Struggling Sears mulls selling its brands at other retailers

Two thousand and eight is a leap year. For Sears, which on February 28, 2008, announced a 47 percent decline in 2007 fourth-quarter net earnings on a 6.8 percent sales drop, a different kind of leaping could be on the horizon.

The Hoffman Estates, Illinois-based Sears announced that it’s considering selling some of its biggest brands—Craftsman, DieHard, Kenmore, and Lands’ End—through retailers beyond its nearly 3,800 U.S. and Canadian stores. (Read the entire press release from Sears.)

“One of our most important resources is the great brands we own, in particular DieHard, Craftsman, Kenmore, and Lands’ End,” said Sears Chairman Edward S. Lampert in a letter to shareholders. “All four of these brands have significant equity with customers and provide tremendous opportunity for value creation.” Lampert went on to explain that DieHard “leads in customer recognition among car battery brands by a wide margin, but it lags dramatically in market share . . . due to fewer points of distribution.” The move to sell Sears brands through other retailers “is an opportunity for us to rethink our brand distribution strategy to create value,” said Lampert.

The announcement is yet another sign of the reeling U.S. economy and points to tougher times for Sears, whose shares were down almost 5 percent in trading on February 29. The good news: The presence of Sears brands at other retailers could be a boon for appliance and outdoor-power-equipment shoppers who don’t live near a Sears store, since Kenmore and Craftsman products consistently get high scores in our Ratings of major appliances and outdoor gear.

Should Sears cross that threshold, it will be some time before its Craftsman, DieHard, Kenmore, and Lands’ End products appear in other places.

For now, you might have to drive the extra distance to a Sears or even to a Kmart store, where some Sears products are sold. If you’re lucky, any deal you get won’t be guzzled up by the rising price of gasoline.

Below we’ve highlighted a few notable performers sold by Sears. You’ll find the latest reports and Ratings for all appliances and outdoor power equipment on our main Appliances and Tools & Power Equipment pages. Note that Kenmore appliances and Craftsman mowers and lawn tractors have tended to be reliable, based on responses to the Annual Product Reliability Survey conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center.

Laundry appliances:
The Kenmore Elite HE5t Steam 4778[1], $1,600 (shown), and Elite HE5t 4708[1], $1,300, front-loading washers were among the top-rated machines in our latest report. The Kenmore Elite Oasis 6706[2], $800, and Elite Oasis 6703[2], $700, dryers notched excellent scores in our latest tests. Ratings of washing machines and dryers are available to subscribers.

Kitchen appliances:
Four Kenmore dishwashers were among the top six scorers in our latest tests of dishwashers: Kenmore1374[2], $650; Elite 1378[2], $1,000; Elite UltraWash HE 1315[2], $1,100; and Elite UltraWash HE 1312[2], $900.

Two Kenmore 30-inch electric smoothtop ranges—9641[2], $750, and 9611[2], $580—are among the best performers in our latest report.

The Kenmore Elite 5896[2] side-by-side refrigerator scored highly in our Ratings.

Ratings of dishwashers, electric ranges, and side-by-side refrigerators are available to subscribers.

Outdoor power equipment:
Sears also rides high in lawn tractors. The 46-inch Craftsman 28724, $1,600, and the 54-inch Craftsman 27690, $2,000, are among our top-rated tractors and also among the lowest-priced tractors we've tested. Learn how to choose a lawn tractor and see our Ratings of tractors for more information.—Daniel DiClerico

International Builders’ Show Product Preview: Best by Broan IP29 Vent Hood

When you’re shopping for an undercabinet range hood, you’ll find a large variety of styles, sizes, and performance abilities as well as a number of very good $500 and under models. (See our latest report, “Over the Range.”)

Downdraft models are another venting option. These are designed to reverse the direction of rising smoke and fumes and exhaust them through ducts running beneath the floor. But our testing has shown downdrafts to be among the least effective venting systems at removing smoke and steam.

But if you cook at a kitchen island, venting can be more complicated—and expensive. Many overhead vent hoods cost $2,000 and up, without installation and ducting.

The stylish stainless-steel Best IP29 from Broan costs $3,300 to $4,800, might be a good choice if you need a vent hood. Sensor technology detects what you’re cooking and can turn on the hood automatically, at whatever speed and duration are needed, according to the manufacturer.

The IP29 features pushbutton LCD controls for speed and light settings and an Americans With Disabilities Act–compliant remote control, says Broan. The hood comes in 42- and 54-inch lengths and is 32 inches deep.—Ed Perratore

Essential information: See our Ratings of range hoods (available to subscribers) and tips for proper venting. To help you make your dream kitchen a reality, refer to our kitchen-planning guide.

Buyer’s guide to pellet- and wood-burning stoves

Rising energy costs have prodded Americans to buy not only more fuel-efficient cars but also more firewood and wood pellets, which generally are made from sawdust and wood shavings, as fuel to heat their homes. More than 800,000 homeowners are already using wood pellets.

Although you can use pellets (shown) to run a whole-house heating system, the fuel is more commonly used to feed fireplace inserts and freestanding stoves serving as supplemental heating appliances. Turn on an insert or stove when you're in a room and you can turn down the household thermostat and thus save money. Converting wood waste (and other biomass, like shelled corn and wheat hulls) into energy-dense fuel results in less waste being heaped onto landfills. Plus, pelletized wood and more-traditional solid wood are eco-friendly alternatives to nonrenewable fossil fuels such as natural gas, oil, and coal.

Before you jump on the wood-burning bandwagon, though, consider a few of the drawbacks. Because most homes aren't equipped with a thermostat in every room, the heat from an insert or stove might cause nearby thermostats to think the temperature throughout their zones is at the set level. The result? Rooms adjacent to the heated space could become cold, and you might be tempted to boost the thermostat when in those rooms. That defeats the purpose of the stove or insert, because it will save you money only if you keep the thermostat turned down.

Also, your actual savings depend on fuel costs in your area. It's also worth noting that wood and wood pellets don't burn quite as cleanly as natural gas or fuel oil, which is an environmental issue and a concern if you or family members have respiratory difficulties. Perhaps most important to note is that wood-burning and pellet-burning appliances require constant attention—loading, lighting, tending, and cleaning—especially compared with the "just press start" ease of most gas- and oil-powered appliances.

How to Choose
Appliance type. If you already have a fireplace, don't use it for space heating. Fireplaces often cause all areas except the room they're in to become cold. And their efficiency is very low—generally about 25 percent. But you can boost the efficiency of a fireplace with a fireplace insert. Essentially a self-contained firebox, the insert fits into the existing box and allows air to circulate around it, thus heating it. The insert is connected to the chimney to vent the smoke and combustion by-products. If you don't have a working fireplace, choose a freestanding stove, which you can place nearly anywhere in your home. (Venting a freestanding stove requires punching through the building envelope and installing a chimney of appropriate design, or alternatively, using an aftermarket power vent designed for wood-burning appliances.) Whichever type of appliance you choose, expect to pay at least $750 plus installation fees of $250 and up. Use a National Fireplace Institute-certified installer.

Heating needs. Heat load is measured in British thermal units per hour, or Btu/h. You need 25 to 30 Btu/h per square foot, or at least 5,000 Btu/h for a 200-square-foot space. The actual heat loss (and conversely the amount of heat needed) is based on where you live (outdoor air temperature), the amount of insulation in the ceiling and exterior walls of the space, the number and size of the space's windows, and whether or not there is heated space above and below the room. Calculate how many Btu/h you need to heat your space and select an appropriately sized insert or stove.

Fuel. The average cost of a cord of firewood or a ton of wood pellets is $190, according to the United States Department of Energy. But for a true comparison of the costs, you have to look at not just the price of the fuel but also the heating value of the fuel, also measured in Btu, and the efficiency of the heating appliance. Using averages for all three, the Energy Information Administration's Heating Fuel Comparison Calculator estimates it costs $14.39 to produce 1 million Btu using pellets or solid wood. Those figures are between the costs of coal ($5.35) and natural gas ($17.82) and are well below the costs of oil ($22.83), propane ($27.65), and electric furnaces ($32.49) and electric baseboards and space heaters ($30.86).

Other significant differences between wood and pellets:
Availability. Cord wood is sold in most parts of the United States. If you're lucky, you might be able to harvest the fuel for free from your own property. Wood pellets aren't as widely available, though manufacturers are in every region of the country. When buying cord wood, be sure you get what you pay for. A true cord is a stack that's 8 feet long x 4 feet deep x 4 feet high; a "cord run" is the same length and height but includes only 16-inch logs, making it a third the volume of a true cord.

Grade. Use whatever hardwood is plentiful in your area and prepare and store it properly. There are two types of wood pellets: standard grade, which contain more ash, and premium grade, which burn a bit cleaner but are a bit more expensive. Some stoves can burn both grades and others are designed to burn pellets made of corn, wheat, and other materials. "Multifuel" inserts and stoves can burn pellets made from wood and wood alternatives.

Emissions. Traditional wood-burning fireplaces and older stoves can be woefully inefficient, and are known to produce upwards of 40 grams of smoke per hour. The latest wood-burning inserts and stoves are much better—EPA-certified to produce no more than 7.5 grams of smoke per hour. Pellet emissions are so minimal that the EPA does not regulate them (though voluntary certification is available). In areas of the country where burning solid wood is restricted, pellet burning is often unrestricted.

Convenience. Wood-burning appliances are literally "off the grid," so you need to load, light, and stoke them by hand. Pellet-burning devices, on the other hand, can be fully automated but require electricity to operate. (Battery backups are available, and you can also connect the units to a backup generator. Although you don't need to tend to pellet appliances, you must fill the hopper frequently (shown), depending on the size of the reservoir and amount of use. You'll need to dedicate sufficient space to store wood (an average of 6.5 cords to heat a home for one heating season—obviously less to fuel a single supplemental heating appliance) or premium wood pellets (7.3 tons) according to the USDA's Fuel Calculator.

Regardless of what you burn, you'll have to clear out the ashes, clean the chimney, vent connector, and flueways, and perform basic maintenance. Also have the unit inspected annually by a Chimney Safety Institute of America-certified contractor.

Safety. Burning solid wood produces sparks, shifting embers, and creosote, a flammable liquid that can accumulate in and clog vents and chimney stacks. Wood can also ferry things like mold and mildew into the home, and stacked cords can shelter spiders, termites, insects, and even rodents. There's also the risk of fire and carbon-monoxide poisoning, so be sure to install and regularly test smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms. If you're felling trees and cutting wood with a chain saw, there are additional safety concerns.

Design considerations. Unlike boilers and furnaces, fireplace inserts and freestanding stoves often occupy public spaces of the home and might be the focal point of the room, which means they're made to be seen. They're available in a variety of styles and finishes—classic cast-iron potbellies and contemporary stainless-steel models—to match any décor. You'll get a sense of the options at the Web sites of the manufacturers below as well as at the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association Web site:

Appalachian Stove
Avalon
Blaze King
Breckwell Hearth Products
DESA Heating Products
England’s Stove Works
Energy King
Harman Stove Company
Kozy Heat Fireplaces
Kuma Stoves
Lennox Hearth Products
Napoleon Fireplaces
NU-TEC Incorporated
Rais
Vogelzang
Wittus

For some vacuums, smaller isn’t better

Got a cramped closet? Some of the latest vacuums Consumer Reports tested for our March 2008 report fold for compact storage, while others meld upright and canister features into one machine. But our vacuum tests show that several brands need to pay more attention to cleaning.

New uprights that fold include the Hoover Fold Away Widepath ($70) and the Electrolux Intensity ($300). We also tested the folding Dyson Stowaway ($500), the brand’s latest canister. Yet only the Electrolux was impressive at cleaning carpets—our toughest test and the type of cleaning vacuums typically do most. Indeed, only three of the latest models we tested were better than mediocre for carpet cleaning.

Our tests of more than 60 uprights and canisters include a new top performer among canister vacs. (See an alphabetized listing below of the vacuums in our Ratings as of the end of February 2008.) We also tested vacuums that claim to kill germs and clean their own filters, among other promises. But some could disappoint you if you value cleaning over gadgetry. Here are the details:

Less-than-magical wands. The new Dirt Devil i M130000 ($250), Dyson DC15 The Ball All Floors ($500), and Panasonic AeroBlast MC-UL975 ($700) uprights have handles you can remove and use as a canister-style wand to clean curtains and battle those dust bunnies beneath the couch. But like most of the newest folding vacs, two of those scored only a good for carpets, and the Dirt Devil scored only fair.

Big claims, middling performance. The AeroBlast includes a unique feature that promises to stretch filter life, among other benefits. (See our blog on the Panasonic AeroBlast.) But our test results belied those claims.

Halo Technologies says its uprights, including the UVX ($400), kill dust mites, flea eggs, and germs using UV light. We didn’t test those claims because the UVX was only so-so at the more primary tasks of cleaning carpets and picking up pet hair. What’s more, it has no hose or tools. (On February 26, 2008, the National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus recommended that Halo modify or discontinue certain advertising claims for one of its vacuums. Read more here: Download HaloVacuum.pdf)

Clobbered by cat fur. The Electrolux Harmony canister ($300) is the latest to flub our grueling pet-hair test. As with the brand’s TwinClean model, cat hair wound itself around the brush and stopped it—partly because the brush is driven by airflow, rather than by a motor.

A venerable brand has problems. A predecessor company to Hoover was the name on the first widely available electric vac in 1908, and Hoover is still a best seller. While Hoover vacuums are often fine values, our latest survey found more reliable upright brands, including Dyson, a relative newcomer.

Read our expert shopping advice and watch our video buying guide (above) for detailed information on what to look for in your next vacuum. And continue reading this blog to find out which models we’ve tested.

International Builders’ Show Product Preview: Lithium-Ion Tools Move Into the Mainstream

It wasn’t all that long ago that you had to pay a premium for cordless tools with lighter, longer-life lithium-ion (Li-Ion) batteries. But during my visits to the booths of several big tool manufacturers at the International Builders’ Show, I noticed that several big companies are now offering higher-tech Li-Ion cells for less.

Much of the action is happening with lower-volt batteries. Ryobi’s new 12-volt Li-Ion drill-driver ($79) weighs less than 2 pounds and comes with some big claims: Its battery is 30 percent smaller, 33 percent lighter, and offers four times more recharge cycles than the company’s 12-volt NiCad cell, says the manufacturer of this Home Depot exclusive. Ryobi is also offering a new 18-volt Li-Ion four-piece cordless kit (shown), with a drill, circular and reciprocating saws, flashlight, two batteries, and charger ($179). The battery fits Ryobi’s earlier One+ NiCad tools. You can also buy an 18-volt battery and one-hour charger alone for $99 to upgrade earlier Ryobi NiCad tools.

Ridgid’s 12-volt Li-Ion drill-driver joins the company’s other lithium-powered tools debuting this spring. A major talking point for the $129 drill is that you get free replacement batteries, parts, and service for as long as you own the drill. This tool features 30-minute recharging instead of the typical hour or more. Also new from Ridgid is a four-piece kit with an 18-volt hammer drill, reciprocating and circular saws, and impact driver ($499). Ridgid tools are sold at Home Depot.

The new Li-Ion battery on the new Craftsman (Sears) 16-volt drill ($119 with a flashlight) features inline cells for flatness and, like other Li-Ion batteries, has built-in protection against overheating and overcharging. A cushioned chuck is another perk. If you’re too tough for a “homeowner” drill, check out Craftsman’s two new Professional Li-Ion-ion drills with beefier, all-cast-aluminum gearboxes. The 12-volt drill runs $180; the 16-volt version (shown), $200. Both kits include a charger, second battery, and utility bag.—Bob Markovich

Essential information: Read our latest report on cordless drills to find the right tool for your workshop. For more information on cordless tools, click here. And see how we test cordless drills in our new video hub. Click on Home & Garden and scroll down to Cordless Drill Testing.

Buzzword: Neuroeconomics

What does it mean? Neuroeconomics is “the study of how the brain makes decisions, specifically decisions related to resource allocation,” explains Brian Knutson, assistant professor of psychology and neuroscience at Stanford University. Knutson and his peers rely on brain-imaging technology to measure people’s thoughts and emotions during the economic decision-making process. (Read more about their work in “Neural Predictors of Purchases,” published in the journal Neuron.)

While the science neuroeconomics is relatively new, researchers have already come up with some intriguing insights into why we buy the things we buy. A study by researchers from the California Institute of Technology and Stanford University, for example, used wine to demonstrate how marketing and pricing can influence product perceptions. The study concluded that volunteers not only liked the taste of what they believed to be the more-expensive wines but some of them also reported that those pricier bottles made them happier. (The study paper, "Marketing Actions Can Modulate Neural Representations of Experienced Pleasantness," appeared in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.)

Why the buzz? The Consumer Reports laboratories aren’t equipped with brain scanners. Still, by extension, neuroeconomics does factor into our work. Consider kitchen ranges. In recent years, pro-style ranges have turned into status symbols for the home, veritable must-haves in luxury kitchens. Yet as our tests indicate, these expensive appliances, like the one shown, don’t necessarily outperform mainstream ranges even though they cost at least twice as much.

Why then would someone buy a pro-style range? If neuroeconomists are right, it could be that range owners don’t notice the deficiencies of their appliance. Having paid top dollar, they believe their range is broiling steaks and simmering sauces to perfection. (A second—dare I say more cynical—explanation is that the range is there only to add value to the house or to impress the neighbors, so consumers accept any shortcomings.)

As compelling a field as neuroeconomics is, we’ll keep preaching the value of research-based buying decisions, especially when it comes to major appliances. You won’t need a brain scan to measure your frustration when your range goes on the fritz a week before the start of the holidays.—Daniel DiClerico

Essential information: Read more about neuroeconomics in “Mind Games,” by John Cassidy, in The New Yorker.

Claim Check: Venta-Airwasher “Humidicleaner”

The claim. The Venta-Airwasher—a “humidifier & purifier—two in one," according to the manufacturer’s Web site—is supposed to trap particles as small as 10 microns while adding moisture to the air. Four models of these German-made products are available for rooms of different sizes: LW 14 (1.2-gallon capacity, $200); LW 24 (2-gallon capacity, $300); LW 44 (3-gallon capacity, $400); and LW 84 (6-gallon capacity, $1,440).

A Venta-Airwasher uses a series of rotating plastic discs to clean the air and add moisture to it. Those discs, mounted on an axle that constantly rotates, dip in and out of a water-filled reservoir. As the wet discs emerge from the reservoir, a built-in fan evaporates the water on them, boosting humidity in a space. Particles in the air are supposed to stick to the discs, then wash off as the discs pass through the reservoir again.

The check. We tested the LW 14 and LW 44 (shown) models as we usually test air purifiers, by measuring their clean-air-delivery rate with the fine dust and cigarette smoke (0.1 to 3 microns) that are of more concern to people with respiratory problems. To test their humidifying chops, we placed each device in a sealed chamber and let it run overnight, recording the humidity level in the room.

The Consumer Reports take. The claim of ridding the air of particles as small as 10 microns is kind of a nonstarter: A 10-micron or larger particle is so big that it's unlikely to remain aloft in the air for long.

Both models we tested proved no better at removing dust and smoke than no air purifier at all. They were, however, efficient at adding moisture to the room. Note that they lack a sensor and controls to let you set a humidity level. Without those features, humidity could rise too high and contribute to mold and mildew growth. What’s more, the Venta-Airwashers are pricey and require you to buy water additive and cleaning solution—a cost of about $90 per year.

Essential information: Watch this video to see how we tested the Venta-Airwasher. Before you buy any air purifier, read the expert advice in our latest report, and find out how well some models eliminate odors and learn how much maintenance your air purifier might require.

Impressions of the 2008 International Builders' Show

My three daughters gave me a hard time about attending the 2008 International Builders’ Show (IBS). To them, Orlando means theme parks, not work. They figured that my trip would be a respite from winter weather and some nice meals, despite my explanation that my job was to coordinate the online show coverage for Consumer Reports and also report on the new products and themes I’d see while hoofing it around the cavernous exhibition halls.

I enjoyed my time in Florida, but it had a lot more to do with what I saw—the NextGen house and other leading-edge technologies, the glistening displays of the latest appliances—than what I did. Even the occasionally corny opening ceremonies featured some interesting banter from keynote speakers Mary Matalin and James Carville. (Full disclosure: I caught a couple of rides at Disney’s Hollywood Studios after the show let out one afternoon. The Tower of Terror is awesome.)

I was just one of 13 Consumer Reports staffers to attend the IBS. You can check out our coverage from the show here. What follows below are our postshow impressions of what’s happening in the American home now and what we’ll be seeing in years to come.—Steven H. Saltzman

“Conservation Without Sacrifice”
What do a new dimmer switch, bathroom faucet, and toilet have in common? They all represent  conservation without sacrifice, an obvious theme at the IBS.

My first encounter with this trend was at Lutron Electronics, where a rep from the lighting-controls manufacturer made the point that dimmers save electricity only when homeowners use them. So Lutron has developed a switch that automatically dims a bulb’s output by 20 percent, a drop in illumination that is not only undetectable by the human eye but also results in energy savings.

Over at the Kohler booth, I saw a bathroom faucet with an aerator that reduces water flow from 2.2 gallons per minute to 1.5. That flow rate, says Kohler, delivers savings without any perceivable drop in water pressure. (Learn more about Kohler's water-conserving faucets.)

The American Standard display featured the FloWise toilet, which uses 1.28 gallons per flush—down from the 1.6-gallon federal standard—and meets California’s new residential-toilet standard. Despite the drop, the toilet can still deliver a forceful flush, claims American Standard. (See the toilet in action in our video.)

I was encouraged by this conservation-without-sacrifice trend. To me, it seems to mark the decline of the McMansion mentality as some manufacturers have abandoned conspicuous consumption for inconspicuous conservation. That approach should bode well for the planet and consumers too.—Daniel DiClerico

“Embracing Energy Efficiency”
After spending two days scoping out numerous new green products at the IBS, what resonated with me most wasn’t a new soy-based insulation or a bamboo countertop or any other product I checked out.

The highlight of the show for me was the good old-fashioned concept of energy efficiency, perhaps summed up best by the “You Can’t Spell Green Without EE” presentation I saw. (“EE” equals energy efficiency.) Because until the day when renewable technologies like solar and wind become more widely available and affordable, energy consumption arguably takes the cake when it comes to the environmental impact of buildings.—Kristi Wiedemann, Science and Policy Analyst, GreenerChoices.org

CPSC home-product recalls, week of February 18, 2008

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued the following recalls of home-related products for the week of February 18, 2008. Click on each item for detailed information from the CPSC.

Aloha Housewares portable electric heaters recalled due to fire hazard

Louisville Ladder extension ladders recalled due to fall hazard

Rinnai wall furnaces (shown) recalled due to carbon-monoxide hazard

Read this entry from our Safety blog for further details on ladders and portable heaters.

Essential information: To learn how to stay informed about product recalls, read “CPSC Steps Out With Million-Consumer March.” And be sure to subscribe to the Consumer Reports Safety blog for the latest on product-safety news. See all recent CPSC product recalls here.

Ed Begley Jr. promotes energy efficiency

Many Hollywood types have hopped on the green bandwagon in recent years, but Ed Begley Jr. gets credit for having been on board for decades. I caught up with the 58-year-old actor and environmental activist at the International Builders’ Show on Friday, February 15, to talk about things green and a product he was pitching. (Celebs rarely show up at trade shows unless their hawking something.)

“Growing up in smoggy L.A., by 1970 I’d had a bellyful, and I wanted to do something about it,” says Begley, perhaps best known for his role as Dr. Victor Ehrlich on the 1980s TV show St. Elsewhere, about his initial interest in green matters.

His first move was the purchase of a Taylor-Dunn electric car in 1970s. The vehicle, recalls Begley, “was little more than a golf cart with windshield wipers and a horn.” These days, Begley walks and bikes to his destinations and also drives a fully electric Toyota RAV4, which he charges using solar power at his home in Studio City, California.

His house is equipped with all kinds of eco-friendly gear, including solar roof panels that can track the sun, a solar oven, and a rainwater-collection system. (See just how green Begley is at the Web site of his HGTV show, Living With Ed.)

The house also has the new A.O. Smith Vertex 100 power-vent gas water heater, the product Begley was promoting at the Builders’ Show. The Vertex uses an unusual helix configuration, basically 30 feet of coil that transfers gas-fired heat to the water (shown). This 100,000-Btu unit operates at 95 percent efficiency, according to the manufacturer, besting the 80 percent level of the most-efficient traditional water heaters. It is supposed to produce as much hot water as a typical 75-gallon model.

With a suggested retail price of around $2,000, the Vertex 100 (available only through wholesalers) isn’t cheap, though the manufacturer says it’s comparable in cost to premium water heaters. That price tag puts it above what Begley calls the “low-hanging fruit” of household energy conservation, products like compact fluorescent lightbulbs and thermostats. But, Begley reasons, the money people save using those products can eventually go toward more-expensive items.

“We’re heading in the right direction,” Begley says about making homes greener. “We haven’t completed all the tasks [toward building truly energy-efficient homes], but we’ve proved we can get there.”—Daniel DiClerico

Essential information: If you’re in the market for a new water heater, use our free buying advice. Read our expert advice for 10 easy ways to save hundreds of dollars on energy costs at your house, and visit our Energy-Saving Guide for expert advice on saving energy—and money—everyday.