Canux : Home Sweet Home

Archive for September, 2010

When you turn on an electric or gas burner, a good deal of the heat does not go to the pan, but into the air. If you open the oven door, the heat rushes out of the oven and into the air and the oven has to reheat. When you turn off an electric burner, even though the the power is off, heat is still given off and is considered to be wasted. So by strict definition of “energy efficiency” one of the most used appliances in your home just doesn’t measure up.

Even though cooktops and ranges do not earn the Energy Star rating under today’s standards, there are some products that are more efficient than others.

I am in the market for a new kitchen stove and began the research to find the most energy efficient product that fit into my budget. With the tax credits available for Energy Star appliances, I asked if there were any Energy Star rated stoves (ranges if you will). The answer is, no. Why? Very simply, because energy efficiency is measured on how much energy it takes to perform a particular function compared to how much energy is lost or wasted by that same process.

Solar Powered

There are some small solar powered stoves and hybrid solar (solar with electric backup) for those days when the sun doesn’t shine on the market today. Most of the specifications indicate a minimal temperature range and have very limited capacity. The largest capacity I found measured 21.25 inches square by 7.78 inches deep. If you are looking to experiment with solar cooking, there are any number of plans on the internet to build your own solar stove using materials found around your home. However, the solar solution may not be the most practical for a busy family. For now, being somewhat of a pragmatist, I’ve focused my search and the following article on the more practical options for today’s busy family.

Induction/Electromagnetic

The new induction cooktops and ranges are the most efficient on the market tody. Induction cooking surface, when turned on and a metal pan is on the cooking element, produce an electrical current in the cooktop which creates a magnetic field that causes the pan to heat and cook your food. It’s like magic. Even if the burner is turned on, when the pan is not touching the surface, you could lay your hand on the element. It’s instant on and off. I’ve actually done this and was quite amazed. There is no heat loss when you remove the pan, which makes the induction cooktop more efficient than other cooking surfaces. The pans must have flat bottoms and be made of metal or the electromagnetic heating process won’t work.

Most major appliance manufacturers offer an induction cooktop (no oven). If you are trying to replace an all-in-one cooktop and oven, there are several manufactures: Samsung, Kenmore, Viking, GE, and Diva. The oven component is typically electric with a convection option. Like most new technologies, the induction cooking appliances are still expensive. However, over the past year, prices have dropped.

Natural Gas or Propane vs Electric

If an expensive cooktop or range is not in your plan, there are other options. Based on current natural gas prices, natural gas, is still slightly cheaper to operate than an electric cooktop.. So, if you’re investigating appliances based on cost of operation, you’ll want to investigate average prices of electricity vs natural gas in your area. (Be aware that the proposed energy legislation will affect the cost of any fossil based fuel and prices will go up for both natural gas and electricity. How much they will rise is not yet known.) Overall, the savings of gas over electric has historically been minimal and amounts to less than $50 a year in savings. If you are a cook that prefers gas, there are many options from which to choose. Many of the most popular brands are carried by Lowes, Home Depot and Sears.

Energy Efficient Ranges and Cooktops – Which to Buy – Induction, Gas, or Electric

The most energy efficient cooking solution would be an induction cook top with an electric/convection oven, followed by a gas cooktop with an electric/convection oven. Convection ovens are a little more expensive than an electric or gas only oven, but they require less cooking time, so you are using less energy and reducing your time in the kitchen. For the busy family, less time is a real plus. All in one gas or electric units are the cheapest solution, but not the most energy efficient. The differences in operating costs depend greatly on the utility prices in your area. However, the cost difference, based on the national average of gas vs electricity, is only a few cents, with natural gas being the cheaper.

Price Comparison

So, if you’re in the market for a new range or cooktop and your primary objective is saving energy, go for an induction cooktop with an electric/convection oven. For that system, budget between $1700 for a fully featured system and $9500 for a whiz bang designer, professional grade system.

If natural gas or propane is available in your area, the next best combo would be a gas cook top and an electric/convection oven. Prices vary considerably, ranging from under $1000 for a basic model to the mid-range of $1700 -$2500 for a full featured stainless steel unit. If you have even a higher budget, there are some magnificent options for the person who really enjoys cooking ranging in price between $3000 and $20,000.

If the electric option is all you have, don’t despair. Remember that the differences in energy consumption and energy cost between the gas or electric options are not that significant. By going the extra step and purchasing an electric cook top with an electric/convection oven, you will be reducing oven cooking time and, thus, energy consumption. Any reduction in energy consumption is a positive and will produce some cost savings. Prices for these units vary from $1500 to $2000 for fully featured stainless steel units. These are available from most appliance manufacturers. If your budget is less than $1500, check out prices on the internet. There are good deals to be found on this type of stove. If I’m still talking above your budget, “all electric” or “all gas” ranges vary in price from $258 to $1500. Keep in mind that the very low end products will not typically be self-cleaning, nor will they have the insulation to keep the heat inside the oven when cooking, nor will the temperature control of the oven be very precise.

While cooking units are not energy efficient according to the standards set by Energy Star. Since there are not significant differences in energy cost among the options, it boils down to budget, cooking style, and availability of natural gas/propane. I’ve given you some things to think about when purchasing that new stove and, hopefully, you found them useful.

All fire extinguishers are given a classification, primarily in order to show what kind of fires they are safe to use on.

Panasonic exhaust fans have started to capture a significant portion of the exhaust fan market. Is it purely an accident? Is it a result of aggressive advertising and marketing? Or is it that people really like these fans and hence recommend them to others? This article digs deeper and finds out the reality.

Fans are evaluated on the grounds of their capability to quickly replace stale and stinky air by fresh outdoor air. They are also evaluated in terms of the noise that they end up generating in the process of ventilating the air and the power that they consume. And of course, some of the fans have other features that people welcome. Looks are subjective, but good-looking models carry the inherent bonus of adding looks to your setup.

The critical question now is that how do Panasonic fans fare in each of these respects? Let’s evaluate the factors one by one, and then we would sum up the results to understand whether these fans are really worthy. And we shall begin with the most important of all aspects when it comes to an exhaust fan – the capability to circulate and ventilate air.

Panasonic exhaust fans are above average when it comes to air circulation and ventilation. The biggest plus point of these fans is the presence of parallel ducts. One of the ducts works as the outlet for the stale and stinky air inside your bathroom, kitchen or whichever other place you want to clean up. The other duct acts as the inlet for fresh air. While running, the fan would simultaneously remove stale air and inject fresh air. This would result in continuous ventilation, which means you shall always get the desired level of freshness in the room or bathroom.

With the basic functionality of air ventilation and circulation in place, a Panasonic fan meets the core requirement of a good ventilation fan. The next aspect to consider is the noise. You would not want to keep hearing a humming noise day in and day out as your fan keeps running. Panasonic emerges as a clear winner here too with an ultra-low noise motor that can be termed as silent for all practical purposes.

Panasonic ventilation fans are designed to save power. So even if you keep running the fan for long durations of time, you shall see a very reasonable rise in your power bills rather than an abnormal increase. These fans stand superior compared to almost all other exhaust fans when it comes to power consumption. Some models also have additional features such as lights, night lights, heaters and sensors inbuilt.

In terms of looks, Panasonic has a number of good-looking models to select from. There are other manufacturers too with good-looking model and there is no clear winner in this front, so it becomes more a matter of subjective choice.

Clearly, Panasonic exhaust fans are good in their own rights and do deserve the market share that they have been accumulating of late.

A sofa could be a major investment and one of the largest pieces of furniture in your living room, so you have to take many things into consideration before purchasing your perfect microfiber sofa.

Things to Consider Before Buying your Sofa:

Fitting into Your Home
The most important factor to take into consideration is the size of the sofa and the space you have available for it in your living room or the area where it would be standing, especially the width and the depth. Start by measuring the room and remember to also measure the doorframes and staircases your sofa should fit through when you bring your sofa home.

Depth and Softness for Comfort
The depth of the sofa plays a major role in the comfort of your couch and depending on your preference, lying or sitting on the sofa, you should take it into consideration as well. If you prefer cuddling and sleeping on you sofa, look for a deep sofa for extra comfort. Softer sofas are usually more comfortable for lying and snuggling while a stiffer cushion will be advised if you prefer sitting upright for reading or working on your laptop.

Seating
If you buy a microfiber sofa for your home and you want it for the comfort of yourself and your family, look for a two or three seater. If you need more seats, you might consider a microfiber sectional sofa instead, seating many people at once.

The Fabric
Sofas set the style of the room they are in. The fabric you choose for your sofa determines the comfort and the style of your sofa. Softer microfiber fabrics, like plush or chenille, adds comfort to your sofa while crisp and smooth materials have a neater and tidier look. Think about the style of the room your sofa will be standing in and then choose between a modern microfiber sofa or a contemporary microfiber sofa.

Covers for your sofa
Covers for your sofa would be recommended if your sofa is a light color, you have kids or if you occasionally have dinner on your sofa. Having a spare cover could save you money and humiliation rather than having to replace your sofa after a while. Covers are not that expensive and could be handy if you change the color scheme of the room and just need to get a new matching sofa cover instead of buying an entire new sofa.

Color
Be sure to find a color that fits and compliments your room. Sofas come in a great variety of colors and patterns and you should choose very wisely. You will most probably not find a perfect match for the material of your other furniture, but they should coordinate and look good together. When choosing a color for you sofa, think practical. Your new couch could look disastrous after a few months if you chose a white sofa and your little one wipes his chocolate fingers on it or your puppy jumps on it with muddy paws. Black or very dark colors are not recommended if you have animals living on the couch and leaving their hair behind. So, think about who and what the sofa will be used for before choosing a color.

Durability
The durability of your sofa depends on three things: The material or fabric that it is made of, the quality of the construction and the treatment it’s going to get from its owners. Take these things into consideration before buying or choosing your perfect sofa.

A sofa could be your best or worse furniture investment, so take your time and shop around and choose wisely – you should be as comfortable with your choice as your sofa is comfortable to its users.

Whether you are a tourist, or you are on a business trip, finding accommodation near Cedar point is not at all difficult. As a matter of fact, this place is home to a number of economical options, which provide you, not just cost efficiency, but quality as well. The following are some of the economical options, as far as accommodation near Cedar point is concerned:

1. Rodeway Inn Cedar Point North

This is one of the most economical lodging options in the area. It offers free coffee and pastries, along with indoor pool facilities, laundry facility, irons and ironing boards, room safes, Cable Television. Close proximity with Malls and restaurants is another major attraction of this hotel.

2. Travelodge Sandusky Cedar Point

This is another economical option and a major feature of this hotel is its ability to offer wonderful services at throw away prices. This hotel belongs to a franchise of hotels and has number of properties, which provide quality services. All the rooms are well furnished and equipped with a number of facilities.

3. Econo Lodge Inn & Suites Cedar Point

This is another hotel where you can make a visit, in case you are looking for economical options. Some of the main features of this hotel include Free Wireless Internet facility; 24hr front desk service, outdoor pool, room safes, as well as free newspapers. You also get a television with cable connection. Breakfast would be served on time and would include coffee/tea, juice and muffins. You will also find a number of restaurants at nearby distance.

4. Howard Johnson Express Inn – Sandusky

This magnificent hotel provides a number of facilities, such as Air Conditioning, AM-FM Alarm Clock, Coffee Maker in Room, Complimentary Continental Breakfast, Twenty Four Hour Front Desk, Free Parking, Free Local Telephone Calls, Ice Machine, Ironing Board, Outdoor Pool, Outdoor Parking, Safe Deposit Box, Security, Satellite TV, as well as Wake-up Service. Also, you get all these features at throw away prices.

5. Fairfield Inn & Suites Sandusky

In this hotel, you get free high-speed Internet availability, along with a number of other facilities. What makes this so very attractive is its location, which makes it very much desirable. So, you get freshly brewed coffee, all throughout the day. You can enjoy the various facilities, such as well furnished rooms, Jacuzzi, proper security, televisions with cable connections etc.

So, the next time around, when you move to this place, you should have no problem in lodging up.

There is no dearth of microwave recipes in the market as a large number of books, magazines and even online websites provide a variety of recipes for microwave cooking. The features and wattage of different microwaves vary and so do cooking recipes. Some microwave recipes are good enough for low-wattage microwaves, whereas some recipes are fit for high-wattage microwaves. Therefore, it is better to examine which microwave the meal is apt for and then only one should one venturing into cooking in the microwave. Select a microwave recipe and have your dinner ready in minutes.

If you love fish, a host of lip-smacking recipes for fish are available on various online sites and books. Some of these recipes include steamed fish, vegetable topped fish fillets, steamed Trout or Salmon with lettuce and peas, just to name a few. Each of these microwave dishes can be prepared easily and within the least period of time.

A recipe for dessert preparation can easily catch anybody’s attention as desserts are almost everyone’s favorite. One can try for pineapple cake with fresh strawberries which can be prepared in a microwave within 15 minutes. In your local book stores or online sites, you can also find out a microwave recipe for chocolate bark, almond roca, chocolate fudge and many others.

Varieties of appetizers and soups like vegetarian mini Mexican pizzas, creamy parmesan fondue, Mexican baked cheese with shrimp, sausage soup ole, California corn chowder and chicken noodle soup can be cooked in a microwave. A recipe for any of these appetizers or soups can guide a user to prepare the dish without facing any trouble.

Preparing breakfast in a short time has become possible because of microwave ovens. You can search for microwave recipes for delicious breakfast. Some popular breakfast dishes that can be cooked in a microwave include French dip sandwich, pork burgers, chili egg puff, macaroni and cheese supreme, loaded baked potato, to name a few.

All the microwave recipes available in different sources provide clear instructions for cooking. So anyone who has limited knowledge of cooking and would like to experiment with their culinary skills can try his or her hand at preparing a sumptuous meal with the help of a microwave.