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APPLIANCES: New Kenmore high-efficiency dishwashers, washers, & dryers!

September 25, 2007

For all of us looking to save, Kenmore has just announced that their new high efficiency dishwashers, as well as their high efficiency washer and dryer lines, will be offered through Sears starting in October.  

Skip the Sink with Kenmore Elite dishwashers with Ultra Wash (HE) Technology

Kenmore Elite dishwashers with Ultra Wash (HE) technology improve and simplify the dishwashing process by eliminating the need for pre-rinsing dishes altogether. Smarter use of energy and water, unprecedented effectiveness and quiet operation combine to create the first Kenmore Elite high efficiency dishwasher line.

kenmore ultra dishwasher

Smarter Design Creates Energy Savings

The high efficiency Ultra Wash (HE) motor uses 75 watts of energy – the same required to turn on a light bulb. It uses 34 percent less energy and 41 percent less water than seven- to 10-year-old dishwashers. Ultra Wash (HE) models exceed 2007 ENERGY STAR standards, qualifying for a $60 federal tax Read more

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LIGHTING: You are going to love these outdoor solar lights!

September 22, 2007

Decorative outdoor solar lighting options continue to advance!  These new options will light up your walkway, driveway, pool deck, patio, or outdoor stairs like no other you have seen so far.

solar cynergy solar lighting
  
You won’t stake these solar lights into the ground, these new solar lighting products are paver or brick-like in size, and can be installed in any pattern or frequency between the hardscape of your front or backyard.   The lights are strong enough to walk on, and even strong enough for a small truck to drive over.

To be clear, there are no wires or conduit required for the innovative products.  All of the technology is contained within Read more

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COUNTERTOPS: Concrete from Sonoma Cast Stone (Part 1 of 2)

September 17, 2007

concrete countertop 5GetWithGreen.com recently spent some quality time with two industry and market leading concrete product manufacturers.  Today we are going to introduce you to the first:  Sonoma Cast Stone.  Next week we will introduce to our second manufacturer, so check back, or click on the link to the right and sign-up for our newsletter to be notified.

Both companies we spoke to are at the top of their game in the concrete countertop, concrete sink and concrete tile market.  Our discussions covered their love for concrete, their passion for the environment, and the resulting products that we as homeowners build into our kitchens, baths, and other aspects of our home remodels.  Right off, we want to tell you that the products from both companies are absolutely amazing!

Sonoma Cast Stone, The Company

We first met Sonoma Cast Stone at the Pacific Coast Builders Conference (PCBC) in San Francisco in June of this year.  On thing led to another, and last month we found ourselves at their Headquarters.

Sonoma Cast Stone is a growing company residing north of San Francisco in a old warehouse building next to what looks like a Read more

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WINDOWS: Are ENERGY STAR Windows right for your remodel?

September 12, 2007

While every home and every remodel is different, we believe the answer for everyone is probably YES!

ENERGY STAR labeled windows meet a stringent energy efficiency specification set by the Department of Energy and have been tested and certified by the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC).  NFRC is an independent, third-party certification agency that assigns specific energy efficiency measures such as U-factor and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient to the complete window system, not simply the glass.

ENERGY STAR qualified windows may have two or more panes of glass, warm-edge spacers between the window panes, improved framing materials, and Low-E coating(s) which are microscopically thin coatings that helps keep heat inside during the winter and outside during the summer.  Look for ENERGY STAR windows from the manufacturer you are considering.

Sign-up for our Newsletter, or check back soon at GetWithGreen.com for more specifics on ENERGY STAR windows…
energy star andersen window

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LANDSCAPING: Cyber-Rain, who else wants to save on watering bills?

September 10, 2007

Today Cyber-Rain announced their new wireless irrigation system for that new yard you are planning to put in!!   And, just because it says “wireless”, doesn’t mean it’s just for techies. 

cyber-rain sprinkler control system eco-friendly

This $299 sprinkler control system can save consumers 30-70% on watering bills says the company.    While most sprinkler control systems on the market today rely on timers to regulate watering schedules, the Cyber-Rain system automatically adjusts watering levels based on YOUR local weather forecast, saving money, water and reducing pollution-causing runoff by stopping sprinkler systems on rainy days, automatically decreasing the watering schedule on cold or humid days, and increasing it on hot and dry days! 

Question:  How does the Cyber-Rain XCI do this? 
Answer:  Via your family PC!   

The Cyber-Rain sprinkler control system and your computer speak directly to each other wirelessly, and Cyber-Rain talks to the Internet via your computer to get the weather forecast.  You don’t need to have wireless in your home, and there is no complicated wiring Read more

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SWIMMING POOL: Pay attention to your pool pump, or you could pay more!

September 7, 2007

swimming pool pumpBuilding out your new backyard, may mean that you are adding a pool.  Or perhaps you are just looking to help our environment and save $’s at the same time by evaluating your present pool system…. 

SwimmingPoolBasics.com says…Your choice of a swimming pool pump is of great importance because of the fact that the correct selection can lead to a lot of saving on energy costs as well as in maintaining the correct temperature of the water.   By selecting a small, higher efficiency pump, you can save up to 75% in energy and maintenance bills depending upon the region you are located in.   The theory that works behind this logic that the larger the pump the greater the pumping costs and maintenance will be.

Your swimming pool pump often keeps on running much longer than necessary. For example, it is not necessary to keep the pump running under the mistaken belief that the chemicals will remain mixed only when the pump is running. Actually, as long as the pump is running when the chemicals are being mixed, they do not require any recirculation to remain mixed. Similarly you need only an occasional use of the pump for removing debris and algae. Daily removal of debris is quite effective with the use of a skimmer and a vacuum cleaner. The best way of removing algae is Read more

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APPLIANCES: ENERGY STAR Dishwashers - how much water do they really save?

September 3, 2007

energy star dishwasher boschDuring your kitchen remodel, it is more than likely that you will replace your old dishwasher with a new one.  When you do, GetWithGreen.com recommends going with an ENERGY STAR dishwasher appliance.

According to the Department of Energy (DOE), ENERGY STAR qualified dishwashers typically use one-third less water than non-qualified models.  The average ENERGY STAR qualified dishwasher uses 4 gallons per cycle, while the average non-qualified dishwasher uses 6 gallons.   DOE says, if you want to save even more water: scrape don’t rinse.  Pre-rinsing dishes before loading the dishwasher can use up to 20 gallons of water.  Just scrape food off the dishes and load.  ENERGY STAR qualified dishwashers and today’s detergents are designed to do the cleaning so you don’t have to pre-rinse.  If your dirty dishes are going to sit overnight, use your dishwasher’s rinse feature.  It uses a fraction of the water needed to handed rinse. 

The DOE also wants us to keep in mind, washing dishes by hand uses much more water than using a dishwasher.  Using an ENERGY STAR qualified dishwasher instead of hand washing will save you annually 5,000 gallons of water.  $40 in utility costs, and 230 hours of your time.

bosch dishwasher energy star appliance

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