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What's New:
DCS by Fisher & Paykel has once again scaled new heights of design and innovation with the announcement of its new DishDrawer Tall. Think of it as where DCS design meets Fisher & Paykel innovation. The company has reinvented its revolutionary DishDrawer, the world first dishwasher in a drawer, with the introduction of the DCS DishDrawer Tall featuring a more spacious design and new sleek modern styling that loses none of brand compact charm. Continuing to innovate and improve on its uniquely designed industry leading appliances has never been a tall order for Fisher & Paykel Appliances.
DishDrawer dishwasher is a signature product line for the company with its distinctive ergonomic design that doesn’t take up a lot space and cost-saving and environmental features that minimizes water, energy and detergent usage. Since launching the DishDrawer in 1997 after years of testing and research, Fisher & Paykel has continued to redefine the dishwasher of the future and to date has sold more than a million DishDrawers.
DishDrawer Tall has been designed specifically for the North American market and will be manufactured in the company new facility located in Reynosa, Mexico. DCS expects to release its DishDrawer [...]
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These are The Top Eight Electrolux Design Lab 09 finalists, listed in no particular order. There are other very cool design ideas that didn’t make the cut, and will be posted separately.
Le Petit Prince by Martin Miklica, Brno University of Technology, Czech Republic
The Prince is a robotic greenhouse designed for the upcoming exploration and population of Mars. It takes care of a plant it carries inside its glass case, which is mounted on top of its four-legged pod. In search of nutrients to care for the plant, the Prince is programmed to intuitively learn the optimal method for this process. It also shares everything with its fellow greenhouse robots via wireless communication so that they can learn from each other.
Bifoliate by Toma Brundzaite, Vilnius Academy of Art, Lithuania
Bifoliate is a space-saving, wall-mounted double dishwasher that will allow you to put dirty dishes in one compartment and use the other as a shelf for clean dishes, No more bending and reaching for dishes. The dishwasher uses ultrasonic wave technology to clean making it more efficient and eco-friendly than today’s dishwashers.
Naturewash by Zhenpeng Li, Zhejiang University, China
Naturewash [...]
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Cash for clunkers moves to appliances. Money back for your old Kelvinator?Will this fall’s federal rebate do for home appliances and heating and cooling systems what the Car Allowance Rebate System—aka cash for clunkers—has done for cars and trucks? The appliance industry certainly hopes so: Sales of dishwashers, refrigerators, and washing machines—the three appliances covered by the appliance-rebate program—have been off by some 25 percent from their peak during the last housing boom.
As a part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the Obama administration is encouraging the purchase of energy-efficient appliances through an appliance-rebate program that will soon dole out money if you buy Energy Star-qualified models. Appliances that qualify
for Energy Star use roughly 10 to 25 percent less energy than the maximum allowed for that category by the U.S. Department of Energy, which runs Energy Star with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Unlike cash for clunkers, you won’t have to turn in your old appliance to get a rebate. But states are expected to have recycling plans for the flood of old appliances the program could unleash. And while the money is coming from Washington, how much you get [...]
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Gaggenau now offers two 24 inch dishwasher models – the DF 260 with Euro tub and DF 261 with tall tub. Both power dishwashers provide restaurant-grade dishwashing capabilities while meeting all your decor demands with the sleek luxurious, built-in design. The new DF 260/261 24 inch dishwashers are strong enough to clean up after the most prolific home chefs in just 59 minutes flat – thanks to the unique Power Boost option, so you have quick and spotless results each and every time. And an Intense Wash setting is perfect for mixed loads. 6 additional programs include an Extra-Dry setting to remove all water particles from hard-to-dry plastics such as Tupperware. Very economical and efficient, the ‘AAA’ rated dishwashers save time, money and energy without sacrificing strength. Gaggenau exclusive Aqua sensor technology determines the load and degree of soiling, optimizing the water temperature, water quantity and the length of the washing cycle accordingly. The 24 inch dishwasher also has automatic detergent function which adjusts the amount of detergent used to the needs of each load. Not only does it take the guesswork out of doing the dishes, it also conserves [...]
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 Our latest ongoing tests of washing machines included three very different washers yet they had two things in common: All are made by Whirlpool and, more notable, they were tough on our test loads. See our newly updated ratings (available to subscribers) for more details on these and dozens of other top- and front-loading models and use our free buyer’s guide to washing machines for more expert advice.
Check out our July 24 post on three other recently tested washers. And look for more Inside Consumer Reports Tests Labs posts on washers, dishwashers, and vacuums in the coming weeks as we continue to test models on a rolling basis, providing you with information on the latest innovations and the newest models to hit showrooms.
The Estate ETW4400W[Q] top-loader, 0 (right in the photo), merited the lowest gentleness score of these machines—a poor—causing fabrics to fray. The Estate’s overall washing performance was very good—impressive considering that most conventional top-loaders we see tend to be mediocre at washing. Cycle time was 48 minutes, comparable to other top-loaders with agitators. And [...]
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By the Numbers: Energy-efficiency investments would pay huge dividends, says McKinsey & Company report
.2 trillion
 Amount U.S. consumers and businesses could save by 2020 by boosting their energy efficiency, according to “Unlocking Energy Efficiency in the U.S. Economy,” a new report from management consulting firm McKinsey & Company. (The report covers nontransportation energy use.)
Under current conditions, the United States wastes more energy each year than Canada consumes. Our nearly 130 million homes, many of which lose energy to leaky ductwork, underinsulated attics, and inefficient appliances, account for roughly 35 percent of the potential energy-efficiency gains, says the report. (You can make your old windows less drafty by caulking gaps, as shown. And use a programmable thermostat to boost your household-energy savings.)
As the report details, an initial investment of 0 billion would be needed to reduce annual energy consumption by 23 percent by 2020, which translates into .2 trillion in savings and an end-use reduction of 9.1 quadrillion British thermal units.
Those savings are key, because worldwide energy use is projected to soar over the next two decades, according to the [...]
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SiteSeeing: ApplianceRepair.com offers useful how-to troubleshooting tips for home appliances
 Stuck with a leaky, noisy, bouncy, smelly, or otherwise underperforming
appliance? The folks at RepairClinic.com, who have helped us with “Can
This [fill in the blank] Be Saved?” sidebars on refrigerators, ranges, dishwashers, and other household gear, has a new site that provides
even more sage appliance-repair advice for DIYers. (We haven’t tried out any of the repairs, so use your judgment to determine whether the you want to proceed with the recommended fixes.)
At the heart of ApplianceRepair.com
are dozens of transcripts of the site’s Sunday-morning radio show with
host John Sowden (shown). Each transcript is quite effectively divided into
detailed descriptions and savvy solutions to problems like:
• Musty, noisy, or dancing washing machines.
• The balky top burner on a Kenmore range.
• Refrigerator lightbulbs that won’t stay lit.
• Enigmatic error codes for GE electric ranges.
• Cures for a shaky garbage disposer. See our buyer’s guide to garbage disposers.
 [...]
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Here are three great pieces of advice from the Guru – Consumer Reports – that will get you off to a good start when you begin that search for the perfect new appliance. Many consumers commit these errors:
Not checking a brand’s track record. You can boost your odds of buying a reliable model by choosing a reliable brand from our Brand Repair History for different appliances. You’ll often save money in the bargain because, in general, lower-priced mainstream brands have often been more reliable than upscale brands. Our brand-repair histories are culled from nearly 450,000 respondents reporting on nearly 2.5 million appliances for our Annual Product Reliability Survey conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center.
Paying extra for extended warranties. While they might boost profits for stores, extended warranties generally are a bad deal for you because most products don’t break within the three years most extended warranties cover. And because repairs often cost about the same as the extended warranty, you’re better off chancing it.
Jumping at package deals. Stores typically offer lower prices if you buy a refrigerator with a range and dishwasher from the same brand. But doing so could sacrifice performance, because some appliances [...]
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Whether you plan to install your new appliance yourself or have a professional do it, be sure your home is ready before delivery. Read these tips on power requirements, placement and more to ensure a successful installation.
Appliance Power Requirements
Check the power requirements of each appliance. To run major appliances and heavy electrical equipment, you need 220-volt current in the house. And unless your clothes dryer runs on gas, it will require a 220-volt outlet to operate, so it’s necessary to upgrade to 220 to handle these and other heavy equipment.
Appliance Installation
When having an appliance installed, be sure it can be removed easily for service. Flexible hook-ups for dishwashers and gas ranges can make repair jobs less labor intensive. Also, leave extra electric cable when installing electric wall ovens and cooktops. This will minimize the time the technician spends on the job and reduce the cost to you.
Here are some tips from appliancemagic.com regarding some specific appliances:
Dishwashers
If your kitchen floor is being tiled, make sure that it is tiled beneath the dishwasher or at least raise its flooring to the same height as the tiles. Once down, there may not be enough clearance to [...]
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Now I know why someone associated with House Beautiful yesterday said to me “We love bloggers!” This post will have taken me about 6 hours to produce by the time I’m finished. Why? It’s the images! I’m not even going to tell you how how many I took…but maybe I’m the worst editor, or maybe there are just WAY too many inspiring vignettes in this beauitful kitchen/living space. In either case, maybe I was a little obsessive. That’s ok, I surrender to it and you benefit.
Ok, let’s talk about the kitchen. There’s A LOT going on in this kitchen, a lot to talk about. I think I’ll be organized about it. Yes, Susan, that’s a good concept.
OVERALL DESIGN
The kitchen design, by Robert Stilin in close collaboration with Ina Garten, was meant to replicate Ina’s East Hampton kitchen for House Beautiful’s Kitchen Of The Year 2009. The kitchen of the year can be viewed at Rockefeller Center (you can’t miss it) until July 24.
 You’re hearing it more and more…the kitchen is the new living room. The drum beat is getting louder. I think we were shocked by the financial crisis into rediscovering the [...]
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