Upgrade Your Home To Conserve Energy

If you are interested in energy conservation, the following five products should be added to your home:

• Washers that save energy and water. The newest washers are front loading, with features that use less water to clean clothes. Whirlpool, for example, has a washer that uses steam technology to save 73% of the water and 77% of the energy used by top-load washers manufactured only four years ago. A spin speed cycle is able to extract more water from clothes, cutting down on dryer time. Dishwashers are benefiting from steam technology too. The KitchenAid Steam Option dishwasher saves about 2,400 gallons of water over the life of the appliance.

• Toilets that conserve water. In many homes, toilets are the biggest water users. To save water in the bathroom, manufactures are developing toilets that use less per flush.

• No-VOC paints. Typically paints have contained some amount of volatile organic compounds. Today's paints often have low amounts of the gasses that hurt a home's indoor air quality, but a new product introduced at the builders' show contains no VOCs at all.

• Smart thermostat applications. Programmable thermostats are often touted as a way to keep energy costs down. The only problem is, many times consumers use them incorrectly.

• Low-flow faucets and showerheads. The latest versions of low-flow faucets and showerheads perform a lot better than their older counterparts, and homeowners who wouldn't sacrifice their hand washing or shower experiences for water conservation are giving these products a second look. Delta says it has a Water-Efficient Showerhead with H20kinetic Technology, a product that creates larger water droplets and provides a more drenching spray.