulley of the Detroit Free Press has some helpful advice.
Depending upon the type of product and the fuel it uses, efficiency ratings can mean different things. Also, some manufacturers and/or salespeople play fast and loose with the accuracy of efficiency claims.
A basic definition of efficiency for any energy-consuming product is the amount of usable energy (heat, light, sound, etc.) output divided by the energy input. The energy input is usually an electric plug in the wall or a gas or propane line coming into your house. Electricity input is usually measured as wattage and gas or propane input as Btuh (Btu per hour).
Most plug-in electric heating devices and heaters, from the cheapest to the heavily advertised ones for $400, are nearly 100% efficient. All of the electricity consumed ends up as heat inside your house. The actual differences in operating costs depend upon how you use one and if the design is the proper one for your needs.
Always read efficiency claims thoroughly when comparing products. For example, some lower-quality gas space heaters may claim a very high 90% combustion efficiency. Combustion efficiency refers to how efficient the gas burns, not how efficiently the heat is transferred into your house. Its actual heating efficiency may be only 70%.
For electrical appliances, such as window air conditioners, you can calculate the efficiency by dividing the Btuh cooling output by the electric wattage shown on the nameplate.
For other major appliances, such as washers and refrigerators, rely on the yellow energy label. Your usage habits often have more impact on the overall efficiency than the appliance design itself.
For central heating and cooling equipment, the manufacturer’s efficiency ratings should be accurate.
They are AFUE (annual fuel utilization efficiency for furnaces), SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio for air conditioners) and HSPF (heating seasonal performance factor for heat pumps).
Appliance Design Magazine’s Excellence in Design Winners Announced
Appliance Design magazine has announced the winners of its 21st Annual Excellence in Design competition.
Entrants were evaluated by an independent panel of three experts in the field of design. The products were judged by four criteria: aesthetics, human factors, innovation, and technical merits.
Products were entered into one of several categories. The winning entries, listed by category below, received recognition at one of three levels: Gold, Silver, or Bronze.
The Gold winners are listed below. Note that three of our favorites here at Appliance.net are listed as Gold winners:
Electronics: Tatung VOIP Phone
Major Appliances/HVAC: Bosch Nexxt Laundry – Our Pick
Major Appliances/HVAC: Bosch Integra Dishwashers – OurPick
Major Appliances/HVAC: Indesit Moon Washer
Major Appliances/HVAC: KitchenAid Architect Series II Built-in Double Oven
Medical/Test Equipment: Gendex expert DC Intraoral X-Ray System
Medical/Test Equipment: Heath Decto-Pack Infrared Gas Detector
Medical/Test Equipment: Reichert TONO-PEN AVIA Applanation Tonometer
Outdoor/Leisure Appliances: Life Fitness X7 Electronic Adjustable Stride Cross Trainer
Small Appliances: One Touch Automatic Jar Opener –Reviewed here
You can see all the winners listed here.
Electrolux to Debut New Line of Premium Appliances in North America
Called Electrolux, the new appliance line is set to debut on North American shores in spring 2008. Boasting a distinctive look with a curved front design and signature blue LED displays, the new European-designed collection from Electrolux also offers ingenious features such as advanced Wave-Touch™ controls, one touch and more than 60 controls appear and disappear at the touch of a button; Luxury-Glide™ Racks, oven racks with patented ball-bearings that effortlessly extend at the touch of a finger; and the Perfect Turkey Button™, one button you push to cook a perfect turkey
Recognized throughout Europe as the gold standard of appliances, Electrolux appliances have been used in fine European homes and restaurants for more than 70 years. Now, Electrolux is bringing that same level of uncompromising quality and high performance to North America with the launch of its new Electrolux line.
Your Kitchen. Your Style.
With first in its class features, such as induction hybrid cooktops that boil water in 90 seconds or Luxury-Lighting™, ramp up designer lighting that is as beautiful as it is functional, or the industry’s largest total cooking capacity electric range, Electrolux appliances are designed to make today’s kitchens more functional, comfortable, beautiful and easy to manage. The new line includes more than 50 high-performance, stylishly designed models, including freestanding and built-in gas, electric and dual-fuel ranges, electric wall ovens, gas and electric cooktops, induction hybrid cooktops, built-in and over-the-range microwaves, counter depth and standard depth refrigerators, freezers, refrigerator drawers, wine coolers, wine towers, ice makers, beverage centers, dishwashers and ventilation systems. Long on style and innovation, Electrolux appliances are the result of a consumer-centric approach to looks and functionality. For example:
- The Electrolux double wall oven is designed with innovative features such as Luxury-Glide™ patented ball-bearing oven racks that smoothly extend with the touch of a finger, a Wave-Touch™ control panel that keeps controls hidden until activated by a touch of a finger, and even a Perfect Turkey ™ button that helps make holiday cooking stress-free.
- The Electrolux dishwasher boasts the largest useable capacity[i] and is the quietest dishwasher in its class[ii], so you can run it whenever you want and no one will notice. The exclusive Perfect Stemware ™ cycle means spotlessly clean stemware – every time.
- The Electrolux dual fuel range features a Min-2-Max™ burner system offering the widest range of BTU performance in the industry so you can go from a roaring 18,000 BTU boil to a gentle 450 BTU simmer. It also offers the ultimate in versatility, combining the power of a gas cooktop with the precision of an electric oven for baking. The Electrolux dual fuel range also features Luxury-Glide™ ball-bearing oven racks that smoothly extend with the touch of a finger.
- With its PureAdvantage™ air and water filtration systems, the Electrolux refrigerator keeps fresh air circulated throughout to prevent odor transfer and also ensures fresh, clean water at your fingertips. In addition, the Fast Ice™ option makes up to 50% more ice so you’ll be set for your parties and dinners.
- The Electrolux over-the-range microwave boasts Cook-2-Perfection™ Technology designed so your dishes cook evenly. The proprietary Sure-2-Fit™ design even accommodates a full-size (13” x 9”) casserole pan.
- The Electrolux 21’ Cu. Ft. Freezer exclusively offers three full extension Luxury Glide™ baskets with adjustable dividers that fully extend to provide convenient storage and easy access. No more searching for lost leftovers.
- The Electrolux European Style wine tower holds up to 160 bottles of wine perfectly.
According to Frank Downing, Director of Product Design at Electrolux, the goal was to create versatile appliances that let people do what they need — and love to do — better, faster and easier. “Electrolux appliances offer more choices, such as eight cooking modes on Electrolux wall ovens and ranges, and an induction hybrid cooktop with both electric and induction elements,” said Downing. “We also offer more room – we have got the largest total cooking capacity range with second oven and the largest useable capacity dishwasher in the market. And finally, Electrolux appliances deliver more flexibility, like our dishwasher with custom cycles to coddle your crystal, and ranges and cooktops with a Min-2-Max™ burner, offering the widest performance range in the industry – from simmer to boil,” Downing said.
Electrolux appliances also offer ingenious features, exclusive to Electrolux including:
- Advanced Wave-Touch™ Controls — one simple touch and the control panel activates, showing the virtually endless cooking options and control settings. Seconds after you make your choices, all but the options selected will fade to black, returning to an elegant and uncluttered display.
- Luxury-Glide™ racks and shelves — with a ball-bearing system — smoothly extend at the touch of a finger. Luxury Glide™ racks and shelves are standard in Electrolux free-standing and built-in ranges, wall ovens, refrigerators and dishwashers. The Luxury-Glide™ system can also be found in our freezers and warmer drawers and other specialty products.
- Luxury Lighting™– ramp-up designer lighting that is as beautiful as it is functional.
- Luxury-Hold™ doors – oven, range and dishwasher doors that stay put at whatever angle you place them.
- Perfect Set™ Controls on Electrolux cook tops and ranges feature a virtually endless choice of pre-set settings for predictably perfect results.
- Sure-2-Fit™ Racking System is the most versatile racking system of any dishwasher. It offers a perfect place for more than 180 items from chopsticks to stockpots to stemware. There’s also an adjustable/removable top rack for the utmost flexibility. In its lowest position, it can accommodate 10” tall stemware in the top rack and adjust the rack to its highest position to fit 14” plus serving platter in the bottom.
- Flex-2-Fit™ expandable element system — Elements adjust up to three sizes, so the element fits the cookware, not the other way around.
- Refrigerator Alarm System – Notifies you if there’s been a power failure, if a door stays open longer than five minutes and if the interior temperature ever rises above 55 degrees.
- My Favorite™ Settings – Allows you to customize settings to meet your needs, so the option you want is available at the touch of a button. Now you can do more, just the way you want.
All Electrolux products are ENERGY STAR® qualified, where applicable. They are at least 20% more energy-efficient than non-ENERGY STAR® qualified appliances. The entire Electrolux appliance collection will be available nationwide at Best Buy, Lowe’s, Sears and select independent appliance dealers beginning in spring 2008.
Appliance Sales are Down
Here’s some bad news for appliance dealers (if they haven’t already noticed the effect in their own markets)
Twice.com reports that according to AHAM (Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers), January shipments of major appliances fell 17 percent to 3.9 million units compared with the 4.7 million major appliances sold during the year-ago period.
Taking the biggest hit was the home-comfort sector, which was dragged down by a nearly 60 percent drop in room air shipments. The decline was only minimally offset by a 2.8 percent increase in dehumidifier sales, AC’s sister category.
The cooking category also felt the heat, down 15.6 percent year-over-year to nearly 1.2 million units. Leading the decline was microwave ovens, off nearly 19 percent in January. Among ranges, ovens and cooktops, gas-fueled models fell 10.7 percent while electric models saw an 11 percent decline last month. Gas cooktops were singed by a 17.2 percent decline, marginally offset by a 1.2 percent increase in gas oven shipments. By contrast, electric cooktops enjoyed a 5.1 percent gain, while shipments of electric ovens dropped 10.6 percent.
Among the other core appliance categories, kitchen cleanup dropped nearly 14 percent to some 808,300 units, food preservation fell nearly 9 percent to approximately 623,700 units and home laundry slipped 3.1 percent to about 964,000 units.
There were, however, several bright spots. Besides the gain in electric cooktops, portable dishwashers saw shipments climb 21.3 percent and wholesale sales of gas clothes dryers were up nearly 6 percent. But among their category counterparts, electric dryers declined 3.1 percent and washing machine shipments were off by 4.5 percent, to about 519,300 units. Similarly, shipments of build-in dishwashers declined 7.8 percent, disposers fell 19.4 percent and compactors dropped 19.5 percent.
Within food preservation, refrigerator shipments declined 8.8 percent to some 513,700 units while freestanding freezers fell 9.5 percent, led by a 12.7 percent decline in chest-style models.
Summarizing the month is the AHAM 6, an amalgam of the industry’s core washer, dryer, dishwasher, refrigerator, freezer, range and oven categories. Factory shipments for that grouping fell 7 percent in January, to 2.4 million units.
A Source for Antique Replica and Retro Style Kitchens
If you are planning your new kitchen or remodel and have your heart set on a 1950s or Victorian look, Elmira Stove Works will have you covered. They have two product lines, Antique and Northstar which include ovens, dishwashers, refrigerators and more.
Antique
The Elmira Antique line adds the warmth and beauty of an antique, traditional, or country style to any home. Choose one piece as an accent or the
full ensemble to complete a spectacular antique kitchen. Ranges and refrigerators are carefully handcrafted, offer professional state-of-the-art features, come in six colors, and have a multitude of options and trims. Ranges have self-cleaning ovens, eleven range tops to choose from including induction, and come in two different sizes for your convenience.
Northstar
The Elmira Northstar line is definitely a state-of-the-art retro trip! Nine cool colors and chrome accents allow the Northstar ranges, refrigerators, and range hoods to transform your kitchen into one of style and sophistication. The Northstar refrigerator is the coolest appliance you’ll ever own with its optional ice maker, Energy Star rating, 19 cu. ft. of storage, Visi-shelving, and adjustable door bins.
Northstar ranges offer full-sized, self-cleaning ovens (convection optional), high-speed radiant elements or high power sealed gas burners, delayed-start bake/clean, and much more. Complete the retro look with a dishwasher door panel and a professional-quality Northstar range hood, which offers four speeds, outside-vented fan, and dual halogen lights.
We have not yet reviewed these appliances, but they sure look fun, while still providing the conveniences we are accustomed to finding in our 21st century kitchens.
LG and GE to Share Patents
News from appliancemagazine.com a trade magazine, reports:
LG Electronics has entered into a cross licensing agreement with GE Consumer & Industrial that will allow LG and GE to use one another’s patents for refrigerators and cooking appliances without paying licensing fees.
“We believe that this licensing arrangement with GE will enhance our ability to deliver winning products and move us further toward our goal of becoming one of the top global brands in consumer electronics and home appliances,” said Young Ha Lee, president and CEO of LG Electronics Digital Appliance Company. “Our long history of working together with GE will help us take advantage of this agreement even more quickly.
“This agreement is part of a win-win strategy for both GE and LG,” said Lynn S. Pendergrass, president and CEO, GE Consumer and Industrial—Americas. “We expect the synergies resulting from the strong relationship between our two companies will contribute substantially to the success of both GE and LG.”
LG and GE have collaborated on cooking appliances since 1999, both in technologies and product development. The companies say the new agreement will help the companies strengthen their competitiveness worldwide. It will be especially helpful to LG, it said, in its push to expand its presence in digital appliances globally. The company currently sells its products through all three of the top retailers in North America: The Home Depot, Sears and Best Buy.
LG has previously entered into key partnerships with other top companies to build its technology and customer base. In 2000 the company partnered with Matsushita’s air-conditioning division and in 2001 LG allied itself with both Microsoft and Intel in the home networking sector.
Dacor Introduces New Wall Ovens
Dacor introduced the new Renaissance Wall Oven in 36-in, 30-in, and 27-in widths for the Epicure and Millennia Collections, expanding the brand’s premium cooking appliance offerings.
The new wall ovens exemplify Renaissance thinking with a design that celebrates the luxurious style of the classic wall oven combined with cutting-edge performance details, to create an appliance that will breathe new life into the kitchen. The result is a wall oven that true epicureans will love and novice cooks can use with ease.
The Renaissance Wall Oven operates like six individual ovens, with a combination of cooking options, including Bake, Broil, Convection Bake, Convection Broil, Convection Roast, Pure Convection, and Proof.
The Pure Convection technology helps create uniform temperatures on every level of the oven cell and features a unique filter,which allows home chefs to cook multiple items at the same time without the worry of flavor transfer. Now, every entree and hors d’oevours, even the baked brie and stuffed mushrooms with bacon and the oven-steamed mussels with lime ginger butter, can be heated together without the fear of tastes blending.
The ovens are available this month.
Bosch Dual Fuel Range Receives Top Ranking for the Fourth Time in a Row
Bosch home appliances is proud to announce that its dual fuel Evolution 700 Series freestanding range has been ranked #1, for the fourth time in a row, by a leading consumer magazine. The entire Evolution™ Series of ranges offer an unmatched assortment of cooking and convenience features with clean, European styling and advanced engineering.
Offering 4.6 cubic feet of oven capacity – the largest on the market – the Bosch Evolution dual fuel 700 Series Range delivers performance with Genuine European Convection™ with Advanced Circulation System (ACS) for even cooking results in 30% less time. Bosch’s exclusive convection system also allows for full meal cooking at once, without the transfer of aromas or flavors. Additionally, the range features the OPTISIM™ burner, with simmering capabilities for the most delicate sauces, and the POWERSIM™ burner with 16000 BTU output for faster boiling times. Optimized burner spacing and continuous grates on the stainless steel maintop maximize the cooking surface and make for easy movement of large pots, while the oven’s full-extension telescopic rack simplifies the cooking of large holiday meals. With a pleasing design aesthetic, the Evolution 700 Series is highlighted by the CLEARTOUCH™ oven control, a touch through glass oven control that features accurate sensor technology while offering an easy-to-clean surface.