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Ask Casa: An Energy-Efficient Washer and Dryer?
Hi CasaSugar,
I'm going to have my first baby in August, and my mom wants to gift me a washer and a dryer to help me with all of the added laundry. I'm really grateful, but I'm not sure where to start looking. I know that I want something that's Energy Star rated, can be separated or stackable, and has a good warranty.
Casa Quickie: Energy Star and Affordable
Think you can't afford energy-efficient appliances? Try this tactic: through Energy Star's website, you can locate rebates for appliances or technologies, such as solar panels, that you want to add to your home. Just type in your zip code, click the upgraded appliances you're looking for, and the search tool will locate rebates on these products.
Casa Verde: Ronald McDonald House Goes Green
While I may have some criticisms of LEED, the USGBC green building program, there's no question that the program is an important step in the right direction. Hopefully, thanks to green building guidelines and programs, green building will someday soon become a standard part of any construction project, and not an afterthought.
Austin, TX, has the oldest regional green building program in the country, with its Energy Star program established in 1985, and the green building program evolving from it six years later.
Tax Cuts for Going Green
The federal government wants to give you a little incentive to go green.
Until Dec. 31, you can save up to $500 in consumer tax credits when you buy energy-saving products such as high-efficiency furnaces, water heaters, windows, and insulation.
Kenmore's High-Efficiency Washer
The washer at our house has been on the fritz for a while. It's an obscure, European brand, and while it has some awesome features (requires hardly any detergent, frontloading, highly water- and energy-efficient), the fact that there's only one repair company in the entire San Francisco Bay Area that will service it, and that the repair company routinely charges $150 every time we have it fixed, is making me consider changing machines.
I was further tempted when I read about the Barolo Kenmore washer.
Other Search Results
Cool Idea: A Fan That Ventilates and Warms
One of my least favorite things about chilly Fall mornings is stepping into a freezing bathroom to take a shower. Since I live in the Bay Area, we seldom turn on our central heating, so more often than not, the bathroom feels like an icebox.
Instead of using a space heater, I’m thinking about adding an exhaust vent fan with a heater.
Casa Verde: Ed Begley's Top 5 Ideas For Going Green at Home
Environmentalist extraordinaire and star of hit eco show Living With Ed, Ed Begley Jr. recently chatted with Green Muze about his ideas for green living. Ed also shared his ideas for the top five ways that people can go green. Many of them are surprisingly easy!
Coveted Crib: Neal Creek Retreat
Usually, when I share photos of a gorgeous modern home with you, there's little hope of actually staying at that place in real life. Not so with the Neal Creek residence. Located near Hood River, OR, this two-bedroom home is actually available for rent.
Casa Verde: A CFL That Looks (and Lights) Like an Incandescent
I've been pushing you to try CFLs for a long time, but I know that some of you are hesitant to do so given their look, as well as some conceptions about their light quality. While the light quality has definitely improved across the board, the funky spiral shape still turns some of you off. If that's the case, you'll be happy to hear that several of the bulbs in the GE Energy Smart line are now masquerading as incandescents.
Coveted Crib: An Austin Green Home
When planning a new home, the owners of a home in Texas wanted to take advantage of the gorgeous views in the neighborhood. Thus, a three-story, 3,100-square-foot home was envisioned for a steep hillside in Austin. The public areas of the home, such as the living and dining areas, are located on the top floor, where the family and guests can gaze out at the stunning views.
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