Before you start blaming all the problems on the dishwasher, though, take a look at your family’s habits: do you use only reusable cutlery, or do you end up using paper plates and cutlery at the big family parties? Do you use a three different knives to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich? Do you drink a glass of water and immediately put it in the dishwasher? Think about how you can reuse cutlery before you start looking at the stuffed dishwasher in shame. Sometimes little steps can make all the difference. But if you want to invest in an appliance that will be water-economical and eco-friendly, here are some top products on the market:

Automatic Undercounter Dishwasher, 30 Racks/Hr, Built-In Booster, Energy Star: $3,145.80

Jackson Undercounter, Low Temp, Energy Star Dishwasher: $3,099

Shop for more eco-friendly dishwashers and other eco-friendly appliances.

Some facts you didn’t know about air conditioning:

1. Air conditioning uses more electricity than you would expect:  it can account for up to 70% of your total electricity bill, depending on how much you use the system, of course.
2. Ceiling fans and proper insulation of the house are simple and surprisingly cheaper ways to keep your house cool during the summer.
3. Numbers to put the waste and energy of AC into perspective:  A central air-conditioning system uses about 3500 watts per hour of energy.  A window unit AC of medium size uses about 900 watts per hour (don’t forget to multiply this by how many units you’re planning on using throughout your home).  A ceiling fan uses 75 watts per hour.  Think of all the money you could save!

Some top fans to purchase for the season:

Ceiling Fans: requiring a bit of installation, these fans are best because, as we all learned back in kindergarten, heat rises.  Ceiling fans are up there with the heat and will get it moving out of your house much more effectively and efficiently than floor fans.  Consider the thrifty Westinghouse Lighting - Industrial 56″ Ceiling Fan in Brushed Nickel at a sale price of $73.05, marked down from $123.  Just as effective of a product, but you already start with almost $49.95 of savings!

Floor Fans:  If you’re living in an apartment or a beach house for just a few days or weeks, you clearly don’t want to go through the trouble of installing a ceiling fan.  Your next best bet is a floor fan, like this Honeywell HFS641P 16-Inch Remote Control Stand Fan.  At just $39.88, you save $5 from original price and still get a wonderful product.

Desk Fans:  For the students in the dorms who need something blasted right at their face and don’t have room/money for the floor fans (here here!!), a tabletop desk fan is sure to please.  At only $15.50, the 4 Personal Two-Speed Desktop Personal Fan is an absolute steal of a fan.

Find at Smarter.com:  Shop for more affordable ceiling fans and floor fans.
Discounts on desk fans.

Tips for looking for Eco-Friendly Washing Machines:

1. Look for words like “energy efficient” and “economic operation”:  Look for a front-loading washing machine instead of a top-loading washing machine, too.  We’ll get to the specifics later.  You also want to see if the machine can handle high-efficiency of condensed detergents, so that you don’t use too many chemicals.  While the words are well and good, to be a true savvy shopper you need to know the statistics.
2. The average top-loading washing machine uses over 40 gallons of water per wash!  That’s a lot of wasted water, when you think that the average front-loading washing machine uses between 15-20.
3. If you’re washing for a big family and still need the top-loader to fit in the bulky items, make sure the machine is extremely efficient and comes with a good spin cycle, so you don’t have to waste as much energy on the drying machine as well.

Top rated Machines:

1. Maytag Neptune 2.4 Cu. Ft. Energy Star Compact Front Load Washer is compact on the outside, yet very economical on the inside, with a 2.4 cubic feet capacity that can hold up to 16 bath towels!  The machine is very economical in price and in system support, with 22 different wash cycles to perform just the way you need.  Starting at $689, the Maytag Neptune is a star in the making.

2. Fisher & Paykel Intuitive Eco IWL16 is a top loader with a great rating.  Gentle operation and very energy efficient even considering it’s size (measuring in at 3.7 cubic feet capacity!).  Praised for being very quiet and efficient, and costing between $769-799, the machine is a perfect companion for a large family home.

Take care of the environment and still keep your family clean–eco-friendly washing machines are not sacrifices, but great investments for your own future and the future of the environment.

Find at Smarter.com:  Shop for more front-loading washing machines.
Discount on washing machines.

In addition to celebrating the independence of our nation on July 4th, why not participate in our patriotic duty to sustain the economy and do some discount shopping as well

Check out the Fourth of July Sale at Home Depot! They are offering 10% off major appliances and up to 50% or Free Shipping on select patio furniture. I recently found an apartment that I love but I unfortunately need to buy a washer and dryer set. Since I am still in that stage in my life where this won’t be the last time I move, I do not want to invest in a very pricy and hi-tech model.

Which is why I wanted to share the Maytag Centennial Washer, it is simply, efficient and affordable. All adjectives I look for in major appliances.

Features:

• Supersize Capacity: (3.2 cu ft) washer offers large capacity to house even your largest loads
• Baseframe also helps minimize vibration during wash and spin cycles.
• 10 cycles including Delicate, Super Wash, Hand Wash and more
• 4 temperature settings include Cold, Cool, Warm and Hot
• PureClean™ rinse offers outstanding removal of dirt, detergent and residue
• And much more…

But here is the best part – Cost $359.10 (Was $399.00)

Great right?

If you want to shop the 4th of July Sale at Home Depot, click here.

To purchase or shop for the Maytag Centennial Washer, click here.