The Best Lighting Choices for Your Home
Many homeowners have a hard time deciding what type of lighting they should have in their home. Pendant, chandelier, lamps or recessed lighting? With so many choices, how can you decide? Furthermore, which light fixtures work better in certain rooms?
Here are a few tips on the best lighting choices for your home
Living Room. Consider lighting at least three corners of this room with lighting that focuses on an object (plant or chair). Select a table or floor lamp that has both a downward glow and some upward shine, too. Consider adding a dimmer for overhead fixtures and choosing lamps on three-way switches for reading areas.
Dining Room. Your dining room or kitchen table should be the brightest spot in the room. Add a chandelier or a pendant above the table and limit the wattage to 100. For a subtle glow, add a pair of small table lamps to a sideboard.
Kitchen. Your kitchen, as you know, becomes the hub for conversation for your family and friends; therefore, your lighting should be either natural or pendant lighting with dimmers. Your kitchen is also the work-horse of your home, too, so there should be plenty of lighting options for tasks. Consider installing under-cabinet lightings for illuminating work surfaces and sturdy table lamps for additional lighting, when needed.
Bedroom. This is your place for peace and quiet and should have a cozy feel. Use reading lamps or sconces by the bed, but make sure the light points away from the bed, not directly on it. Select recessed and track fixtures that angle towards your dressing area. For a more peaceful atmosphere, add a small lamp with a tinted low-wattage bulb almost like the glow of a candle.
Bathroom. Add an overhead light to fully illuminate the room, and if possible, position sconces to flank the mirror (not above) as this allows for a more flattering and natural lighting for grooming and putting makeup on. You should also have a light directly over the shower.
Batteries and Filters and a Marker, Oh My!
Many of us have been conditioned to remember to change our smoke detector batteries when we change our clocks for daylight savings time. But let’s be honest: we don’t always remember to do it. As a reminder, November is the month to do this very important task to keep your family safe.
Here’s a tip: Before replacing your old smoke detector batteries with new 9-volt batteries, use a permanent marker and write the date on the face of each battery. That way, in the future you can easily refer to the date when you last changed the batteries. Writing the date on the batteries will also trigger you to remember to do so the next time – and the time after that.
This same tip is handy when replacing your furnace filter, too. When you change it out, write the date (with a permanent marker) somewhere on the filter, and if in a month you check it and it doesn’t need to be replaced, write the date on it again. That way, you’ll start to see how long each filter lasts during different seasons of the year.
Get in this habit and this will become an easy way to keep track of two home maintenance essentials.
10 Kitchen Cabinet Paint Trends
If you are looking for something different than stained cabinetry for your kitchen, you may want to think about painted cabinets. Painted cabinets are taking over kitchen design – for good reason. They add a pop of color and vibrancy to the space.
Here are a few colorful – and a bit different – kitchen cabinet paint choices.
Deep Ocean. Inspire your nautical and coastal theme of your home in your kitchen.
Teresa’s Green. A complement to everything in your kitchen and with black and white countertops you can’t go wrong.
Midsummer Night. A mix of contemporary and old-world charm.
Mercury. A medium pale gray goes well with contemporary and traditional style homes. With the infusion of stainless steel appliances and marble countertops, this may be the right color for you.
Courtland Blue. With a tinge of blue, this gray colored cabinet is perfect selection for small kitchens – where you can place the Cortland Blue on the lower cabinetry and white on the top. If you have a larger kitchen, you may be able to use this color for cabinetry throughout your space.
Black. If your kitchen is open, black cabinetry will create a drama effect. Black pairs well with stainless steel appliances and a copper tile back splash.
Hazy Skies. This color reminds us of a frothy latte; it’s not too dark nor cold. Instead, it’s perfect to use this on all your cabinetry no matter where it is placed.
Hillside Green. If cooking and gardening are your two favorite hobbies, then this color will be perfect for you and your kitchen. This warm sage green color will make your kitchen feel cozy and fresh.
Charlotte’s Locks. For a dash of personality and warmth this burnt-orange color will surely shock your kitchen. Use this as a backdrop to your cabinets with glass doors to make your dishes stand out.
Soothing Green. This green mimics nature and is a happy color where the color isn’t tinted a dull gray. When natural light hits it, there is almost a yellowness to it and when the sun goes down there is a blueness.
As you can see, there are many shades you can use on your cabinets if you want to personalize your kitchen and have it be the (wow!) talk of your neighborhood.
Elements of Kitchen Island Design
Fads come and go and trends change, but some kitchen additions stand the test of time. Kitchen islands are one such design essential. According to a survey by the National Association of Home Builders, more than 70% of buyers want an island in their kitchen, and of those, 50% consider it a must-have.
A carefully planned kitchen island brings guests, family members, and the cook together. The cook no longer must be secluded in their tasks while guests mingle elsewhere. Parents can balance the duties of meal preparation while children congregate to complete homework or create crafts. The island is the reason why the kitchen has become one of the favorite and most-used rooms in the home.
Using an experienced kitchen designer or architect will ensure that function is maximized and convenience is enhanced. As you explore the many possibilities for your kitchen island, ask these 6 key kitchen design questions:
1) What’s the purpose of my kitchen island? The fundamental reasons for the island will drive most of the design decisions. Kitchen islands can be used for a combination of functions such as: prep work, cooking, storage, entertaining, homework and crafts, and dining.
Consider the opinions and behaviors of the entire family. Understand that as time progresses over the next decade or two, the uses of your kitchen may also change.
2) What layout is best for my kitchen island? After defining the main purposes for your island, layout requirements will emerge. Many kitchen islands will become part of the kitchen triangle, locating the cooktop, refrigerator, and sink in convenient proximity. Likewise, adjacent areas such as living rooms will influence the location of seating areas within your kitchen island.
Islands will drastically range in shapes depending upon their function and will be impacted by the surrounding kitchen. Working sides of the island should have approximately 42”-48” to allow room for opening larger appliances and storage, as well as room for two people to easily pass by. Islands can range from simplistic rectangles to multi-sided and asymmetrical.
3) Which appliances will be included in my island? Appliances and sinks will require a larger island for the most part. An island can include cooktops, ovens, sinks, dishwashers, or even small refrigerators. When considering your overall kitchen design, choose the top items to include in your island, as not all may fit.
Adding a cooktop in an island will require an overhead vent hood to be installed. Incorporating a sink into an island will require some additional plumbing for the water source, drains, and air vents. Your kitchen designer will help guide you through these choices and explain how they may influence your overall cost.
4) How can my kitchen island provide storage solutions? If the space permits in good proportion, kitchen islands can house many items behind doors, in drawers, or on display. A large island could include two standard 24” cabinets back to back, stowing away a multitude of lesser-used small appliances, containers, cookware, trash receptacles, linens, or serving dishes.
Kitchen islands may also conveniently store cooking utensils and serving dishes nearby for easy access. Some home gourmets also love to display cookbooks, wine bottles, or stemware on exterior shelves or overhanging racks.
5) How high should the surface of the island be? Kitchen island surfaces used for traditional counter space or prep work are typically 36” in height, similar to adjacent counters. However, if your kitchen island will also serve the functions of entertaining guests or have part of its surface used for dining or seating, consider a second, higher tier of 42”.
Separating these two surfaces will easily define the different areas of the same island. Taller bar stools can be used with the higher counter allowing guests to have their own space while enhancing the look of your island. The counter overhanging these seating areas should allow for a 15”-18” offset to give legroom and a space to slide stools underneath when not being used.
6) Will my island match or accent the rest of my kitchen? Originally, kitchen islands matched the surrounding countertops and cabinet stains and paints. However, modern trends have used kitchen islands not only as a utilitarian addition, but also as an aesthetic enhancement.
Since islands are central to position and usage in the kitchen, they can be a great opportunity to create a gorgeous focal point. Whether bold or subtle, using a different cabinet color and/or countertop material can draw guests into the kitchen and unite other accents in the surrounding room.
A well-thought-out kitchen island will make your kitchen truly unique as it becomes the heart of your home. The five senses of your family and guests will be excited as they gather to eat, drink, and be merry together for years to come!
5 Often Overlooked Details in Custom Home Design
You are excited because you’ve decided to build a new home! You’ve spent countless hours online looking at plans, you’ve attended Home Shows, visited showrooms and watched a lot of HGTV to get an idea of what you want for flooring, plumbing fixtures and appliances. And now the time has come to meet with a few builders to decide who will build your home.
Before you make a selection, keep these often overlooked details in custom home design in mind.
Planning Right. A home building experience that you will be happy with starts with a great plan. Building a home is much more than the interior design selections. As you are planning your home, your builder will help you look at all of your life’s angles. What are your current and future lifestyle needs? Are you ready to add a child to your family or will you be looking forward to your “empty nest years” soon? What kind of entertaining do you do?
As builders, we take all of these questions (and so more) into account as we work with our customers. This allows us to make sure every new home we build is going to serve your lifestyle for years to come.
The HVAC System. You may not realize it, but the size of your HVAC system does matter, and your builder will make recommendations based on the square footage of your home and layout. While homes can be built with the minimum HVAC requirement, asking the right questions about how you enjoy living inside your home will ensure that you are comfortable through those humid summer nights and blustery winter days.
Lighting & Electrical Needs. With today’s technology needs, outlets should be plentiful in your home, but they need to be placed in the right spot. Depending on how you use rooms could also make a difference as to how a builder suggests it is lit. Additionally, the placement of the house on the lot and the windows will also make a difference as to how much light streams inside, and it will change with the season. Your builder should work with you on developing the right lighting plan to match your needs.
Universal Design Considerations. Universal design (UD) is becoming more commonplace in home design. UD ensures that the design works for everyone, regardless of age or ability. For example, a kitchen counter may be built at a lower height so that young children can help with meal preparation. Also in the kitchen, a corner of the island may be designed as a “breakfast bar” so young children can get a bowl of cereal themselves without relying on the parents. A walk-in shower may be designed to have a low or no-threshold, a hand-held shower nozzle and a bench for those times when grandma comes to visit. Those are just a few of the hundreds of small design shifts that an experienced builder can help you make as you plan your home.
Location of Rooms. You may decide to place your kitchen near a garage or back entrance to make it easier to bring in groceries or keep the traffic out of the main living areas. Bedrooms are used for quiet and a private sanctuary and away from chaos, so the location of your bedroom should be as far away from noise from the house (and street).
A final thought: As you interview builders to design and build your home, keep these often overlooked details in mind. While staying within budget is always a concern, equally important is making sure that your home is designed and built with these, and other, items in mind so that you remain happy with your home for years
Drowning in Clutter? 3 Tips for Creating a Clutter-Free Home
If you feel like you are drowning in clutter around your home, the truth is you aren’t alone. Many of us actually feel this way.
Clutter is can look and feel different to each person. But if you are frequently spending time searching for items, such as your keys/fob, bills and credit card statements and the like, it is probably time to declutter.
Where do you start? Here are a few places to begin to creating your clutter-free home.
Single out a large clutter problem. When looking at a big cluttered area, focus smaller. Look at one small area of the clutter and work that area first, such as a closet or bookshelf. Once you clear that area, move to another small area. Remember keep it slow and steady so you don’t get frustrated.
Use the “Four Box Method.” This method forces a decision, item by item. How does it work? To start, gather three boxes and a large trash bag. Label each box: Put Away, Give Away/Sell and Storage. The trash bag is, naturally, for items that need to be trashed. Now that you are all set up. Take each item and think, “Do I want to put this away in another place, donate it, store it or throw away?” Once it is sorted, make sure you do what’s labeled.
Continue to stay clutter free. Once you’ve decluttered an area, now the goal is to remain clutter-free (which isn’t always easy). Here is a method you can try. Create “clutter preserves” where clutter lives freely as long as it stays in that boundary. A good example is a designated kitchen drawer that is called the “junk drawer.” Another idea is to use a laundry basket to hold the kid’s toys. Finally, make an effort to work on creating good habits, such as putting your keys in a bowl by the door when you come home, hanging up your coat, and placing your bills and credit card statements in a basket as soon as you receive them.
Surface Selections: Countertops
Countertop surfaces are a core element of today’s homes and are being designed into many more rooms than only the kitchen and bath. They are now used in most every room of our home: wet bars, laundry rooms, crafting spaces, garden potting benches, electronic charging stations and more.
With so many surface options available today, countertops can be a tricky item to select, particularly for the rooms where they become a major design element, such as in the kitchen or master suite. Additionally, you may be tasked with selecting a few different types of countertops to create the look you want.
Let’s take a look at some of today’s popular countertop options:
Natural Stone
Natural stone is a beautiful choice for any kitchen or bathroom and comes in a wide range of colors: whites, beiges, browns, grays, blues and nearly black. Because no piece of stone is the same as the next, this makes a natural stone countertop a unique focal point of any room. Many homeowners enjoy the experience of visiting the stone supplier and hand-selecting the slab that will eventually make its way into their home.
While natural stone is a more expensive countertop choice, it is durable, heat resistant and relatively low maintenance. Because resealing annually is recommended to help prevent stains and bacteria growth, most of our clients opt to add DuPont StoneTech Professional sealer, which comes with a 15-year residential warranty. A natural stone countertop can easily last the lifetime of your home and increase the overall home’s value, too. There are many forms of natural stone that are popular today, including granite, marble (rising in popularity in both kitchens and bathrooms), soapstone and limestone.
Quartz
This attractive countertop alternative is giving granite a run for its money. Quartz is actually an engineered product made from approximately 94 percent ground quartz and 6 percent acrylic or epoxy binder. Natural quartz is a very hard material, which makes quartz composite an extremely durable, non-porous surface that is resistant to stains, scratches and heat.
Because quartz is manufactured, the color options are nearly limitless – from vibrant colors to soft, earthy tones. Until a few years ago, one of the biggest detractors of quartz was that it lacked the patterns and color variations, but no more. Today, quartz comes in multi-hued slabs with flecks, swirls and random patterning – making this engineered product look similar to natural stone. Recognizable brand names include Cambria, DuPont’s Zodiaq, and CaesarStone.
Solid Surface
This manmade product is exceptionally durable, easy to maintain and has a clean, smooth feel to it. Homeowners who like the durability of stone, but don’t like the natural variations that come with it, often choose a solid surface countertop because the color and texture is consistent throughout. A recognizable brand name is Corian.
Laminate
Today’s laminate countertops can mimic the look of pricey stone and solid surface countertops for a fraction of the cost. Laminate is manufactured from a combination of plastic and paper and formed into a thin layer that is laminated onto particle board.
Laminate is versatile and is often the go-to choice for countertops in kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, workrooms and has even been used as the surface for shop or crafting tables. It comes in a wide range of colors and wood grains, is easy to keep clean (no special products or maintenance requirements), but – you need to know – is susceptible to chips and scratches. Formica is the most recognizable brand name.
Concrete
Concrete is another countertop option that is growing in popularity for residential use. While shades of gray and earth tones are the typical choices, concrete can actually be mixed into a wide range of colors. What makes this surface so much fun is that it can be ground, polished or stained and embedded with items, such as stones, glass or seashells, to create a one-of-a-kind design.
Wood
While not generally used for an entire room, wood countertops are being integrated as a part of overall countertop design – the most common use is for kitchen island countertops. Wood comes in a nice variety of colors, species and finishes, and brings a natural, warm feeling into the space. The most popular wood choices are maple, bamboo, black walnut and cherry, but regional species, such as mesquite in the southwest, can also be a go-to choice.
Wood is less expensive than stone, is warmer to the touch, and is quieter and more “forgiving” if something falls onto its surface. However, it does require more maintenance than most surfaces, as it needs oiled a few times a year to preserve the color and finish; it does also need to be kept dry.
Metal Countertops
Long used in professional kitchens, metal countertops (stainless steel, zinc and copper) give a room a cutting-edge, sleek industrial look. Unlike stone, metal is nonporous (which means it is stain-resistant and antibacterial), doesn’t require sealing and can be cleaned easily with just soap and water.
Zinc and copper countertops will oxidize, forming a patina, and to keep them pristine require a significant dedication to polishing regularly. However, many homeowners enjoy the patina and even find ways to quicken this process to achieve this weathered look.
As you can see, many countertop options are available in today’s market, and each one comes with its pros and cons. What is most important is that you work with your design professional to select the right countertop to fit your lifestyle as well as your renovation budget.
A Kitchen Design Recipe for Foodies
While most consider eating a necessity, you consider cooking an art and your kitchen a studio. Most homeowners rate building a kitchen as one of the more important decisions in their interior design process, but for the foodie, the kitchen is the heart and soul of your home.
A foodie will spend more time using a kitchen than the typical homeowner, so it’s essential that design is equally focused on the weight of functional use over mere aesthetic qualities. This factor will drive creating a space that incorporates the usability of a commercial kitchen into the intricate beauty of residential design.
7 Ingredients for Kitchen Design: A Recipe for Foodies
1) Ingredient Storage: Accessibility is everything to the home gourmet chef. Purposefully locating convenient storage areas will help cooks find even the most obscure ingredients in a short amount of time. Open shelves in a walk-in pantry, interior-lit cabinets with open or glass fronts, built-in herb gardens, and quick-access ingredient drawers or racks allow the chef to find and transfer the essential ingredients to their respective workstations.
2) Tools & Gadgets: Creating uniquely organized storage solutions for utensils, cookware and kitchen gadgets is key. Preferences will vary on whether these items should be visible or stowed away nearby within their own compartments or drawers. Locating these areas conveniently near workstations will save the cook time and aggravation when searching for the right tool.
3) Surfaces: Choose countertop, cabinet, appliance and backsplash materials that can be easily cleaned and will withstand increased usage versus a typical kitchen. Design countertop edges to reduce spills from dripping down to cabinets below. Don’t neglect the impact that lighting will play on illuminating surfaces. Incorporate overhead and under-cabinet fixtures to improve work area visibility.
4) Sinks & Faucets: Depending upon the use, it may be a great idea to install an additional sink and water source at more than one location in the kitchen. Separate prep areas may have increased functionality if fitted with areas for soaking or washing, versus transporting items back and forth across the kitchen. Install detachable faucets to create more versatility in cooking and cleanup.
5) Waste Solutions: Be sure that your disposal preferences are considered in kitchen design. Strong beliefs about what to do with waste should lead to the inclusion of compartments for composting, recycling, disposals, compactors and traditional refuse containers.
6) Appliances: Whether traditional appliances or an added supplement, carefully consider these options in the kitchen. Appliance prices are often driven by durability and features. Determine which features are worth spending the money for.
a) Ranges & Hoods: Gas heat will provide the most control. A varying range of BTUs will provide flexibility for different cooking tasks. Always take into consideration the limits and requirements for exhaust hoods and design with the appropriately sized hood for the space and home, installing them at the ideal height over the surface.
b) Ovens & Warmers: Not only do features drive cost, but insulating capabilities of doors and exteriors are essential factors when choosing the right oven, so not to lose heating power. Explore if the popular double oven is the best choice for your needs. If space is limited, substituting the second traditional oven with a convection or microwave oven, or a warming drawer, may serve a greater purpose.
c) Dishwashers: If you use a lot of utensils and larger cookware and prep items, you will want them to be clean for your next cooking task. Choose a dishwasher with creative options for utensil drawers or holders and that also allows for adjustable spaces for large bowls and pots.
d) Refrigerators & Freezers: If there isn’t room for a larger side-by-side unit, or if supplemental cooling options are needed, utilize a portion of cabinet space for optional built-in cooling drawers or small freezers.
e) Miscellaneous Appliances: Your specific cuisine interests may also drive the additions of features such as rotisseries, woks and other enhancements. Discuss the usage frequency of these items and determine where they rate in design priority over other, more crucial elements.
7) Inspiration: Even though function can win over aesthetics in designing a foodie kitchen, discover what fuels your culinary passion. Strategically add windows, art, décor and music devices to be your muse for your next greatest creation.
Passionate thought and attention to preparing the perfect meal is what separates a foodie from a recreational cook. Your heart should beat with the same enthusiasm about designing the space where you create your masterpieces. Let us help you design a space that inspires your gifts and fuels your passion for food! Bon appetit!
Home Maintenance 101
As time goes by our homes need more care from us. That is why we need to routinely go through home maintenance checklists to make sure we are keeping our homes in shape.
Here we break down some easy home maintenance tasks that anyone can do along with a few that you may want to contract out.
Take note by keeping up with various home maintenance tasks you will find your home in top shape and health.
7 easy home maintenance tasks that you can be doing right now on your own:
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Fix or replace any loose boards on your fence or porch (if you have one).
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Clean the grill after each use making it easy to store it away for the winter
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Check the weather stripping around windows and doors for any tears, breakage and replace soon.
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Clean your dryer vent.
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With rain comes grass and weeds – mow or weed eat around the home to remove any of it away from the house.
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Change out your filters for the AC.
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Test your fire and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms and consider replacing batteries with fresh ones.
These are easy, quick and inexpensive to do, and typically you can accomplish all of these in a few hours.
However, there are a few fall chores where you’ll probably want to call someone local to assist:
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Power wash your fence, home and/or deck as another added prevention of mold and mildew growth due to rain and moisture. If it needs a protective coating before winter, now’s the time to do it.
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Heat pump checkup – just like the AC needs an annual checkup, so does your furnace. Now’s the time to call your HVAC contractor to give it a pre-winter inspection before the cold weather comes in.
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Roof repairs – If you notice any missing or damaged shingles, it’s time to have someone come and fix/replace before any rain and snow arrive.
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Check your crawl space or basement for leaks and buildup of moisture
With summer coming to end here in a few weeks, take a weekend and walk around your home look it over and take care of making your home strong and healthy. If you find that there are some tasks you can’t do, ask a neighbor, friend, or family member if they have a local handyman they use and trust to work on their home.
Choosing the Right Energy Saving Appliance
That washer not quite draining all the way or the oven on your stove isn’t cooking at the right temperature could mean it is time to replace. Before you go out and replace it, though, there are many factors to consider when shopping for a new appliance.
Our homes now have more items using electricity than they did 20 years ago. We aren’t just talking washers, dryers, stoves, refrigerators and small household appliances. We now have lives filled with technology with Internet running off of cable boxes, computers (multiple ones), DVD players (if you still have one), wireless routers, cell phones and tablets.
The most important thing to consider when purchasing an appliance is to make sure that it has the Energy Star emblem/tag. Not every appliance will have this label, so you need to decide if this is the route you want to take – knowing that the appliance is certified to offer energy savings while delivering the features and performance you desire.
3 Tips on how to shop for energy efficient appliances:
Measure the space your appliance will be permanently located. Since appliances can be expensive and big, knowing the exact size where this appliance will be very important. Take the time to measure the following: counter depth and height, any pipes around the appliance, and measure the appliance with the door(s) open. Also, take into consideration the doorways and hallways where the appliance will travel to its permanent location. Once you have this information, take your measuring tape with you to measure the appliances you are considering at the store.
Research and compare appliances. Have you ever been overwhelmed with your choices when out shopping? If yes, then it may happen when you are shopping for appliances, too, because there are many different options, size, color, and bells and whistles.
Don’t make an impulse buy until you do some research because you could find yourself stuck with something that was too much for your household.
First, compare performance, features you need or want, read product reviews (online) and examine expert opinions. What about the repair history and cost? Second, check for money savings offers or incentives. Some states or local utilities offer incentive programs to entice purchases, especially on energy-saving appliances. Finally, find the best price to fit you and your budget. That is where taking your time and finding that good price comes in. Look online, check local stores, like L.H. Brubaker Appliances, and wait for sales. The best time for price breaks is when stores need to push out old appliances to bring in the newer models.
Compare the Energy Savings Guide with other appliances. Make sure you look for that yellow Energy Guide tag showing you the estimated yearly operating cost. This yellow label shows the estimate of how much energy the appliance uses. This is based on the average electricity cost in the U.S. As you know, your energy may vary from someone else’s. Do not mix the Energy Guide with the ENERGY STAR label – these are two different labels. If you are looking for energy efficiency, then the ENERGY STAR label is what you should be looking at.
Which appliances have the Energy Guide label? Washer, Refrigerator, Freezer, Dishwasher, Water heater, Television, Central AC, Window AC, Furnace, Boilers, Heat Pumps and Pool heaters.
Which appliances don’t? Ovens, Rangers, Dryers, Humidifiers and Dehumidifiers.