Major appliance manufacturers are starting to perceive energy efficiency as a key component of consumer buying decisions.

Whirlpool has announced that it will produce one million Smart Energy clothes dryers by the end of 2011 as part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Smart Grid Investment Grant program.  The U.S. manufactured dryers will be capable interacting with information communicated by the smart grid to modify their energy consumption to save consumers money on their home electric bills.  In markets where utilities offer variable or time-of-use pricing, these dryers could save a typical consumer $20 to $40 per year, while also benefiting the environment.

Now we just need a smart grid.

source: prnewswire/reuters

This hand powered portable washing machine is an extremely eco-friendly product providing a cheaper alternative to hotel laundry service if you travel and can’t find a green hotel, enjoy camping or need a break from trekking to the laundromat or laundry room of your apartment building. (more…)

It’s never too late in the summer to add a little sustainable style and atmosphere to your deck, patio or garden.

These Modern Soji each feature a little solar panel and 2 amber LED bulbs.  Powered by the sun – no electrical wires or outlets needed – just add cocktails.

the 9″x9″ lanterns come in 3 patterns and go for $39.99 ea. @ allsopgarden.com

It happened again.  I was contentedly reading my NY Post sports section when I was confronted by a familiar, official looking two-page add.  A photo of a lab coated, glove-wearing dude (obviously not a Chinese engineer) holding up a penny, over the headline, “Public staying cool for just pennies” – no doubt signifying my savings to come.  Reading further I found that a free giveaway was launching a breakthrough in home cooling technology. Upon further reading, I found that if I ordered a unit within the next 24 hours I’d get a second $298 (plus shipping – they always get you on shipping) Cool Surge, for free.  A rolling air cooler that contains no nasty freon, needs no vents and rolls from room-to-room like you mother-in-law.  Hand me the phone?

Okay, not so fast.  (more…)

If you want to put a big dent in your bottled water use install a water filtration system on your kitchen tap. This relatively inexpensive, under-counter model from Kenmore is highly rated by Consumer Reports.

Comes without a filter cartridge, ($16.99).

$54.99 @ sears.com

We previously posted on the Heat Surge space heater, a product marketed in a strikingly similar manner to the TropicAir Heater.  Created by an “engineering genius on the Chinese coast” (Taiwan) this 4,094 BTU (1,200 watt) space heater with humidifier presents the same marketing red flags as Heat Surge.

Respond to an ad within 24 hours, and get the opportunity to be in on their ‘buy one get one free’ (plus shipping on both) offer.  The newspaper advertisement says the heater can run on “as little as” 9¢’s in electricity an hour — key phrase “as little as.”  We advise you to do your own research and don’t be motivated by the ‘rush to call now’ special offer.  If this is anything like Heat Surge, this offer will be appearing in newspapers nationwide for quite some time.  Feel free to comment if you’ve purchased one of these heaters.

Consumer Reports overview on space heaters

A similar product (1,500 watts) without wheels and fake fire image goes for $67.88 @ walmart.com

At some point in time we’ve all embellished to enhance our feeling of pride or to bring excitement to someone else. Likewise, we probably all know someone who’s boasted to win a hot date, or told their spouse of a greater sale price than they actually received. Intentions provoking these exaggerations, however, are not always good and organizations exist who seek to take advantage of our big green hearts.

A recent suspect to this predatory practice is the Energy Star program whose logo in our homes represents our diminishing carbon footprint. But does it?

Watchdogs at Consumer Reports have recently examined various Energy Star products and found them failing to deliver their promised energy savings. This was partly due to Energy Star compliance checks being conducted when appliances weren’t operating in ways representative of everyday home use. For instance, a refrigerator being tested for energy consumption while the ice-maker and its cooling center is off.  Consumer Reports also cast light on the fact that the products Energy Star supports have had their only evaluations completed by the manufacturers themselves. Perhaps a bit reminiscent of the countless “Best Burger in Town” signs coating city streets?

These aren’t the only flaws. David B. Goldstein of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) remarks that test procedures are “out of date and problematic,” while Energy Star itself admits that “federal test procedures haven’t kept pace with technology.” Amidst the rumble, Consumer Reports still holds that Energy Star is a useful reference that needs only a dose of rigorous third-party review.

To see the article in full, visit: consumerreports.org

To view the EPA’s rebuttal: energystar.gov/

To inspect Consumer Reports’ rebuttal to the rebuttal: blogs.consumerreports.org (download the pdf)

From the “every little bit helps” department comes this little green gadget. Humbly marketed as “the World’s Easiest Green Product”, the RefrigeratorSaver is a thermometer that is designed to save you energy by accurately telling you the temperature of the food and produce in your fridge or freezer.   By accurately setting your fridge’s thermostat the company estimates you can save anywhere from 8-24% on the annual cost to run your refrigerator; a savings of up to $50 year.

The key component of the RefrigeratorSaver is the silicone gel inside; it accurately mimics the temperature of food, not the temperature of the air like other appliance thermometers. Most consumers have their refrigerators set to run too cold, for every one degree you’re able to change on your refrigerator thermostat you’ll save 8% on energy costs.

$29.99 @ refrigeratorsaver.com – starts shipping Oct. 1st

Lance Armstrong is heading back to the Pyrenees for another assault on the Tour De France and it looks like he’ll now be forgoing bottled water on those tortuous mountain climbs.  Lance has just signed on as the spokesman for Applica Consumer Product’s Clear2O water filtration brand and the “Drink Clean and Go Green” TV ad campaign is already underway.  The company will be developing new products to extend the product line that now features water filter pitchers.  I predict Lance will be drinking his water from a reusable container filled with refreshingly clean filtered water – no plastic bottled water bottles in sight – as he speeds toward the Arc de Triomphe next year.

Look for the Clear2O products at big box stores like Target and Wal Mart and online @ clear2O.com

You may have seen the two-page ads in your local newspaper. The Heat Surge “Miracle” heater keeps on advertising and selling hundreds of its 1500 watt electric heaters. The deal: buy the Amish-made “solid wood” mantle and get the Chinese-made heater for free.  Things to remember: all 1500 watt electric heaters produce 5118 BTU’s of heat – no miracle just math, and the only way to save money heating your home with a space heater is to only heat the room you’re in while leaving the rest of the house chilly. Electricity is 2.5 times more expensive than natural gas when used as a heating source.

There have been many complaints from Heat Surge customers and dozens of complaints made to the Canton, Ohio Better Business Bureau about both the ads and company’s policies and practices.  The company may have solved some of these problems. As pointed out in our original (12/2007) post questioning the wording of the Heat Surge newspaper ads we suggest a careful reading of the ad and thorough consumer research before investing your hard earned cash in this product.  You may ultimately end up loving the looks and convenience of the roll-around unit and its fake fireplace design, but it will not be a ‘miracle’ solution to your home heating situation.  Insulation, weather-stripping and programmable thermostats are probably a much more effective investment.   If you decide your home will benefit from an electric space heater there are plenty of less expensive (albeit not so fancy looking) alternatives on the market.

Review some of the over 400 comments on our original post for further customer insights.