It was a few weeks ago now, but we ended up spending a good 6 hours one Saturday at ABT a local appliance warehouse and picked up an very efficient refrigerator, front loading washer and dryer, as well as a convection gas range/oven.
We spent the first month here with an old refrigerator that was constantly running, had very limited storage space, and was just plain ugly. Not to mention we didn’t even have gas to turn the stoveon, so getting new appliances really started to make this place feel like home, finally we can actually make some food sans George Forman.
I spent a good month and a half scouring craigslist looking for a suitable set of appliances, because recycling is extremely environmentally responsible, but unfortunately couldn’t find anything that fit the bill. I spent the next two weeks researching the most energy efficient appliances on the Energy Star website before finally settling on our new appliances
The Energy Efficient Refrigerator
New Efficient Refrigerator
We had some very strict requirements for our refrigerator. Our first priority was efficiency. However because our building is a 1920’s rehab, we have a pretty tight kitchen and therefore strict dimensional requirements within, meaning we decided to look for a counter depth refrigerator with french doors to conserve space. We also decided we wanted a bottom freezer model as they are the most efficient style. Cold air is more dense then warmer air and therefore wants to sink. So when you put the coldest part of the refrigerator on the floor and open the door the cold doesn’t really have anywhere to go. It also just makes sense; you are going to open the freezer door much less than the refrigerator, so why not put the part you access the most at eye level?
I started by reviewing information about Energy Efficient Refrigerators and then using the Energy Star Refrigerator Comparison Chart I made a list of the most efficient refrigerators I could actually afford and hit the store.
We just happened to stumble across an LG LFC21770SS on clearance. Miraculously it was an incredible deal and fit the budget while meeting every single one of our needs right down to the last detail; counter depth, french door, bottom freezer, stainless steel sans door mounted ice dispenser, and most importantly it was in the upper 25% of the energy star rated refrigerators. SCORE!
Front Loading Washer
Washer and Dryer
Next up was the washer & dryer combo, of which we knew needed to be front loading because once again being in a condo space was an issue and going vertical is where its at. Again I started researching material on the Energy Star website. Using the Washer Comparison Chart reviewed the specs for all the front loading models and ultimately we decided upon a Frigidaire Affinity Series ATF8000FS.
We decided to skip energy hogging features such as the steam cleaning feature and went with a no frills washer we thought would do on job well, and do it efficiently. So far we are very pleased with the new front loaders. They are so incredibly quiet!
Lauren and I sat on the floor in front of the washer in awe as the first load moved through its cycles in absolute silence. And for anyone who has never owned a front loading washer, you will be astonished how little water is used. I thought something was wrong when the water turned off the first time… the clothes were barely wet! But low and behold the clothes came out smelling and looking like new.
Overall I am extremely pumped about the new appliances. I have been researching the real estate market in and around Chicago for the last 15 months. The biggest thing I’ve taken away is that the majority of available real estate in Chicago is provided by developers and developers by nature are cheap. As long as its maple, granite and stainless it doesn’t matter to them. I have seen the same cheapy appliance packaged used in 90k condos, up through million dollar town houses, and I am confident I will have nicer appliances then a vast majority of available real estate in chicago.
The Hero
Installing our front loading Washer/Dryer
Tagged: appliances, effcient, energy efficient appliances, energy star, Real Estate, refrigerator, the condo