New Home Appliances

Some of the hottest new products for 2009 belong in the kitchen as major appliance manufacturers like Maytag, Electrolux, GE and LG look to take “green” to a whole new level with innovative designs and energy-efficient technology. You’ll find everything from tall and narrow fridges with built-in water filters to smart energy appliances that can be controlled by remote control. Most new product lines are being designed as built-ins so you can maximize your kitchens work space and complement your home’s décor. You’ll also find the toughest, most dazzling pair of washers and dryers on the market that do everything but fold your clothes for you.

Here’s a look at what’s cookin’ for new appliances, including a peek at a great pair of washers and dryers:

The newest LG appliances continue to meet consumer needs, serving up highly functional and efficient showpieces for the home. Look for LG Electronics to continue its move into upscale kitchens with its new line of built-in ovens and cooktops. “In true LG fashion, we are weaving award-winning design with technology to craft beautifully styled built-in ovens and cooktops that complement our current offerings,” said John Herrington, president of Digital Appliances, LG Electronics USA, Inc. “Our new cooking appliances appeal to those culinary enthusiasts with high-end kitchens who seek powerful performance and a sleek, contemporary look.”

The company’s first built-in wall ovens, including single and double oven options, feature a unique 7-inch touch screen control system that brings the LCD technology LG is known for throughout the house into the kitchen.

Need inspiration for dinner? These ovens come with pre-loaded recipe bank over 100 recipes. Also new are a variety of cooktops, which combine high performance with a smooth look. Their new line of cooktops deliver even heating, enhanced safety features and added energy savings by utilizing electromagnetic energy generated by an induction coil.

LG continues to expand its flagship French door refrigerator line with its first ever 4-Door model. The refrigerator boasts dual refrigerator doors and double freezer drawers, offering consumers better organization along with sophisticated style and the tallest water dispenser available.

Imagine displaying family photos on the refrigerator without using a magnet or finding simple ingredient substitutions in seconds without opening a cookbook. All these remarkable timesavers are possible with the new GE Profile™ 25.8-cubic-foot bottom-freezer refrigerators, which are available with a seven-inch LCD media center, refreshment center and ultra-efficient LED lighting. If the kitchen is the heart of the home, this bottom-freezer refrigerator is certainly the brain, thanks to all these new innovations and options. Find out more about the latest refrigerator innovations by GE at www.geappliances.com

A look at a smart future: GE is getting ready to take the smart energy appliance plunge in 2009. This line of network-connected appliances can be remotely turned off and on at various times of the day by the local utility company. GE is working on smart refrigerators, ranges, washer and dryers, dishwashers and microwave ovens, and it will use some of the first smart appliances in select homes in a pilot program in Louisville, Ky., with Louisville Gas and Electric Company starting the first quarter.

During certain times of the day (like late afternoon) demand for electricity is higher, and utilities across the nation are starting to implement real-time pricing schedules that tie higher energy demand to higher prices. As overall energy usage continues to grow, utilities are looking at ways to help manage energy consumption. This may be a long way down the road since utilities need to install smart meters that connect the homes and their energy-using devices to the utility before you can get these smart appliances to work. Once implemented you will start to see a new ecosystem, similar to the infrastructure the Internet was built one.

The Electrolux Brita 50/50 fridge freezer is tall, narrow and sleek in design, but the greatest thing about it is it has a Brita water filter built-in. The 60 cm, 8.8 cubic foot Electrolux not only preserves your food beautifully, but also offers an endless supply of filtered water with no odors or unpleasant tastes. This helps reduce the waste of plastic water bottles and will save you money on water. Additional features include oversized vegetable drawers; a horizontal 5-bottle wine rack, which tucks under one of the glass shelves it’s highly energy-efficient. To learn more about the latest appliances from Electrolux, visit www.electroluxappliances.com 

Maytag® Commercial Technology (CMT) is finding its way into the home with the new Performance Series front-load washers and dryers. The commercial-grade components include heavy-duty springs and belts and steel motors and frames to ensure strength and dependability for years.

“Maytag has been making washers and dryers for laundromats and high-volume commercial settings for 50 years,” said Christian Cerda, general manager for Maytag. “Incorporating commercial-grade components into our residential laundry products make Maytag brand washers last longer than any other leading brand."

Some appealing features to the Performance Laundry Pair are:

• The Maytag® Performance Series is ENERGY STAR® qualified, which means each load uses 70 percent less water and 70 percent less energy than conventional top-load washers.
• Two cool technologies: the GentleBreeze® Drying System which dry clothes in the same amount of time it takes to wash them, and IntelliDry® sensor technology, which minimizes the risk of over-drying and shrinking, conserving even more energy.
• The pairs are available in four bold colors - Crimson, Evergreen, Oxide and White.
• Most models feature the sanitizing power of a steam dryer.

The Performance Series washers range in suggested retail price from $1,099 to $1,599; dryers range from $1,099 to $1,499. Visit www.maytag.com for more information.

	Often the most enjoyable part of building a new home is selecting the finishing materials and items you will look at and use every day: kitchen cabinets and countertops, appliances, fixtures, flooring and paint. These are the touches that allow your own taste and sense of style to shine through. What about the materials in your home that you don't see? Selecting the right structural framing products might not be nearly as exciting, but these decisions are among the most crucial for the long-term value, comfort and structural integrity of your home. The right framing materials help ensure solid floors, straight walls and crisp rooflines so you can ensure your home will last for years.