Sydney Henderson - AHAM Consumer Blog

All About Induction Cooking

AHAM has told you about the Five appliance that can help you save money, but did you know there is a type of cooking technology that can save you time, money and piece of mind? Induction cooking is relatively new and unknown, but induction cooktops are gaining popularity among kitchen designers.

Induction cooking works by transferring heat directly to your pot or pan through an electric current. The cooktop will only heat your pan when it is in direct contact with the surface. For a complete explanation of how this cooktop works, read this helpful article in Kitchen and Bath Business: Understanding Induction.

So how can an induction cooktop save you time, money and piece of mind?

Induction allows you to cook your meal faster. You will have more control over the heat, with the ability to adjust the temperature with more accuracy and bring water to a rapid boil in less than two minutes. Clean up could not be easier with the flat, ceramic glass cooktop. You can wipe it clean in seconds, and since it does not get hot, even spills and splatters are easy to clean.
The direct-to-vessel heating used in induction cooktops does not waste heat. This makes this technology more sustainable than others, and you will save on your utility bills.
Finally, since the cooking heat stays contained to the pan, the surface of the cooktop will always remain cool. Watch the video below from HGTV to see that you can lay your hand on the cooktop next to your pan with no worries! Your kitchen will stay cooler and you will not need to be concerned about burns from touching the surface directly.

Space Saving Appliances: Small, Tidy and Mighty!

Pick up the June issue of Kitchen and Bath Ideas Magazine, or visit KitchenBathideas.com to read their “Small But Mighty?? article (pg. 27) on space saving appliances that make meal prep and cleanup easier! Many of your kitchen appliances are available in smaller sizes or space saving configurations. If you are redesigning your kitchen, the sky is the limit with configurations, sizes and styles to choose from. Consider multiple dishwasher drawers in lieu of a tall tub configuration and as I stated in the magazine, try it before you buy it! Bring your most-frequently used tray or serving dish with you and “bring measurements with you when you shop to ensure you buy the right-sized appliance- especially if it’s one that will be installed, such as a warming drawer.?? The article includes a buying and planning guide—so check it out before making your next purchase.

Next Generation issues, like Smart Grid, to be discussed at APEC

AHAM’s Director of Energy Analysis, Charlotte Skidmore, will be attending the Asia- Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC’s) Regulatory Cooperation Advancement Mechanism (ARCAM) Dialogue on Smart Grid Interoperability Standards on May 12-13 in Montana, where the world’s policy makers will discuss the deployment of the Smart Grid.

Smart grid is at a critical juncture, and APEC economies now face choices with respect to policies on smart grid technologies that will impact trade and investment opportunities to include harmonization of standards. As such, the US will be presenting a proposal to initiate discussions in ARCAM on interoperability standards to lay out a vision to enable free and open trade in smart grid products.

The goal of the ARCAM meeting on smart grid is to develop a shared understanding of this issue, increase transparency and promote better alignment of technical requirements and standards for smart grid and related devices. The Dialogue will enable policy makers in APEC economies to better understand the close relationship between decisions on interoperability standards and trade and investment in key sectors in the Asia-Pacific.

Upgrade to Energy Efficient Appliances on Earth Day

Today is Earth Day!

Many people find Earth Day to be a great time to start incorporating more environmentally friendly practices into their everyday life. Upgrading your appliances to new, more efficient models can make a great impact in how much water and energy you use each day. Manufacturers have made great progress in reducing the environmental impact of appliances. Visit www.ENERGYSTAR.gov to find ENERGY STAR rated appliances, and look for special rebates in your area. Some large appliances that are ENERGY STAR qualified, like clothes washers, dishwashers and refrigerators, use 10-30% less energy than average models.

Click here to read more easy tips for energy savings! Changing the settings on your appliances to the eco-option will use less water and energy and is as easy as pushing a button.

If you are looking for a place to recycle your old appliances, call 1-800-YES-1-CAN. They will help you find a place nearby to recycle these products properly.

Leave a comment below and tell us what you are doing to celebrate Earth Day!

PBS Shares Home Energy Saving Devices from Manufacturers and Students

Watch the video clip below on PBS’s Nightly Business Report/Planet Forward television show on saving energy with home energy management systems. The story features AHAM’s VP Government Relations Kevin Messner mentioning smart appliances (at 2:00). The story also includes Scott Bittle of Public Agenda stating that “most experts say it is unlikely that efficiency alone is going to enable us to keep up with power demand.??

Watch the full episode. See more Nightly Business Report.

LIVE: AHAM President Testifies Before U.S. Senate on Energy Standards

Click here between 9:30 and noon today to watch a panel, including AHAM president Joe McGuire, testify before the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

You can also copy and paste this link into your browser:

http://energy.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Hearings.LiveStream

To the New York Times: You Can Have Clean Clothes and Save Energy

In the New York Times column, “When Energy Efficiency Sullies the Environment,?? the author leaps to the unfounded conclusion that there is a choice to be made when washing your clothes: either wear clean clothes or save energy; but not both. The facts do not support that. The appliance industry has a long history of making energy efficient appliances that also offer optimal performance. In fact, do not take our word for it, read the Consumer Reports Blog, which says the New York Times article’s “interpretation of Consumer Reports’ washer tests is misleading?? and "As an organization that tests both performance and energy efficiency, Consumer Reports has seen product performance improve or remain at high levels, while energy efficiency standards have become increasingly stringent over the years. Washing machine performance has actually improved while dishwashers and refrigerators performance has remained at high levels."

Replacing an eight year old clothes washer with a new clothes washer of average efficiency will save the average household more than $130 in electricity costs per year, and will slash water usage by 5,000 gallons per year. All this—and clean clothes! How can you go wrong?

The column, however, does foreshadow a real issue for the future in that we cannot blindly drive toward ever increasing efficiencies without considering performance. This balance is recognized by the appliance industry’s support for the ENERGY STAR program’s decision to couple soundly developed performance standards into future efficiency increases thereby ensuring that any future mandatory standards fully take into account the effect on product utility.

In addition, there is a pathway to efficiency gains that provide tremendous potential for saving energy and protecting the environment with no compromise of product performance, and that is through smart appliances that can automatically operate at a time of day when electricity prices are lower, to save consumers money on the utility bill, and reduce peak demand which would cut the number of wasteful, but necessary, peaker power plants around the country.

Consumers can purchase home appliances with confidence- knowing that modern appliances offer many more features and conveniences than yesterday’s white goods, and save significant amounts of energy. And just around the corner manufacturers will introduce smart grid enabled appliances that will provide creative new and innovative ways to cut energy use while offering maximum consumer benefits.

How to Find an Air Cleaner that Works for You

Shopping for an air cleaner can seem overwhelming, which is why AHAM wants to help make your decision easier! AHAM staff members Wayne Morris and Jill Notini answered some common questions in an article in House Beautiful that explains how the three most common types of air cleaners work. This is definitely a must-read before you start shopping!

Your next step should be to look through AHAM’s Directory of Certified Air Cleaners to find a model that has been tested and had it’s performance verified in an independent testing lab. Look for an air cleaner with the AHAM seal so you can compare the CADR ratings and check for your recommended room size.

Air cleaners are a great way to help improve your indoor air quality in addition to routine cleaning!

WSJ Shares Smart Appliance Innovations from CES

As we previously reported, AHAM sponsored the Connected Home Appliances TechZone at the 2011 CES, where manufacturers showcased their newest designs. These appliances all use digital technology to connect to a smart grid, which will allow consumers to run them more efficiently. Watch the video below from Jason Bellini at the Wall Street Journal as he shows off what he saw at the show, and keep an eye out for AHAM's Kevin Messner who was interviewed for the story!

Be Warm and Safe while Snowed In

This January has been very cold and “snowier?? than usual according to CNN’s “This Just In?? news blog, where you can see a Google map showing 49 out of 50 states have snow on the ground right now. Winter weather is snowing people in all across the country, unless you are lucky enough to live in Florida!

People are going to look for ways to warm up while enduring these icy conditions, so AHAM wants to remind everyone to use their heating appliances properly. Read the instructions before operating portable heaters and follow AHAM’s Top Tips for Using Your Electric Heater Safely. You should also teach your children not to get too close to the heater and do not place them in a child’s room without supervision.

You should also read these winter storm precautions from Gwinnett County Fire Department in Georgia. These are good tips from people down south who usually avoid being snowed in!

In Every Home