If you're buying new appliances for the first time in the last ten years or more, there is much you need to know about today's appliances that may be different from your old appliances.

1. Appliances are more energy efficient than ever before. Energy standards continue to ratchet down. Energy Star ratings require appliances to exceed federal energy guidelines by at least 20%.
2. Appliances that use water, i.e. dishwashers and washing machines operate on much less water than before.
3. Standards continue to evolve. Kitchens must have GFCI outlets, ranges require anti-tip devices, and phosphates have been removed from dishwasher detergents.

Not only have new laws and standards influenced the design of appliances, consumer expectations have ramped up, and savvy buyers want more for their hard earned dollars. In addition, advanced technology gives manufacturers new capabilities. As a result of new constraints and requirements, buyers need to be aware of what appliance manufacturers have done to address these challenges.

Refrigerators

Most of today's refrigerators use about the same electricity as a lightbulb. One way this is done is to use smaller compressors that run on far less electricity. They keep temperatures steady by running most or all of the time, even though they draw very little electricity. So if you think that your new refrigerator is running too frequently, it may well be that it is operating the way it was designed.

Ranges

Grandma's stove had massive cast iron burners and weighed hundreds of pounds. Today's ranges have burners made from lightweight alloys and might be as light as 130 pounds. An unintended consequence of making ranges better, less expensive, and lighter is the fact that when the oven door is opened, the range can easily be tipped over. As you might imagine this is a great danger. As a result, federal law now requires that an anti-tip device be installed on new ranges attaching them to the floor or wall.

Dishwashers

Dishwashers once used 10-12 gallons of water or more per load. A complete cycle might last an hour or so. When the dishwasher was running you couldn't carry on a phone conversation or hear the TV. Today's dishwashers use only half the water of the old ones, but cycle time might be three hours. In addition, some dishwashers today have sound levels about the same as a quiet library. Since phosphates have been removed from dishwashing detergent in the last few years, some consumers have noticed that dishes aren't getting as clean as before. Dishwasher additives are sometimes necessary to correct the problem, and some premium dishwashers from manufacturers such as Miele and KitchenAid come with their own water softeners.

In summary, there are many great new capabilities of appliances today and they are far more energy-efficient and eco-friendly. However, it is important to understand that though modern appliances are better than ever, they also operate differently from the old ones.

To get the best advice on purchasing new appliances it's important to deal with knowledgeable professionals. Call or visit the experts at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center:

Two locations to serve you – Calabasas and Studio City:

Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center

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• Save on GE Cafe and GE Profile
• Learn about GE's New Energy Star Washer
• Get Two Great Recipes from the Grill

For more information on any of these great GE Appliance offers contact the experts at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center today:

Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center
12025 Ventura Blvd. Ste B-105
Studio City, CA 91604
PH 877 696-2987
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GE Cafe

Save up to $500 on GE Café™ appliances

Save $500 when you buy 4
Save $300 when you buy 3
Save $100 when you buy 2

Upgrade to professional-grade by purchasing matching GE Café appliances designed with powerful features that turn cooks into chefs and meals into masterpieces. Purchase 2 or more eligible GE Café kitchen appliances and receive a Visa® prepaid card* valued up to $500. See rebate form for eligible models and additional details.

Offer valid for products purchased August 22 – October 10, 2012.

GE Profile

Save up to $500 on GE Profile™ appliances

Save $500 when you buy 4
Save $300 when you buy 3
Save $100 when you buy 2

Buy extra GE Profile appliances and get an extraordinary rebate! Purchase 2 or more eligible GE Profile kitchen appliances and receive a Visa® prepaid card* valued up to $500. See rebate form for eligible models and additional details.

Offer valid for products purchased August 22 – October 10, 2012.

NEW Washers – GE's Newest Energy Star Washer

GE Energy Star Washer

GE Profile Harmony™ 4.5 DOE cu. ft. stainless steel capacity washer

PTWN8055MMS

ENERGY STAR® qualified and CEE Tier II rated

Meets or exceeds federal guidelines for energy efficiency for year-round energy and money savings

Tidal Wave wash system

Waves of water combined with Infusor technology and a centrifusion wash action help detergent and water flow through fabrics for a gentle and complete clean

HydroHeater™ with Sanitize option

Internal water heater with Sanitize option boosts incoming water temperature

QuietClose glass lid with extra-wide opening

Hydraulic tension allows the lid to close gently

GE Profile warranty

Offers a lifetime warranty on the stainless tub and a limited ten-year parts warranty, providing peace of mind and dependability See written warranty for details

Flow-Thru™ Dispensing System

Releases cleaning solution at just the right time for optimal wash performance

Recipes from the Grill

Easy Grilled Chicken

Ingredients

1 large (3 to 4 pound) broiler fryer, cut into desired pieces

1 tablespoon salt

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon paprika

1/2 teaspoon dry mustard

1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper (more or less if desired)

1 bottle of a favorite barbecue sauce

Preparation

1. Wash chicken pieces and pat dry with paper towels.
2. Combine all dry ingredients, mixing well. Sprinkle on both sides of chicken pieces.
3. Grill chicken, uncovered over medium heat for about 15 to 20 minutes.
4. Turn pieces and continue grilling for 20 to 30 minutes or until no longer pink.
5. During the last 10 minutes, brush chicken often with barbecue sauce.

Tilapia and Summer Vegetables

Tilapia & Summer Vegetable Packets Recipe

Wrapping vegetables and fish in a foil packet for grilling or baking is a foolproof way to get moist, tender results. Tilapia and summer vegetables pair with olives and capers for a Mediterranean flair.

Ingredients

1 cup quartered cherry, or grape tomatoes
1 cup diced summer squash
1 cup thinly sliced red onion
12 green beans, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
1/4 cup pitted and coarsely chopped black olives
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon capers, rinsed
1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, divided
1 pound tilapia fillets, cut into 4 equal portions

Preparation

Preheat grill to medium. (No grill? See Oven Variation, below.)

Combine tomatoes, squash, onion, green beans, olives, lemon juice, oregano, oil, capers, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a large bowl.

To make a packet, lay two 20-inch sheets of foil on top of each other (the double layers will help protect the contents from burning); generously coat the top piece with cooking spray. Place one portion of tilapia in the center of the foil. Sprinkle with some of the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper, then top with about 3/4 cup of the vegetable mixture.

Bring the short ends of the foil together, leaving enough room in the packet for steam to gather and cook the food. Fold the foil over and pinch to seal. Pinch seams together along the sides. Make sure all the seams are tightly sealed to keep steam from escaping. Repeat with more foil, cooking spray and the remaining fish, salt, pepper and vegetables.

Grill the packets until the fish is cooked through and the vegetables are just tender, about 5 minutes. To serve, carefully open both ends of the packets and allow the steam to escape. Use a spatula to slide the contents onto plates. Oven Variation: Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Place green beans in a microwavable bowl with 1 tablespoon water. Cover and microwave on High until the beans are just beginning to cook, about 30 seconds. Drain and add to the other vegetables (Step 2). Assemble packets (Steps 3-4). Bake the packets directly on an oven rack until the tilapia is cooked through and the vegetables are just tender, about 20 minutes.

Provided By: EatingWell

EatingWell recipes are tested extensively in the EatingWell Test Kitchen. EatingWell cannot guarantee a recipe that has been scaled to make a different number of servings from the original. Also note that scaling only applies to the ingredient measurements: no adjustment is made to the recipe instructions, so pan sizes and cooking times and ingredient amounts referred to in the text of the recipe only apply to the original number of servings.

For more information about any of the GE Appliances featured above contact the experts at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center:

Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center
12025 Ventura Blvd. Ste B-105
Studio City, CA 91604
PH 877 696-2987
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The ENERGY STAR® program was established by the EPA in 1992. It is a “voluntary public-private partnership designed to reduce energy use and related air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.”* Curiously, the first products to carry the label were energy-efficient computers. Though this blog is about appliances, it's interesting to note that there are over 60 different categories of products that are covered under the program.

In appliances the following product categories are eligible for ENERGY STAR® certification.

• clothes washers
• dehumidifiers
• dishwashers
• freezers
• refrigerators
• room air cleaners and purifiers
• room air conditioners
• ventilating, fans
• water coolers

It's important to distinguish between the Energy Guide Label and the ENERGY STAR® Label.

The EnergyGuide label estimates the actual energy consumption that an appliance will use and provides some information about whether that use is above or below the average for that type of product. The dollar amount at the bottom of the EnergyGuide is the estimated yearly operating cost based on the national average cost of electricity. Example EnergyGuide label.

The ENERGY STAR label is the government’s symbol for energy efficiency. It helps consumers easily recognize highly efficient products, homes, and buildings that save energy and money, and help protect the environment. The ENERGY STAR label often appears at the bottom of the EnergyGuide label for qualified products.

Customers want to know can they really save much by purchasing ENERGY STAR qualiied appliances. The answer is a resounding YES! For example, let's look at the all important clothes washer category.

1. An ENERGY STAR washer will use less than 14 gallons of water per load. That's compared to 27 gallons of water for a non-ENERGY STAR washer, nearly twice as much. Over the course of the washer's useful life the savings will amount to 43,000 gallons of water. In addition to the water savings, is the savings on the cost of heating the additional water, and disposing of it into our sewer systems.
2. An ENERGY STAR washer will cost on average only $60 per year to operate.
3. According to the DOE*, if every clothes washer purchased in the U.S. this year earned the ENERGY STAR label, we would save 790 million kWh of electricity, 32 billion gallons of water, and 2 trillion BTUs of natural gas every year, resulting in energy bill savings of about $350 million, every year.

Often customers ask why there are no ENERGY STAR ratings for ranges or clothes dryers. Essentially, the energy used by these appliances does not vary significantly from one model to another so that an ENERGY STAR rating would not make a difference. There is a move afoot to encourage improvements in clothes dryer energy use, and in a recent article Consumer Reports has noted that the folks at ENERGY STAR are working on developing a standard.

Choosing an ENERGY STAR appliance is good for the environment and can save you money. For more information on making wise appliance choices call or visit the experts at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center.

Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center
12025 Ventura Blvd. Ste B-105
Studio City, CA 91604
PH 877 696-2987
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*ENERGY STAR ®. [July 31, 2012] . US Environmental Protection Agency and US Department of Energy. http://www.energystar.gov

The latest entry is Frigidaire with its OrbitClean(tm) wash arm that focuses 4 times the water and detergent in a concentrated area. An oval wash arm attached to the end of the bottom arm, rotates like a satellite delivering extra wash action to the toughest spots on dishes.

According to Frigidaire, this Energy Star rated dishwasher also boasts the best drying performance in the industry, and is the quietest in its class.

The new Frigidaire Gallery Dishwasher with the exclusive OrbitClean(tm) wash arm is on sale now at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center. If you buy before the end of June, Frigidaire has an introductory offer of an additional year warranty. Models with the OrbitClean(tm) wash arm are: FPHD2485, FGH2465, and FGBD2445.

Visit or call the Frigidaire experts at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center today.

Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center
12025 Ventura Blvd. Ste B-105
Studio City, CA 91604
PH 877 696-2987

Well, no more. Customers don’t have to settle for low end just because they don’t have a lot of space. Here’s an example. Check out this beautiful new French Door Refrigerator from Whirlpool that fits in a 30″ space. It is loaded with deluxe features, and it has the most usable capacity in its class.

This gorgeous refrigerator is Energy Star Tier 2 CEE rated, and uses less energy than a 50 watt electric bulb. Features include humidity controlled crispers, a full width pantry with separate temperature control, spill-saver glass shelves, and more. It’s available in White, Black, or Stainless Steel.

To find out more contact the experts at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center.
12025 Ventura Blvd. Ste B-105
Studio City, CA 91604
PH 877 696-2987

1. Replace your incandescent light bulbs with compact florescent light bulbs (CFL). The good ones are E-Star rated, will run cool, use less electricity, and last longer even though they cost more.

2. Use your ceiling fans and floor fans, before resorting to AC. There are lots of warm days that aren’t scorchers. You can save energy and money by keeping the AC off on warm days.

3. Replace and repair worn out weather stripping. You may be surprised to find out how much air conditioned are you are allowing to escape.

4. Use cold water to do your wash. Experts say that this alone could save enough energy to run your home for two weeks.

5. Replace those old appliances. Appliance life expectancies aren’t much longer than 15 years, and if over 10 years old they’re likely to be energy hogs. Do the math on appliances nearing the end of their useful life. You’re likely to find that by amortizing the energy savings over the expected life you’re better off buying new appliances.

Contact Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center for more information on new Energy Star appliances.
Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center
12025 Ventura Blvd. Ste B-105
Studio City, CA 91604