Small Home Appliances » Electricity Bill

Is an Electric Fireplace Right for You?

admin — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 07:34:05 +0000

Electric fireplaces are growing in popularity amongst homeowners. Does that mean one is right for you? Let’s take a look at the benefits (don’t worry, we’ll hit on the cons too):

They are great for people who want to add the warmth and style of a fireplace without building a permanent unit (whether wood-burning or gas), which includes the labor and cost of installing a chimney or venting to the outside. Because the electric units are not actually burning anything (they only simulate flames), they do not steal CO2 or vent potentially toxic fumes. With an electric fireplace, you simply plug the unit into a standard 120-volt outlet and flip the switch.

These units can be built into a fireplace surround with mantel and the whole works or they can simply stand against a wall, a scenario that means no tools are required for installation. Many electric fireplaces come with surrounds and mantels to give them a realistic look with no effort. This simplicity and ease is what attracts many homeowners to these appliances. Also, they can be installed in places traditional fireplaces or wood-burning stoves cannot. For example, it’s no problem putting an electric fireplace into a trailer or a high-rise condominium.

Ok, let’s talk about the cons of electric fireplaces, lest I start to sound like a smarmy sales person. For one thing, these fireplaces are basically just glorified space heaters. If all you want is warmth, and you don’t mind paying an electricity bill to get it, you could buy a simple heater for much less. The reason people buy electric fireplaces is more for the ambiance and the focal point they can create in a room. They do certainly work as heaters though. Most new models come with a built-in thermostat, so that when the room reaches the desired temperature, the heater automatically flips off.

One con of these fireplaces is that they have a bad reputation in that they do not look realistic. After all, nothing is really burning in there, so it’s not going to look like a snapping and crackling wood fire. However, the technology is improving, and a lot of today’s electric fireplaces use randomized filtering of lighting to simulate glowing embers and flame patterns that are reminiscent of the real deal. The best thing to do is visit a dealer and see a number of units turned on before you make a decision.

Now that we have touched on pros and cons, let’s take a look at options. Today’s electric fireplaces have such perks as built-in fans to distribute the heat more thoroughly, air filtration systems to clean the air as it is heated, a heatless setting in case all you want is the look of flickering flames, and of course most of these units come with remote controls (heaven forbid, we have to get off our couches to turn on the fireplace).

Ok, but what about the price, you ask? Electric fireplaces are cheaper than gas fireplaces, and you can get a pretty decent model for about $500 (even cheaper models are available, though they tend to have fewer perks and less realistic flames).

By: TC Thorn

Energy Efficient Appliances Save Money and the Environment

admin — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 09:43:06 +0000

If you are one of a growing group of people looking to save money around the home, you should investigate your electricity usage. Reducing the amount of electricity you use has two advantages: it will help you to save money and it is a good thing for the environment. A great way to reduce the amount you spend on your electricity bill is to choose appliances that are energy efficient.

If you are looking to purchase any new appliances, look for the following things:

The energy guide: It is a requirement in the United States, according to the Federal Trade Commission, that appliance manufacturers place labels on their products which indicate how much energy a particular appliance uses. This label, known as an energy guide, is most often colored black and yellow and is able to tell you a lot about the appliance you are considering. For example, it will indicate the cost of running the appliance in an average household for a year. It will also indicate the efficiency rating of the appliance in comparison to similar appliances.

The energy Star: This is a special logo that companies are able to use for their products to indicate how energy efficient they are. They are only allowed to display this Star according to law if the appliance has been tested and shown to meet or exceed particular energy standards as set by the government. An appliance with an energy Star can be as little as 20% more efficient than comparable models or as high as 100% more efficient. As a result, it pays off to purchase an appliance that has an energy Star: the higher the efficiency rating, the better it is for you and the environment.

Bigger is not always better. Some people are of the opinion that they need to buy the biggest appliance available. These people do not understand that the different sized appliances are to cater for different sized rooms and the needs of the people purchasing them. So, if you have a small, galley style kitchen, it would be a ridiculous waste of money and electricity to purchase the biggest air conditioner you can find.

You should also examine the size and needs of your family. If you are a small family of two or three, you don’t need a huge refrigerator, or a giant washing machine, or a large capacity dishwasher.

It might seem confusing when you have to look at all of these terms and numbers when purchasing a new appliance. You shouldn’t let this stop you from making a wise choice; these numbers and symbols and the information they contain are a powerful way for you to reduce your electricity costs over the long term. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, such as parts and repair warranty, and make comparisons before you make your choice.

By: Michael Benifez

Small Kitchen Appliances – Cooking with Miscellaneous Small Kitchen Appliances to Make Big Meals

admin — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 06:23:44 +0000

Miscellaneous Small Kitchen appliances can be found in almost every home across the planet. Whether it is a microwave, crock pot or slow cooker, coffee maker, electric knife set the list goes on, but one thing is for sure, people who do have them claim are an asset to everyday cooking.

Some people use their crock pot to make entire meals while others may use it to make soups and desserts. (Yes, you can make lasagna as well!) I personally use mine to make roasts. I cover it with water; add the roast, potatoes, onions, sometimes celery and carrots. After cooking on low for approximately 6 or 7 hours, this small kitchen appliances has created a meal for me without any extra work on my behalf!

This means a heck of a lot less dishes for me to do, and a lot more time to spend with my family. And that is the whole purpose of miscellaneous small appliances. They are to give convenience with most cost efficiency. For example: No one would purchase these items if it increased the electricity bill, took more time to cook then a conventional oven, and made more dishes then a Thanksgiving Day Dinner with your 30 closest relatives, or cost more then an arm and a leg to purchase.

That would just be pointless. So the great makers of today are constantly coming out with more and more miscellaneous small kitchen appliances. Slow Cookers that have 5 programmable settings, toasters that have 4 slice openings, blenders that can puree (also with 6 settings), and food processors to make your own salsa or sauces in. Now that is convenience.

Really, who does not want to leave the house and come home to a cooked dinner? What miscellaneous small kitchen appliance have done for people, is allows them to make a meal all by themselves that they once thought was impossible because they did not have the right tools.

By having this essential kitchen equipment allows us to decrease the amount of preservatives that we use. (And if it does not, then it should!) All of the small kitchen appliances allow us to alter recipes and make dinners and drinks specifically to our own tastes. You cannot do that with a store bought prepackaged dinner, which includes too many additives, preservatives, calories and way too much salt.

Not to mention the effects of all this extra stuff on the body, but if we can all have the chance to limit the amount of caffeine and salt our children are consuming would you not take that opportunity? Having many different tools in the kitchen will increase the likelihood of your family eating properly and give everyone the chance to learn how to cook.

Spending time in the kitchen teaching our little men and women, or our husband or wife to cook entire meals will not only show them the importance of eating properly but how to make it without spending the extra money at the store. Cooking equipment is the wave of the household future. Learn more about cooking with small kitchen appliances here

By: Lilianne Remillard

How to Make a Solar Panel to Power Small Appliances

admin — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 06:17:46 +0000

Do you want to save 80% or more on your electricity bill? Then you better start using solar panels in order to power small appliances around your home. Using green energy to power appliances around your home is one of the best ways to save hundreds of dollars every month. What would you do with all of that extra cash to spend? I’m sure that it would be better than having to spend more and more on energy every month, right? Well, I’ve got good news for you because I am about to tell you exactly how you can make your very own solar panel system. Ready? Alright, let’s get down to business.

The very first thing that you will need to do in order to start using solar energy is to find a spot around your home that will best suit a solar power system. This is very easy because all you will need to do is find a place that receives a lot of sunlight throughout the day. After this you will need to look for a reliable DIY green energy guide. Green energy guides are incredibly helpful because they include every piece of information that you need to know when building a solar power system and they put it all in one place making everything easy to find.

After finding a reliable green power guide, making your own solar panels in order to power your small appliances should be a breeze. You can realistically expect to have things up in running in just two days.

By: Weldon Peterson

Small Kitchen Appliances – Array Fancy Cooking Appliances

admin — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:52:04 +0000

The need for varied kitchen appliances is felt at home. The functions that these equipments perform make these gadgets a must in every cooking space. Especially, if you talk about the Eco-friendly and energy saving equipments like Mixers, blenders, food processors, micro ovens, washers, electric stoves, they are an important items of the kitchen. However, you can see several new brands, models incorporated with sophisticated features in the market.

Today, women want well-equipped convenient work-spaces for cooking and they don’t mind to invest money on good things. Online shopping portals facilitate appliances in varied shapes, sizes and styles to give a stylish look to the kitchen. For better space management you can choose adjustable shelf, rack to keep can, bottle, jar, cutlery, mixer, grinder and microwave oven. You can also see dishwasher, chimney and dustbins for your modular kitchen.

You can buy kitchen appliances like cookeries, cups and saucers made of chinaware and porcelain to enhance the look of the dinning table. Choose modern kitchen appliances like mixers and blenders and used it for activities like grinding, blending and crushing. Make pastes, milkshakes, juices and sauces with these helpful devices.

Replace your old equipments with the new one and get your work done within minutes. These modern cooking equipments with advanced technologies are available to meet all your basic requirements. The cost-effective small kitchen appliances made out of stainless steel, wood, etc. give a well-organised look to the kitchen. See discount kitchen appliances like trolleys, knifes, shelf, ceramic casserole and frying pans. Select kitchen items with great fineness to lessen your electricity bill. Go for colourful Coffee mugs made out of porcelain and glass. Select new age equipments that fits your kitchen design and save your time. Before purchasing see the features, controls of varied small and big cooking equipments keeping the budget in mind.

By: Alden Jerry