Kitchen remodeling remains a popular project

My 84-year-old father told us a joke at the dinner table last Sunday (remember, this is a joke): “A guy cutting down a tree with a chain saw accidentally severs his left pinkie. His wife rushes him to the local hospital, where the emergency-room doctor explains to him, ‘You have two choices. We can replace the finger using expensive experimental microsurgery—it’ll cost $75,000—or you can live a perfectly normal life without the digit. Which would you prefer?’

“The guy tells the doctor he needs to quickly talk it over with his wife. The wife comes in, and her husband asks her what he should do. She ponders the question for a moment and replies: ‘I’d rather have a new kitchen.’”

There’s a raunchy version of that joke, but its point is the same: People love to remodel their kitchens, and some are willing to give up a lot to do so. And even in the midst of the economic slump we’re in, kitchen remodeling remains popular in the United States. In fact, kitchen projects are estimated to be the biggest source of remodeling spending in 2008, garnering 18 percent of the total home- improvement dollars American consumers will shell out, according to the Home Improvement Research Institute’s 2007 Project Decision Study. (Adding a bathroom accounts for 7 percent of spending; replacing a roof, 8 percent.) The average kitchen remodel in 2007 cost $6,800, according to HIRI.

Some other interesting findings from the HIRI study:

• 46 percent of U.S. kitchen remodels were completely do-it-yourself, while 62 percent were at least partially DIY.

• “Buy-it-yourself,” or BIY, remodels—in which the consumer buys the products and has a contractor install them—account for 21 percent of kitchen remodels.

• Women initiate most kitchen-remodeling projects. Still, men initiated 31 percent of kitchen remodels, up from 18 percent in 2003.

• The use of built-in appliances in remodeled kitchens is growing. (Read our recent Q&A on the repair history of built-in refrigerators.)

• Average spending on kitchen remodeling projects has not increased much over the last two years.

With inflation on the rise, how have consumers managed not to spend more on their kitchen projects even as prices are increasing? The answer might lie in the BIY trend: Savvy homeowners who shop around for materials and appliances are making wise choices in the products they use and are getting good deals.—Karin Weisburgh, Senior Research Analyst

Essential information: Be a smart shopper yourself and read our report on where to buy appliances.

Tip of the Day: Clean under your deck

Everyone marks the first warm days of spring differently. Some folks go for a long walk, many fire up the grill for the first of many meals they’ll prepare outdoors in the coming months, and some toss the ball around with their kids.

Many of you have also recently undertaken some spring cleaning, but I imagine that I’m in the minority of homeowners who spent the first mild spring evening this year crawling and toiling under a deck to clean out the mess there.

In years past, raking out leaves from beneath my 400-square-foot wood deck was invariably an hours-long ordeal. This time, however, it took only about 20 minutes, in part because the leaves were dry and easier to gather and also because I needed to complete the work before it got too dark.

When I was finished, my booty comprised a full bag of leaves, two stinging eyes, nine tennis balls and two Wiffle Balls—kids!—plus a balled-up woolly bear caterpillar. Oh, and enough dirt on my clothes and myself to merit instant banishment to the shower. (That’s me in the photo above.)

Why bother cleaning out under the deck? Leaves that collect there can harbor moisture and serve an inviting habitat for insects and fungi. They’re also a fire hazard. The chief reason I tackle this chore in spring is that the patio tiles and soil under the deck have lost most of winter’s chill. Even better, the ants, spiders, and assorted other cooties that might want at me have yet to emerge at my house.

At any time of the year, though, this underdeck cleanup would merit a spot on Dirty Jobs—presuming you could find someone to pay to do this work. And once I’ve tidied up, other deck-upkeep chores seem easy by comparison. These include an annual safety inspection; the North American Deck and Railing Association (NADRA) offers a handy checklist (PDF download) for the part of the deck you walk on. The NADRA also promotes Deck Safety Month in May.

While you’re working on your deck, check your deck stain or treatment for wear. Look for our upcoming report on deck stains and treatments in the June 2008 issue of Consumer Reports (on sale and online in early May). We’re covering volatile organic compounds among a number of other topics and will have testing information on a range of decking materials, including some of the newest composites.

Once someone manufactures a 20-foot telescopic rake, I suppose we’ll have to test that out, too. I have just the place to put it through its paces.—Ed Perratore

Essential information: Here’s how to prepare your deck for a new stain and tips on finding the best deck stain or treatment.

Bobby Flay’s tips for great burgers

With diverse restaurants like Southwestern-flavored Mesa Grill, Spanish-inspired Bolo, American brasserie Bar Americain, and Bobby Flay Steak to his credit, chef-restaurateur Bobby Flay might seem like someone with high-style tastes that veer toward the international. Yet the humble hamburger remains this longtime Food Network star’s favorite food to eat.

The 43-year-old Flay is so enamored of hamburgers that he’s planning to open Bobby’s Burger Palace, a chain of eateries with several locations in the greater New York City area.

If you share Flay’s passion for hamburgers but can’t make it to one of his restaurants, use his tips for making topnotch burgers at home. Add some flair to your standard grilling menu by making Flay’s tuna burgers (recipe follows after the hamburger tips).

Before you grill, follow our expert advice to ensure you avoid common grilling mistakes and to keep your grill cooking better, longer as you make Flay’s recipes as well as our delicious, easy-to-prepare dishes. And if you’re in the market for a new gas grill, read our June 2008 gas-grills report and visit our gas-grills product page.—Kimberly Janeway

Flay’s 4 Steps to a Great Hamburger
1. Skip beef that’s too lean. Flay suggests that you use ground chuck with a 20 percent fat content (80 percent lean). “A burger has to be juicy to be good and you can’t get juicy without fat,” Flay says, noting that a lot of the fat will drip off during the cooking process. If you use beef that’s too lean and you like your burgers cooked passed medium doneness, you’ll end up with a dry burger when the meat is too lean. “If you are watching your weight or are under the care of a physician, then use a leaner meat,” adds Flay.

2. Season the meat liberally. Flay recommends that you season the patties generously with salt and freshly ground pepper. Each patty should be about six ounces.

3. Turn up the heat. To get a nice char on the meat while keeping the inside juicy, cook over high heat, according to Flay, who cautions that you shouldn’t play with the meat while it’s on the grill: Place each patty on the grill (which you should have preheated for 15 to 20 minutes), let it get brown and slightly charred (this will take about 3 minutes), and then flip it. Flip each burger only once or they will start to fall apart. Don’t press on the burger either; this will cause juices to come out of the meat and will cause annoying flare-ups.

4. Break out the toppings. “My ideal burger contains two slices of aged cheddar cheese, two slices of ripe beefsteak tomato, grilled sweet onion, say Vidalia or Walla Walla, crisp romaine or iceberg lettuce, and a strong horseradish mustard,” Flays notes. He adds that the perfect burger calls for a soft, airy bun with sesame seeds.

Photo courtesy of Food Network

What are VOCs in paint, and is more or less of them better?

At my area home center I’m seeing more interior paints whose cans say the finishes have low or no VOCs. What are VOCs and what do the numbers mean?

The seal has definitely been broken on the issue of VOCs, or volatile organic compounds, in paint. You can expect to see more brands touting their virtuous VOC content.

VOCs are solvents that get released into the air as the paint dries. (Other products emit solvents, including adhesives, cleaning supplies, and even some home furnishings.) VOCs can cause acute symptoms, including headaches and dizziness. The long-term effects are less certain, but according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, some VOCs are suspected carcinogens.

The federal government caps the VOC content in paint at 250 grams per liter (g/l) for flat finishes and 380 g/l for other finishes (low-luster, semigloss, etc.). However, some manufacturers have opted to comply with more stringent limits—50 g/l for all finishes—set by California’s South Coast Air Quality Management District. These paints include such products as Benjamin Moore Aura, True Value Easy Care, and Glidden Evermore. In the past, low-VOC paints have performed poorly in our tests, but these products all got high marks in our latest tests of low-luster interior paints; see our Ratings (available to subscribers) for the full details.

(The Ozone Transport Commission, a multistate organization created under the Clean Air Act, also has a model rule that limits flat coatings to 100 g/l and non-flat coatings to 150 g/l. It has been adopted by the District of Columbia and the following states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia. Any sold in these places must be OTC-compliant.)

A handful of paints whose manufacturers claim they contain zero VOCs are now on the market. One is Mythic, which sells for $35 to $45 per gallon at independent dealers nationwide. If you’re a reader of shelter magazines, you’ve probably seen the print ads for Mythic, including the one shown here. Another zero-VOC paint is Freshaire Choice, a Home Depot exclusive that sells for $35 to $38 a gallon. Freshaire has adopted a more wholesome marketing approach: “It’s good for your family, and better for our world.”

The base of other paints might also be free of VOCs, but when any pigment is added at the point of sale, the VOC level climbs as high as 150 g/l, according to ICI Paints, which manufacturers Freshaire Choice. But the makers of Mythic and Freshaire Choice both say that the color pigments used in their finishes contain no VOCs.

Mythic and Freshaire Choice use a VOC-free color additive that is supposed to eliminate not only harmful solvents but also the telltale odor of a freshly painted room, according to their manufacturers. Carl E. Smith, CEO of the Greenguard Environmental Institute, argues that measuring emissions is as important as identifying the VOC level in a paint. “You can have a low count on VOC, but still have high emissions,” says Smith. That’s why Greenguard, which describes itself as an “industry-independent, third-party testing” organization, makes emissions central to its certification process. Currently, Freshaire Choice earns the Greenguard seal, as does Benjamin Moore Aura, whose low-luster and flat paints scored an excellent and a very good overall score, respectively; Mythic has not yet been tested by Greenguard.

Consumer Reports has not yet tested Mythic or Freshaire Choice but both will be considered for our 2009 report of interior paints. We don’t know whether these finishes will endure our typical hiding, fading, and stain resistance tests.

Remember, even though a paint might have low or no VOCs, it doesn’t do you any good if it needs constant touch-ups or reapplying.—Daniel DiClerico

Essential information: If you’re about to tackle a painting project, see our buying guide to interior paint. Also, read this post on avoiding common painting mistakes.

Product certifications are meant to enlighten, not confuse

Ever wonder what the symbols, seals, or sets of letters like "UL" or "CSA" on the back of your smoke detector, microwave oven, hair dryer, or air conditioner mean? Known as certification marks, these logos and acronyms indicate that a consumer product has been tested by this third-party laboratory and that it is certified to meet nationally recognized standards for that type of product. Certification laboratories, like Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL, shown)) and the Canadian Standards Association (CSA), must prove that they have the technology and ability to test a product to the applicable standards.

Read "Product Certifications: On the Mark" and refer to the chart on that page to learn more about the certifying organizations and the certification marks for common household goods.

                                                                                                                                             

LawnBott LB3200 robotic mower recall

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission on April 25 announced the recall of the LawnBott LB2000, LB2100, LB3000, and LB3200 robotic lawn mowers, all made by Zucchetti Centro Sistemi S.p.A., of Italy.

Read more about the LB3200 Evolution mower in this story from the May 2008 issue of Consumer Reports, learn about the recall in this post from our Safety blog, and watch our video (right).

Buzzword: Staycation

What does it mean? Staycation is a portmanteau that combines “stay” and “vacation” and refers to a holiday that takes place either at or near home. It joins a list of other Buzzwords that are formed by melding two words into one: greenwashing, prosumer, ruralpolitan, and techorate.

Why the buzz? With the U.S. economy sagging and the nationwide average price for unleaded regular gas surging toward $4 per gallon, a pricey destination holiday is beyond the reach of many Americans. Not wanting to experience a summer devoid of well-deserved R&R, many families are trading in their travel plans for a stay-at-home vacation. These staycations take many forms, including backyard camping “expeditions” and romantic “escapes” to a local hotel.

Just like many vacations, staycations require gear, and at-home holidays call for some special accoutrements. Top of the must-have list is a dependable grill. The affordable Brinkmann 810-8410S, $200 (sold at Home Depot), and Char-Broil Commercial Series 463268008, $300 (Lowe’s), are Quick Picks. Read our latest report on gas grills for the full details and try out our easy, delicious grilling recipes.

Beyond a good grill, your outdoor-living area/kitchen needs a few other products to help make your staycation a success. For crushing ice and mixing fruit smoothies, keep a quality blender handy. Turn your patio or deck into an open-air entertaining room with outdoor furniture. To keep the bugs at bay, review our Ratings of insect repellents (available to subscribers), and find the best sunscreen. Finally, make sure your air conditioners are up to snuff—when you’re watching a movie at home on a scorcher of a summer evening, you’ll definitely want to keep cool.—Daniel DiClerico

Essential information: To prevent accidents from happening during your staycation, be sure to review our Summer Safety Guide, and see our Outdoor Living Guide for more information on outdoor fun.

Tip of the Day: How to spend your federal economic stimulus payment

The economic stimulus payments from the federal government will start hitting mailboxes throughout the country the first week of May. Approximately 130 million Americans will receive $300 to $600 per individual or $600 to $1,200 per married couple, plus $300 for each qualifying child. Checks will go out in order based on the last two digits of Social Security numbers and will be issued through July 11. Check out the Internal Revenue Service Web site to calculate the size of your check and its issue date.

The prudent move might be to pay down any debt you have or save or invest the money for the future. (Read this entry from our Money blog for details on investing or using your check.) But since Uncle Sam really wants you to stimulate the economy with your windfall, you might consider spending the money on your home, if you can swing financially.

To help you make smart purchases for the home, here are our suggestions of top-performing home-related products you might consider buying. They’re listed in alphabetical order within each product.

If you’ve already decided how you’ll spend your stimulus check, please share what you’re doing with the money by leaving a comment at the end of this post.—Daniel DiClerico

Air Conditioners (check back for updated information in early May)
Frigidaire FAA067P7A (Lowe’s), $150
Frigidaire FAC107P1A (Lowe’s), $240
GE ASM05LK, $180
GE ASM06LK, $200
GE ASM08LK, $260
Haier ESA3105, $250
Kenmore (Sears) 76081, $200
LG GL6000ER, $230

Cordless Drills
Black & Decker FS14PSK, $65
Bosch 32614-2G, $160
Bosch 33618-2G, $190
Craftsman (Sears) 11561, $90
Hitachi DS12DVF3, $80
Hitachi DS18DMR, $200
Hitachi DS18DVF3, $150
Makita 6347DWDE, $200
Makita 6390DWPE, $140
Makita 6980FDWDE, $200
Makita BDF451, $280
Makita BDF452HW, $200
Milwaukee 0824-24, $300
Panasonic EY6432GQKW, $200
Ryobi P230C, $130
Ryobi P813, $170

Dishwashers
Kenmore (Sears) 1374[2] , $650
Bosch SHE33M0[2]UC, $540
Whirlpool DU1055XTS[Q] , $350
Kenmore (Sears) 1373[2], $500
Whirlpool DU1100XTP[Q], $450

Dryers
GE DBVH512EF[WW], $650
GE Profile DPSE810EG[WT]s, $500

Gas Grills
Blue Ember by Fiesta FG50069-U409 (Home Depot), $450
Char-Broil Commercial Series 463268008 (Lowe’s), $300
Kenmore (Sears) 16233, $400
Weber Genesis E320, $700

Vintage Consumer Reports: Automatic electric toasters, 1956

I recently stopped by our InfoCenter, a great resource for Consumer Reports editors. As part of some housekeeping they're doing, the folks in our library are giving away bound copies of past issues of Consumer Reports. I grabbed a few tomes, including the one from my birth year, 1963.

As someone who's fascinated by these old magazines and the great photography that filled their pages, I've decided to post our archival images on the Home & Garden blog, a way for you to take a step back in time and (re)connect with the work Consumer Reports has done since 1936.

The image here is from a 1956 toasters test. (That's not an army mess hall but one of our old labs.) In our tests of 22 models that year, we judged three toasters that were otherwise high in overall quality Not Acceptable because they presented a serious shock hazard.

Fifty-two years later we continue to encounter hazardous products, including this robotic lawn mower.

Drop me a line to let me know whether you want to see more photos from our archives and which home products interest you the most.—Steven H. Saltzman

How to go green in the kitchen

The following article is reprinted from Kitchen Planning & Buying Guide 2008 (cover shown), a new publication from the editors of Consumer Reports. The issue ($5.99) is on newsstands nationwide until June 30, 2008.

“Green is an approach that’s going to stay part of our design ethic,” says Connecticut-based kitchen designer Mary Jo Peterson. She believes that reducing waste and energy, reusing, and recycling are keys to a greener kitchen. The ingredients? Products made from sustainable, renewable materials, energy-wise appliances, and tools that foster recycling. Here are some particulars on designing a green kitchen:

Appliances. The Energy Star label indicates that qualified models are even more efficient than the minimum levels established by the federal government. Also, if you don’t need a large oven or refrigerator, scale down to smaller models. You won’t necessarily have to forgo quality features. A tiny secondary oven also saves energy for mini meals and reheating.

Cabinetry. Some manufacturers produce cabinets free of formaldehyde, a carcinogenic gas, as well as cabinets made of particleboard or fiberboard with as much as 75 percent recycled or recovered material content.

Countertops. From recycled glass to paper, sustainable ingredients are making their way onto kitchen counters. However, they are typically pricey, available through architects and designers, and too new to evaluate long-term durability.

Flooring. Bamboo grows rapidly, reaching its harvestable height in six to eight years versus up to 80 years for some hardwoods. Cork is peeled off the bark of cork oak trees without killing the tree. It is soft and quiet underfoot. However, both materials changed color in our UV tests, and neither proved especially tough when it came to wear. Also, some are more sustainably harvested than others. Certification from the Forest Stewardship Council helps ensure that at least some sustainable practices are used. (Learn about the growing use of bamboo in the home.)

Lighting. Use energy-saving compact fluorescent lightbulbs, now available in warm tones, and less-versatile LEDs (light-emitting diodes) where possible. Like all fluorescent lighting, the fluorescent bulbs we tested contain small amounts of mercury, a neurotoxin, and should be recycled to prevent release into the environment. Contact your sanitation department to see if recycling is an option in your area, visit www.epa.gov/bulbrecycling to find recyclers and learn about other options, and read  “Where, oh where, can I recycle my CFLs?” from the Home & Garden blog.

Paints. Shop for interior paints that off-gas little or no volatile organic compounds (VOC). There are several readily available zero- and low-VOC paints from major paint manufacturers. Some may not perform as well as other paints, so be sure to check our Ratings (available to subscribers) for performance.

Water. If you are on a public municipal water system, check your Consumer Confidence Report, which lists what compounds are in your water. Or have your water tested if you are on a private well. If those reports uncover any contaminants you should invest in a filtration system. It’s cheaper than bottled water and less wasteful. For more information, read our latest report on water filters. For more information, read our latest report on water filters.

Essential information: For more information on Earth Day and greener living, visit our Earth Day Guide.

10 Questions for . . . Don Ferrier, Green Builder

In this first installment of a new feature on the Home & Garden blog, we put 10 questions to Don Ferrier, president of Ferrier Custom Homes in Fort Worth, Texas. Ferrier (shown below) is at the forefront of the green-building movement in this country.

Q. You’ve been called one of the godfathers of green building. When did you first become interested in energy-efficient practices?

A. In 1881 my Scottish grandfather immigrated to the U.S. because the state of Texas needed masons to build its new capital. He settled in north Texas and had 12 kids, one of whom started a structural concrete business building bridges. I eventually joined the family business and in 1982 a couple approached us about building an earth-sheltered, underground home.
    Imagine a bunker with concrete on three sides and the fourth, which typically faces south for passive solar orientation, made of glass. The result was an extremely energy-efficient structure that’s also storm-resistant and easy to maintain. That’s how I got started in green construction, although we didn’t call it that at the time.

Q. Nowadays you’re building more-conventional homes, although the emphasis is still on energy efficiency. What major developments have taken place in the ensuing quarter century?

A. There’s been a tidal wave of change. To give you just one example, in 1985 I built my first home out of structural insulated panels, or SIPs. Today, 95 percent of the homes we build are made of the material. (Editor's note: Only 0.5 percent of U.S. homes built in 2005 were made with SIPs,
according to the Structural Insulation Panel Association; 70 percent were built with conventional framing techniques.) The amount of knowledge about this sort of construction is no longer obscure. Public education is the other development. I’m a big fan of the LEED for Homes and the NAHB Green Building programs. Both organizations do a phenomenal amount of good and are tremendous resources for builders as well as homeowners.

Q. Can you describe the greenest house you’ve ever built?

A. That would be Heather’s Home (shown above) a prototype home that we started in September 2005 for LEED and the NAHB near Fort Worth. It’s named after Heather, my then 25-year old daughter, who came to me saying she wanted to build a very green home and wanted to do it on a tight budget. That was more a less our mission statement. It’s not the cheapest house out there but it’s far from the most expensive.

Q. What are some energy-efficient features of Heather’s home?

A. It starts with orientation. In our climate, that means controlling the sun to keep the house from getting too hot. A combination of trees, porches, and overhangs shields the glass portions of the house. They’re angled in such a way that during the summer, when the sun is high in the sky, solar heat gain isn’t an issue. But come winter, when the sun is lower in the sky, it warms the house. The house is built with SIPs, which make for an extremely tight, well-insulated house. Then there’s a high-efficiency air-conditioner unit and water heater. The lighting and appliances all have Energy Star ratings. And the outside of the house is a combination of stucco and low-maintenance fiber cement.

Q. What about indoor air quality? How does this relate to green building?

A. Here’s the dilemma. The average home is leaky. That makes it inefficient, but it lets enough outdoor air into the home that you don’t have to worry about indoor air quality. An energy-efficient home is very tightly constructed. But if you’re not careful about what you put inside, you’ll be left with polluted indoor air. So you have to watch what products you introduce into the home. For example, you have to watch out for the VOCs that are in many materials, including cabinets, countertops, carpets, stains, and paints.

Kitchen/Bath Industry Show Product Preview: Hansgrohe Croma showerheads

Showering and bathing use lots of water. Indeed, Americans consume more than 1.2 trillion gallons a year to get clean, estimates the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

So in this Age of Green, Hansgrohe has introduced adjustable spray showerheads to its lineup. The manufacturer claims the Croma C 100 (shown) and Croma E 100 showerheads give the full, drenching coverage of standard high-end models yet use nearly 30 percent less water than the government-mandated maximum of 2.5 gallons per minute. (Note that there isn’t a WaterSense label for showerheads, indicating that a product uses much less water than a conventional model, but the EPA is aiming to have one for qualified products in spring 2009.)

Both Croma showerheads offer normal, massage, and intense turbo spray settings. The Croma C 100 offers a traditional style is available in those finishes and polished nickel and oil-rubbed bronze. The Croma E 100 has a contemporary look and comes in chrome, brushed nickel, and polished brass. They’re available at bath and kitchen showrooms nationwide and cost $60 to $94.—Kimberly Janeway

Essential information: Before you shop, learn about the different types of showerheads and the factors that affect performance. And watch our video from the Kitchen/Bath Industry Show on the latest trends in the bathroom.

Q&A: Where does Consumer Reports test lawn mowers?

I noticed that Consumer Reports is based on Yonkers, New York, which means you can't review new lawn mowers and tractors over the winter. Where do you test this kind of equipment?

To test walk-behind mowers, lawn tractors, and zero-turn mowers each year, project leader Peter Sawchuk heads a team of experts in Fort Myers, Florida. We prepare our six acres of test fields in late fall so they are ready in midwinter for us to put dozens of models through their paces with enough time for us to prepare a test report for the May issue of Consumer Reports and for the kickoff of prime outdoor-power-equipment buying season. If you’re in the market for a new model, see our latest reviews of mowers, tractors, and string trimmers. (Get your lawn mower in shape for spring and see how we test mowers and tractors.)

But grass isn’t all that flourished in the meadows during our six weeks of testing in February and March. Frequent visitors to the test fields included two pairs of red-shouldered hawks and a comical flock of white ibises.

By far, though, the most ubiquitous and numerous visitors were cattle egrets, one of which (shown) chanced upon a Toro zero-turn-radius mower parked near our test shed. Trying to nab uprooted insects, cattle egrets follow behind horses and cattle—and our tractor. Our feathered friend stayed put for several minutes before alighting for apparently greener or other bug-filled pastures.

As fun as it was to see the birds, our 2008 testing featured these more-interesting highlights:

Make your kitchen safe for your kids

With so many American kitchens now serving as the hub of the home—the spot where you and your family not only cook and eat but also pay bills, do office or school work, surf the Web, watch TV, and just hang out—young children who spend more time there face a higher risk of accidents.

Follow the expert advice in this post from our colleagues at the Consumer Reports Babies & Kids blog to make your kitchen safer for your children.

Essential information: Before you start work on a kitchen remodel, read Great Kitchens for Less. Also learn about 10 kitchen products that don't match the hype surrounding them, get expert advice on paying for your project, and find the best deals on appliances. 

Does the Fuego 02 gas grill combine style and performance?

We recently tested the Fuego 02 gas grill, $1,700, for our upcoming grills report, which will appear in the June 2008 issue of Consumer Reports (on sale and online the first week of May).

The Fuego 02 is a single-burner gas grill that seems to be designed for people who might favor form over function. Indeed, here's how the manufacturer describes this outdoor cooker in a brochure: "Part furniture and part grill, it functions as much as an entertainment hub as a place to prepare a memorable meal."

Find out whether this attractive grill left us burning with enthusiasm by reading our product review.

Essential information: See our gas grills product page for expert tips on buying and using a gas grill, including easy-to-make delicious recipes, advice on avoiding common mistakes when cooking, and ways to keep your grilling working well and looking good.

Green grows among U.S. companies

Seventy-one percent of U.S. companies have adopted a green design approach when it comes to their products, and 83 percent say they factor environmental matters into their strategic decisions, according to the "How Mature Is the Green Supply Chain?” report by BearingPoint, a management-and-technology consulting firm.

The recently released report, based on a survey of more than 600 professionals from companies in a variety of business sectors, looked at how companies are reacting to the growing green awareness in this country and abroad. (Download the report.)

It's no surprise that companies are trying to capitalize on the increasing consumer knowledge of things green by introducing claimed eco-friendly products, including household cleaners like the Clorox Green Works shown here.

You might describe some of these  environmentally aimed corporate efforts as greenwashing, one of our Buzzwords. Be sure to visit the Home & Garden blog on a regular basis for the latest information on new products and analysis of just how green they really are.

Turn your bathroom into at-home retreat

Given the current depressed housing market, Americans are more likely to stay in their current homes than to move. But they’ll continue to pump money into their condos, town homes, and houses: U.S. consumers are expected to spend in excess of $170 billion on remodeling projects in 2008, according to Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies.

The bathroom remains one of the most commonly fixed-up rooms. One trend in recent years has seen bathrooms converted into getaway spaces as consumers bling out their baths with whirlpool tubs, steam and multihead showers, high-style sinks, faucets, counters, and flooring, and other fixtures and surfaces once found only in high-end hotels and resorts. And, of course, the bathroom has become a multimedia center just like the kitchen, as manufacturers add music and video to their bathroom gear.

At last week's 2008 Kitchen/Bath Industry Show, we saw of the latest bathroom offerings, including the Hansgrohe Pharo Showerpanel SkyLine,  the Brondell Swash Ecoseat toilet seat, and the SonicSplash audio option from Lasco. Learn about these and other products in our video (right), featuring Bob Markovich, Home editor of Consumer Reports.—Steven H. Saltzman

Essential information: Use our expert advice when you’re shopping for a new toilet and refer to our Ratings (available to subscribers) to find the right model for your home. Also learn how to remodel a bathroom for less and avoid common project mistakes.

Buzzword: Biometrics

What does it mean? Biometrics is a science that has developed methods of using one or more unique physical characteristics—fingerprints, irises, voices, facial features—to identify and recognize people. The characteristics are recognized by a sensor and converted into digital form. In the case of iris recognition, the sensor might be a digital camera, whereas with fingerprints, a touchpad scanner would be the sensor.

Biometrics represents a brave new world in personal identification and security. While PINs and passwords are based on what you know, and keys and smart cards are based on what you have, biometrics is all about who you are. This genetic basis makes biometrics a highly secure and convenient way for people to protect their possessions, right down to their personal identities.

Why the buzz? Biometrics used to be the stuff of science fiction (think of Captain Kirk using voice recognition to control the Star Trek Enterprise), but the technology is in wide use today, frequently with personal electronic devices. A growing number of laptop computers, including the Lenovo IdeaPad Y510, are already equipped with biometric sensors. And, you can buy fingerprint sensors by themselves or in portable flash drives to add to any PC. In Europe and Asia, fingerprint-recognition is practically standard on cell phones. It should be huge in North America too, but not until mobile banking, whereby you'll use your cell phone to pay for items at the register, goes mainstream.

Similarly, door locks of the future might rely more on biometrics than conventional keys or security codes. At the 2008 International Builders' Show, my colleagues and I encountered many companies displaying keyless locksets. We haven't tested the devices, but the KwikSet SmartScan (shown being programmed; watch the product-preview video to see how the SmartScan works) and the New Biometric Solutions Biolock are two that caught our eye.

Even the government is keen on biometrics. In a 2006 speech on immigration reform, President Bush told a crowd at the Yuma Sector Border Control Headquarters in Arizona, "We need a tamper-proof ID card [for all temporary workers] based upon modern biometrics."€ Elsewhere, biometric-driven security measures are already in place. For example, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security takes a photograph and fingerprint image of most foreign visitors entering the country, and the Transportation Security Administration is testing out retinal scans and fingerprint identification at airports.

We're not sure if biometrics can make the country safer, but the technology could be a boon to home or computer security.—Daniel DiClerico

Essential information: Read our list of essential steps to avoid identity theft. If you're not ready to invest in biometric locks for your home, our coverage of door locks has plenty of information on the traditional kind.

Bamboo is growing in the home

Consumer Reports has tested bamboo towels, bamboo flooring, and even bamboo plates, many touting the claimed green aspects of these products. And last week we saw all kinds of bamboo offerings at the 2008 Kitchen/Bath Industry Show, including Rio Grande Imports' Zoom bamboo bath sink, Totally Bamboo's bamboo countertop panels for kitchens and baths, and Teragren's Studio bamboo flooring.

Learn about the latest green-themed bamboo products in the video (right) featuring Bob Markovich, Home editor of Consumer Reports.

Kitchen/Bath Industry Show Product Preview: Diva 365 induction range

In our tests, induction cooktops have proved themselves, having broken our speed record for boiling water and simmered sauce flawlessly. What’s more, the magnetic field, which does the cooking on these cooktops, sends nearly all of its heat to the pot or pan, so the cooking surface remains relatively cool, a safety plus.

The new Diva 365 induction range, among the first on the market, is a 36-inch stainless-steel appliance with five induction elements—one large, 4,000-watt “Super Burner”; two 3,000-watt side burners; and two 2,000-watt versions for small pots and lower-heat simmering. (Watch our video, right.)

The 365 comes with a premium price tag: $8,950. Note that the range also requires two 220-volt circuits.—Bob Markovich

Essential information: See our Cooktops and Wall Ovens product page for detailed information on gas and electric cooktops, and learn more about induction models. If you’re in the market for a cooktop, use our buying advice to find the best model, including detailed information on important cooktop features. Before you shop, refer to our Ratings of gas and electric models, available to subscribers.

Kitchen/Bath Industry Show Product Preview: Vinotemp Eco-Series wine chillers

Refrigerators rely on a compressor to operate, but the Vinotemp Eco-Series wine chillers use thermoelectric technology. This approach, claims the manufacturer, is better for the wine and for the environment.

The main advantage of this technology, says Vinotemp, is that no chlorofluorocarbons and hydrochlorofluorocarbons are used. These gases, commonly referred to as freons, can damage the ozone layer. (Note that the types of gas used in today’s refrigerator compressors, hydrofluorocarbons, do not affect the ozone layer.) Other claimed benefits of this technology include less vibration—a “merciless killer” of wine, says Vinotemp—and better temperature accuracy, +/- 0.1°C.

The Eco-Series lineup includes 18- or 28-bottle single-zone units, $229 to $314, and a 21-bottle dual-zone model and 32- and 48-bottle dual-zone units, $314 to $599. (The 32-bottle unit is shown. Smaller countertop models are available, too.) These freestanding wine chillers come in black with stainless-steel doors, trim, and handles and double-pane glass. You’ll find them online and in stores, including Costco, Home Depot, and Lowe’s.—Kimberly Janeway

Essential information: Read our advice on choosing a wine chiller and see the Ratings of wine-storage units (available to subscribers). Also, find out which wines to buy to fill up your chiller, and discover the proper serving temperatures for reds and whites.

Kitchen/Bath Industry Show Product Preview: Thomas’ Liquid Stainless Steel

Suppose you love your refrigerator, range, or dishwasher but really hate the bisque color you loved when you bought the appliance. Instead of replacing the appliance you can give it a makeover. Thomas' Kitchen Art Liquid Stainless Steel is designed to cover up an old finish with a stainless-steel look.

You can apply this brush-on finish yourself in a weekend, claims Thomas’. This two-part, water-based paint includes a base coat with micron-size flakes of real stainless steel and a clear-urethane topcoat for toughness, says the manufacturer. You can even use your refrigerator magnets once the paint has cured, according to Thomas’. (An after shot of a range is shown below left; the before of the same range is below right.)

The steps are straightforward:
• Prep the appliance surface by removing or masking handles and trim. Lightly rough-sand and clean the surface with window cleaner.
• Apply three light coats of the paint with a roller and smooth it with a foam brush, letting each coat dry about an hour before you apply the next one.

Liquid Stainless Steel works on painted and stainless finishes and can withstand heat up to 300°F on range tops, according to the manufacturer. The Fridge Kit, $40, is supposed to have enough paint for an average-size refrigerator, while the Range and Dishwasher Kit, $20, should handle both appliances. The kits are sold at hardware stores and some Home Depots. A spray-on version for faucets and other small items is on the way, says Thomas’.—Bob Markovich

Kitchen/Bath Industry Show Product Preview: Fisher & Paykel CookSurface gas cooktop

First there were electric smoothtop cooktops, which eliminated food-trapping coils. Next came gas-on-glass versions, which did away with the grime-trapping wells typically found around the burners.

The latest easier-to-clean cooktop is the 36-inch-wide, three-burner CookSurface gas model from the Fisher & Paykel. After you’re done cooking, says the manufacturer, you push a large knob on the cooktop to lower the burners so they’re flush with the ceramic glass cooktop, facilitating cleanup. Next time you need to boil water, sauté a steak, or stir-fry some vegetables, you push the knob to raise the burners. (The photo shows the cooktop with a burner recessed, left, and elevated.)

To lower or raise the flame level when cooking, you twist that same knob, says the manufacturer. The CookSurface cooktop provides smooth heat control by using the patented AeroBurner system, which adds oxygen as the flame setting goes up, according to Fisher & Paykel.

The three burners can go from a low simmer to a robust 15,000 Btu. Other features include digital displays, quiet igniters, and pan supports that rise and lower with the burners and replace the usual grates. The 21-inch-deep and 161⁄2-inch-deep versions of this cooktop should arrive at Fisher & Paykel dealers and select Lowe’s stores nationwide this fall.—Bob Markovich

Essential information: If you’re in the market for a cooktop, use our buying advice to find the best model, including detailed information on important cooktop features. Before you shop, refer to our Ratings of gas and electric models, available to subscribers.

 

Live From the 2008 Kitchen/Bath Industry Show!

The Consumer Reports Home & Garden team has been in Chicago this week to cover the 2008 Kitchen/Bath Industry Show & Conference (K/BIS), the biggest annual event for kitchen- and bath-industry professionals. Our editors and market analysts have been scoping out the latest trends and the hottest products from more than 1,000 exhibitors.

Learn more about K/BIS at the official show site, and be sure to visit the Home & Garden blog over the next several days to read show coverage (you'll find the posts below), watch our exclusive product-preview videos, and stay abreast of what’s headed your way for the kitchen and bathroom.

Kitchen/Bath Industry Show Product Preview: Viking Designer Series Ultra-Premium 450 dishwasher

Viking dishwashers used to be made by Sweden-based Asko (learn who makes which appliances in “Appliance sleuthing”). But for its new Designer Series Ultra-Premium dishwashers, Viking decided to control the manufacturing process in an effort, the company says, to outfit its models with cutting-edge technology.

The 450 model, $1,575, can clean up to 15 place settings in one load, says Viking, and its features include a stainless-steel exterior and interior, a soil sensor that adjusts water use and pressure to the load, and a self-cleaning filter. The Energy Star-qualified dishwasher makes virtually no sound, touts the Greenwood, Mississippi-based manufacturer.

This dishwasher is available in 23 different colors, for a $100 premium. You’ll find it at Viking dealers and major retailers nationwide starting this June, with other models to follow.—Kimberly Janeway

Essential information: Read our latest testing-based report on dishwashers and buying advice before you shop for a new model, and see our Ratings (available to subscribers) to help find the right one for you.

Kitchen/Bath Industry Show Product Preview: Thermador Masterpiece Deluxe electric cooktops

Thermador calls its new infrared-sensor-equipped Masterpiece Deluxe electric cooktops groundbreaking. What distinguishes the cooktops? They’re equipped with an industry-first sensor, dubbed Sensor Dome (shown), that is designed to continually measure heat from the cookware and automatically cycle the burner on and off or even shut it down to maintain a set temperature, claims Thermador.

The manufacturer maintains you’ll save time and get better cooking performance since you won’t have to guess at or adjust the temperature. The retractable sensor is also supposed to prevent pots from boiling over.

The Masterpiece Deluxe cooktops are due in stores this July. The 30-inch, four-burner model with one sensor will cost $1,799; the five-burner, 36-inch model with one sensor, $1,899; the two-sensor 36-inch version, $2,099.—Kimberly Janeway

Essential information: Before you shop for a cooktop, read our buying advice and review the Ratings of electric and gas cooktops, available to subscribers.