Overview on Appliances and Electronics

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The right home improvement products, techniques, and services:
Contractors, home improvement stores, and specialty shops in your area may not yet have a complete familiarity with the ‘green’ opportunities, products, system integration, and overall savings potential. So, you may get some resistance, since people in general are typically more comfortable recommending something that they are already familiar with rather than something new. To help break the inertia, use the information across this website like our Return on Investment Master ROI Table. Also feel free to post a question in our forum on the message board about a particular need for your home relative to your area. Our team has spent multiple years aggregating research from public and private sector performance reports and from manufacturers and homeowners across the country in order to provide you with the perspective you may need to see the initial payback and long term advantages. Environmental enthusiasts and leading institutions like the American Institute of Architects and the National Association of Realtors, see the value and link into our resources to support their members.

The Green Home:
For your overall home improvement, you can save money, improve your family’s health, and save the planet. Find out for free how much it will cost to do different types of home improvement in your home from a qualified and member approved contractor in your area. Get a FREE Quote . Plus, regardless of the size and scope of your home improvement project, save money and keep your home clean with the top rated chemical free and concentrated Green Home Cleaning Products .

Category Checklist:
Make sure to consider the latest Home Improvement products and services. If you are doing the work yourself or planning on working with a home improvement contractor use this checklist below as a guide to review and ask questions about the preferred products, details, and installation techniques related to:
  1. Energy Saving Appliances: Energy Star Appliances, Purchasing Efficient Appliances, Estimating Energy Use for Appliances, and Energy Efficiency Standards, Appliance Parts, and Appliance Repair.
  2. Refrigerators: Refrigerator Reviews and Ratings, Refrigerator Water Filters, Refrigerator Parts, Wine Refrigerators, and Counter Depth Refrigerators, and Matching Cabinet Panels for Refrigerators.
  3. Dishwashers: Dishwasher Reviews and Ratings, Dishwasher Parts, Matching Cabinet Panels for Dishwashers, Dishwasher Drawers, and Natural Dish Soap.
  4. Freezers and Ice Makers: Freezer Reviews and Ratings, Freezer Parts, Ice Maker Reviews and Ratings, and Ice Maker Parts.
  5. Washers and Dryers: Washer Reviews and Ratings, Washer Parts, Clothes Dryer Reviews and Ratings, Clothes Dryer Parts, Washer Dryer Combo, and Stacked Washer Dryer.
  6. Ovens and Microwaves: Oven Reviews and Ratings, Self Cleaning Ovens, Wall Ovens, Convection Ovens, and Toaster Ovens, Range Reviews and Ratings, Gas Ranges, Electric Ranges, Cooktops, Range Hoods, Microwave Oven Reviews and Ratings, and Microwave Convection Ovens
  7. Home Electronics, Automation and Alarms: Smart House, Computers, Flat Screen Televisions, Home Automation, Home Entertainment and Cable, Home Theater Electronics, DSL High Speed Internet, Personal Electronic Devices, Phones, Alarms, Power Controlling Devices, and Power Strips and Surge Protectors.
  8. Home Wiring Projects: Wiring Lights and Ceiling Fans, Electrical Repairs, Electrical Safety Tips, Electrical Tools and Supplies, Home Security, Surge Protection, Electricians, and Electrical Contractors.

Tips on Appliances and Electronics: You have seen the ads on TV and in magazines for ENERGY STAR appliances that save electricity, water, and natural gas. So, when you are ready to replace or make a new purchase, buy a qualified appliance and see the savings right on your utility bills. As well, televisions, computers, and other equipment also have ENERGY STAR ratings. Consumer electronics play an increasingly larger role in your home's energy consumption, accounting for 15 percent of household electricity use. Many consumer electronics products use energy even when switched off.

Electronics equipment that has earned the ENERGY STAR helps save energy when off, while maintaining features like clock displays, channel settings, and remote-control functions. Unplug any battery chargers, like your cell phone charger, or power adapters when not in use. Use a power strip as a central “turn off” point when you are done using equipment, because, even when turned off, electronic and IT equipment often use a small amount of electricity – sometimes as much as 25%. For home office equipment, this stand-by or “phantom” power load can range from a few watts to as much as 20 or even 40 watts for each piece of equipment. Using a power strip for your computer and all peripheral equipment allows you to completely disconnect the power supply from the power source, eliminating standby power consumption.

Home Improvement Basics:
When it comes to home improvement basics, look for interior home improvements like creating a clean, safe, and healthy home through sustainable ‘green’ furniture, home décor, zero VOC and Interior Paint, plus ENERGY STAR Appliances and Electronics. For energy and utility savings you can focus on insulation and air sealing, windows, doors, lighting and skylights, water saving plumbing opportunities, and high efficiency heating and air conditioning systems. On the outside of your house, look for exterior home improvement opportunities through landscape design and gardening plus solar energy, wind and other power sources. If you are undertaking a major home renovation, an additions, or building a new home, then take the lead to ‘go green’ in as many ways as possible to save money and the environment.

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