With energy prices going up and climate change providing an uncertain present and future, it might be time to contemplate being more sustainable.

A sustainable home is a fantastic place to start if you want a more ecologically friendly household. Especially with your kitchen full of machines that use energy and/or water, such as washing machines, dishwashers, tumble dryers and more. We will share with you the key features to look for when purchasing appliances for a more planet-friendly and cost-saving option.

ENERGY LABELS  

If you're thinking about purchasing an appliance, the energy label is the first thing to look out for. As of 1st March 2021, the energy label rating system has changed, and you can read more about them here.

The rating ranges from A (the most efficient/least energy used) to G(the least efficient/most energy used). So make sure to look out for these labels when shopping for white goods.

Though more energy-efficient models are more expensive, they are better for the environment, have plenty more convenient features, and will save you costs in the long run.

WASHING MACHINES

For washing machines, other than the energy label, you should look for how much water they use. A new efficient washing machine model may use up to 40% less energy than a standard model. You can check out our most energy-efficient washing machines here.

Additionally, appliances have evolved over the years and are now packed with many sustainable features. Check out below some of our favourite features from different brands.

Siemens waterPerfect Plus

The Siemens extraKlasse iQ500 WM14UT93GB uses a clever water sensor system to recognise the fabric type and precise load size. It automatically and accurately delivers the correct amount of water-based on these two inputs. This guarantees that you always get an excellent wash outcome while using the least amount of water and energy.

Bosch i-DOS

On the other hand, the Bosch Serie 6 i-DOS WAU28PH9GB is fitted with Intelligent dosing technology that selects the proper setting, amount of detergent, and water for excellent laundry wash after wash whilst saving on detergent and on your utility bills. Simply fill the big built-in detergent and conditioner containers and let i-DOS handle the rest.

FRIDGE FREEZERS

With fridge freezers constantly running, they can use a lot of energy, so it is essential that you check the energy efficiency when buying a new one. A good rule of thumb is to check if your appliance is ten years old or more, if so you should purchase a new one, as you could save a lot of energy and money.

Furthermore, some fridge freezers are also fitted with the latest food storage technology that will minimise food waste to help save costs on your groceries. Here are our choices;

Beko HarvestFresh™

                                                           Video by Beko                                                           

HarvestFresh is a revolutionary crisper drawer technology developed by Beko. Three-color light technology beautifully mimics the 24-hour cycle of the sun so that your food items last fresher for longer, so you can minimise food waste and decrease the cost of your energy bills.

Fast Freeze & Fast Chill Functions

When purchasing a new fridge freezer, look for Fast Freeze and Fast Chill features. Depending on the brand, they might be called something slightly different but essentially provide the same features.

Fast Freeze

When initiated a few hours before use, the rapid freezing feature lowers the compartment's temperature, which is useful when you need to swiftly freeze particular goods to retain their freshness and nutritional content.

Fast Chill

A quick-chill button boosts chilling power to swiftly chill fresh food to safe degrees, keeping it fresher for longer and nutrients contained within. Ideal when you put a lot of fresh food into your fridge at once after a big grocery run.

DISHWASHERS

Dishwashers use a lot of water and power, so this is one appliance that must be energy-efficient. As a regular-use appliance, you should choose one that uses less electricity and water while still doing a good job.

Though dishwashers with sustainable features can be more expensive, it is important to consider the long term savings that can be made and your decreased impact on the environment. See our favourite sustainable dishwasher features below:

Bosch Zeolith PerfectDry

The revolutionary Zeolith drying technology converts the dampness of the cleaning phase into hot air, allowing all of the dishes to be optimally dried. As a consequence, The PerfectDry  consumes 20% less energy than standard dishwashers.

Eco Programme

Image by Bosch

Another critical feature to look for when purchasing a dishwasher is Eco mode. This program on the dishwasher helps lower the wash and rinse temperature during the cycle, in turn using less energy. The only downside is that this mode will take longer than the standard cycle.

INDUCTION HOBS

Induction hobs are significantly more efficient than other hobs since they utilise all the heat generated. Furthermore, induction hobs cook at a higher rate and save substantial energy over time.

Though Induction hobs are more expensive and may require investing in new pots and pans, you'll be able to benefit in the long term from cost savings and be able to cook with more efficiency. You can read more about how induction hobs work here.

JUST ASK CAMPAIGN

If you want to know more information or seeking other sustainable appliances, you can visit us at our Cardiff showroom and ask about the best sustainable models that will suit you. You can also check out the Just Ask Campaign on our website here, courtesy of Euronics.

If you’re furnishing a new kitchen or want to upgrade your existing hob then maybe an induction hob might be the choice for you. We will be answering common questions we get asked about Induction hobs, so you can decide whether an induction hob is a choice for you.

WHAT IS AN INDUCTION HOB?

So let’s start with what precisely an induction hob is. It is basically similar to a ceramic hob however, the main difference is how they generate heat. Induction hobs have an electromagnetic field that is heated when you switch on the appliance and only warms the specific zone where a pan is positioned, as opposed to ceramic hobs, which have coiled metal parts that heat up the designated zones whether or not a pan is put on the surface.

How Does an Induction Hob Work?

Induction cooking works by directly heating the pan rather than the hob. When a pan comes into touch with the hob, an electrical current is created, producing heat. Induction hobs only utilise magnetic pans, so if you want to buy one, you'll also need to think about whether you'll need to buy new pans.

Furthermore, there is a fan placed in motion to cool the electronic components beneath the glass-ceramic, and it may automatically switch on during cooking. It operates until the device is sufficiently cooled before shutting down automatically.

INDUCTION VS CERAMIC SIMILARITIES

Though induction hobs might look similar to standard ceramic hobs, they actually have key differences. So what are the similarities between induction and ceramic hobs?

• Streamlined look - Both of these styles of hobs have a sleek appearance that would look fantastic in any modern kitchen.
• Easy to Clean - Both feature a glass top, which makes them extremely easy to clean.
• Ceramic Glass Surface - Because the top surface of both ceramic and induction hobs is constructed of ceramic glass, they appear almost similar. The term 'ceramic' refers to the material used for the top of a ceramic hob, whereas the term 'induction' refers to the cooking method utilised beneath the cooking surface.
• Child Friendly - Ceramic and induction hobs both include heat indications and safety features, making them ideal for use in homes with children.
• Requires Electric Supply - Both induction and ceramic hobs need a special power source that must be connected using the proper wires.

INDUCTION VS CERAMIC DIFFERENCES

• Ceramic Hobs Cost cheaper - This is the ideal hob for those on a low budget. They are often less expensive than induction cooktops.
• Induction Hobs are More Energy Efficient - Ceramic heaters are somewhat energy efficient, but not as much as induction hobs.
• Induction Hobs Heats Up Faster - Ceramic hobs do not heat up as quickly as gas or induction hobs. They are unquestionably quicker than an electric hotplate, but gas and induction typically win the speed contest.
• More Control with Induction - Many induction hobs have infinite flexibility overheat levels and heat up and cool down far faster than ceramic hobs.

There's plenty to like about induction hobs, and as you can see, they're quite different from ceramic hobs. They are more costly, but they are also more energy-efficient, more controlled, and better suited to a busy kitchen.

WHAT KIND OF PANS DO YOU NEED FOR AN INDUCTION HOB?

Because of the way induction cooking works, certain pots and pans are required. These feature flat bottoms composed of ferrous or "magnetic" metal, which is prevalent on high-quality cookware and will be labelled as acceptable for use on Glass Ceramic Induction Hobs.

If your pan has a coil sign on the bottom or a magnet that sticks securely to the pan's underside, it is appropriate for induction cooking. If you test a pan and the magnet just barely adheres to the base, you may discover that the pan does not heat as effectively.

Flat-bottomed pots and pans are ideal for induction cooking. Curved-bottomed pans, such as some woks, will not give satisfactory results. However, flat-bottomed versions of these pans are available that are suitable for induction cooking. A flat-bottomed cast iron wok, for example, should work nicely.

WHERE TO PURCHASE INDUCTION HOBS?

Now that you have more information about induction hobs, you might want to start looking where to buy one. Lucky for you, we have a wide range of induction hobs here at Kitchen Economy that will look perfect for your kitchen. You can purchase online or visit us in-store in Cardiff.

There's never a terrible time to do some spring cleaning around the house, but January and February are the busiest months for it. Decluttering and clearing up your home is a terrific way to kick off the New Year and enter spring with a clean slate.

We're going to provide a few basic ideas and tips that might help make spring cleaning less of a chore. Depending on the size of your home and the amount of work you need to complete, it may be best to divide the job over a long weekend or two. In any case, sprucing up your home will give you a boost in the early spring when the days begin to lengthen.

BENEFITS OF SPRING CLEANING

The advantages of spring cleaning are obvious. You finish up with a clean house that won't need to be cleaned again for a time. Also, your home is less cluttered, allowing you to focus on more essential matters.

1. SET A CHECKLIST AND SCHEDULE

This is rather obvious in a tiny apartment, but this is more crucial for those of you who have larger houses to plan out precisely what chores you want to do this season. Ask yourself these questions so that you can make the most of your time:

• Which areas will take the longest to clean?
• Which room requires the most attention?
• What areas do you tend to avoid when cleaning?
  
  

Prioritize addressing your major areas first and set yourself a schedule. You'll have more energy to do lesser jobs as you proceed this way.

2. TAKE IT ONE ROOM AT A TIME 

When cleaning your home's doorway, make sure to wipe the walls and baseboards, sweep and mop the floors, and clean the door and doormat. Recycle any unnecessary documents in the office. Dust and shine the furniture and bookcases. Don't forget to sterilise your keyboard and mouse as well!

In the Kitchen clean the:

• Hob
• Oven
• Microwave
• Dishwasher
• Fridge
• Freezer
• Countertops
• High surfaces
• Drain
• Floor
  
  

Also, some of your appliances may need to be replaced over time due to normal wear and tear, and spring is the best time to do this! Check out our wide range of brand new appliances here to help spruce up your home.

For the living room:

• Vacuum or mop the floors
• Steam the rugs or carpets
• Clean the windows
• Dust and clean the lampshades, blinds and ceiling fans
• Dust and polish the furniture
  
  

Ensure to clean the mirror in the bathroom, give the tiles a good scrub, remove any expired products, and thoroughly clean your tub, shower, and showerhead. Don't forget to clean and remove any blockages on the shower drain.

3. DECLUTTER YOUR WARDROBE

Go through your clothing and determine what you still wear and what you're unlikely to wear again. Charities will accept these apparel items for donation, or you can also sell these online.

If you're not sure which items to get rid of, consider this handy tip: Turn all of your closet hangers so that the hooks face out. When you put an item back on the hanger after you've worn it, make sure it's hung normally.

After six months or a good amount of time, grab all of the articles with the hook still facing out and get rid of them (you're unlikely to wear these items again).

4. IT'S A MARATHON NOT A SPRINT

It's safe to assume that spending a full weekend cleaning is one of the most common cleaning blunders most of us make. Yes, it's lovely to have it all done, but who wants to spend their whole weekend cleaning?

Spreading it over time is better than doing it all at once, especially if you're a parent. This allows you to plan to take care of the kids' rooms whilst they aren't home and the Kitchen when no one has to get in there to cook.

5. USE THE RIGHT PRODUCTS

The materials of your furniture determine the items you use. Wood may be effectively cleaned with diluted detergent and water. Upholstery requires different cleaning solutions based on a code found beneath the cushions. Wipe leather objects with a combination of water and vinegar.

If you're looking for a professional finish on your gas hob and oven, we recommend this WPRO gas hob and oven care kit; on the other hand, if you own a ceramic hob, the WPRO ceramic hob and oven care kit is perfect for you. 

Have you heard the term ‘Veganuary’ in January and wondered what it means? Are you also questioning why vegan food is more visible in supermarkets and restaurants across the UK during this time? This is because Veganuary is an international campaign that encourages people to try vegan for the whole month of January.

HISTORY

Jane Land and Matthew Glover started the movement as a crowd-funded campaign in 2014 and only hoped 100 people might take part. Little did they know that Veganuary would grow rapidly year after year, with over 580,000 people from 209 countries taking part worldwide in 2021. Additionally, over 600 restaurants and supermarkets promote the Veganuray campaign and have launched over 1200 products in the UK. The campaign has four main aims including:

• Increasing participation
• Corporate outreach
• Growing the global movement
• Increasing awareness

IMPACT OF VEGANUARY

So what are the impacts of all of this on the planet? By removing meat from our diets, we could remove 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions that livestock creates. The 2020 Veganuary campaign has saved the CO2 equivalent of 450,000 flights and the lives of more than one million animals.

Since it began in 2014, According to Dr Helen Harwatt from Harvard University’s Animal Law and Policy program, the collective impact of the campaign has been huge:

• 103,840 tonnes of CO2eq saved, equivalent to driving around the world almost 15,000 time
• 405 tonnes of PO43-eq (eutrophication) saved, the same as 1,645 tonnes of sewage
• 6.2 million litres of water saved, the same as flushing the toilet almost half a million times
• More than 3.4 million animals were saved according to the Vegan Society’s Veganalyser calculations
  
  

Besides the positive impacts on the planet, Veganuary also offers people a way to take positive action to protect their health. A plant-based diet packed with various fruits and vegetables has been linked to reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.

VEGANUARY & COVID-19

Did you know that there was a massive surge of people trying a more plant-based diet during lockdown? There was also an increase in vegan orders on Deliveroo, which shot up by 115% from November 2019 to November 2020.

One possibility of the increase in veganism during lockdown is due to the rumour the covid-19 started because of a wet market in China. Popular Musicians such as Brian May and Paolo Cavalieri believed that the pandemic resulted from animal consumption and has influenced people to re-examine their relationship with meat.

Another reason for the increase in participation of the Veganuary is that people want to take more command of their eating habits when confronted with an uncontrollable virus. The impact of Covid-19 has made the vegan lifestyle more appealing as people pay more attention to their health and want to strengthen their immune systems.

HOW TO GET STARTED

If you want to get involved in Veganuary, you can sign up on their website here and find out more about the campaign. Additionally, if you’re ready to try Veganuary and you don’t know where to start, here are some tips:

• Plan - research and prepare what you might eat ahead of time.
• You’re already doing it – you might not know, but there are so many everyday food items that might already be vegan, so make sure and check.
• Take it slow – You don’t have to try anything exotic; stick to your eating habits but switch it out with the vegan alternative.
• When you’re ready, try something new – Try out some brand recipes or order off the vegan menu at your favourite restaurant; you never know you might find a new favourite.
• Socialise with others – the vegan community will welcome you open arms, so don’t hesitate to find local and online groups.
  
  

We hope you enjoyed learning about Veganuary, and if you are planning to get involved, we wish you the best! If you’re a Cardiff local, check out our previous post of the Top 7 Vegan Restaurants in Cardiff.

With small homes and apartments on the rise, kitchen space is something we can never seem to have enough of. Whether it’s our washing machine making it hard to squeeze through the door, or our cupboards overflowing with utensils, there is always an aspect we have to adapt to better utilise our space.

Fortunately, there are many ways to optimise our kitchen so that we’re not having to shove our drawers shut, or bump into things as we cook. Whether you’re thinking of renovating or are wondering where to start designing your small kitchen, here are some tips for making the best of your space.

MAPPING YOUR SPACE

Appliances are the building blocks of any kitchen - the essential components. They also tend to take up the most space, so you want to make sure to choose them carefully to best optimise your room. It’s important to consider the following:

• Need - Do you really need the appliance, and will you use it? Start with the basic appliances first (i.e., washing machine, fridge, microwave) and move on to the small appliances afterwards. Question whether you’ll really use that pasta maker, or whether it’ll just collect dust.

• Functionality - For your core appliances, you want to invest in something that is practical and appropriate to the space. Whilst a big, range cooker might be appealing for larger kitchens, you’re going to want to look for something that functions the same but in a more compact way.

• Efficiency - To optimise your space, you might want to look into efficient appliances, such as 2-in-1 combo appliances (e.g., washer dryers).

COMBO APPLIANCES

Combo appliances are a great way to save space as they generally roll two appliances into one. As mentioned, you may consider investing in core appliances that are more efficient in the long run, rather than having to sacrifice space elsewhere. Here are some combination options:

• Washer Dryers: A washing machine and tumble dryer in one. If you don’t have a utility room, you can optimise your kitchen by not having both of these appliances take up space.

• Fridge Freezers: Slimline, freestanding fridge freezers take up minimal floor space whilst giving your lots of storage.

There are also integrated appliances, which can be customly fitted to your kitchen, or built into your cabinets:

• Washer dryers
• Dishwashers
• Fridge freezers
• Cookers
• Microwaves

FOOD PREPARATION

Once you're done choosing your core appliances, it’s time to decide on the smaller ones. You can make up for what you lack in counter space with some small, handy appliances that’ll do the manual jobs for you.

You might want to invest in a MultiTalent food processor, for example, which has up to 8 different features - including chopping, blending, and mixing. Mess tends to pile up in small kitchens, so if you can regulate these tasks to one place, you’re more likely to optimise counter space.

Coffee makers are also another good option. Small and convenient coffee pods can supplement the multiple steps that go into making your coffee. They are also more efficient, and some can even replace your kettle if all you use it for is making hot beverages.

However, as handy as these gadgets may be, it is important that you only choose the appliances relevant to you so that you’re not wasting space in the long run.

STORAGE

When packing a box, you’re usually advised to start with the big things and slot the smaller things in afterwards. Therefore, by choosing combo or integrated, core appliances it means that there is more space to ‘slot’ the smaller things into storage. For example, when floor space is optimised, you can perhaps have an island or free-standing pantry shelf to store spices, ingredients, or utensils.

Another option is overhead storage. One tip is to hang utensils on the walls or have magnetic racks to stick them to. Smaller appliances, like microwaves, can likewise be installed overhead to optimise counter space.

You can also optimise drawers with drawer dividers to keep your cutlery and utensils neat and organised. Cupboards can be arranged in the same way, with storage containers.

GET STARTED

Once you’ve decided on the right appliances for you, and their layout, all that’s left to do is get started! Small kitchens may seem daunting at first, but when you take the time choosing the most efficient appliances and storage solutions; it becomes a lot easier to best make use of your space.