Tip of the Day: Avoid accidents when grilling

Lots of us cook on a gas or charcoal- or wood-burning grill during summertime entertaining. Apparently some of us are spending too much time talking about our golf games, the presidential race, or a recipe for a killer dry rub instead of paying attention to the fire—more than 5,000 people went to the emergency room for grilling-related injuries in 2007, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Burns were the most common injury.

To avoid grilling accidents and keep yourself out of the ER, follow the advice below, compiled from our own experts, the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association trade group, and the CPSC:

• Check hoses and fittings for gas leaks when you first use your gas grill each year and a couple of times during outdoor-cooking season. Mix a small amount of dishwashing liquid and water in a spray bottle. Spray the soapy solution over connections and along the hose. Turn on the gas at the tank but leave the burners off. Bubbling at connections or along the hose means you need to replace the hose or fittings or possibly tighten a loose connection.
• Always grill outside and never in an enclosed area like the garage. Carbon monoxide could build up and make you sick or even asphyxiate you.
• Empty the grease pan, tray, or receptacle to decrease the risk of fire. Replace it after cleaning.
• Cook in a low-traffic area and away from any combustible surfaces. Sweep up dry brush and leaves. If your home has vinyl siding, be sure to keep a hot grill far away or it can cause the siding to melt and sag.
• Keep young kids and pets away from the grill when you're cooking and even after you're done—a grill can stay hot for up to an hour after you've cooked the last kebab. And never move a hot grill.
• Do not start a charcoal or wood fire with gasoline, and don't add lighter fluid after the fire has started; the flame can follow the fluid to its source—that being the container you're holding in your hand.
• When lighting a gas grill, keep the lid open to prevent gas from building up and causing what the HPBA calls a "flash off."
• Cook with long-handled utensils and flame-retardant mitts.
• Control flare-ups to keep yourself and others from getting burned. On a gas grill, lower the temperature. For a charcoal- or wood-burning model, raise the grid or evenly spread the coals.
• Put out a grease fire with baking soda and have a fire extinguisher on hand. If you don't have a fire extinguisher , use bucket of sand or douse the fire with water from your garden hose.
• Let ashes from a charcoal or a wood-burning grill sit for at least 48 hours before you throw them out.

LED lighting is coming of age

Even though a revival of the musical "Hair" is taking place in New York City through the end of August, this is not the dawning of the age of Aquarius but of LED lighting, as we reported in our May 2 Buzzword: Solid-State Lighting story and as The New York Times covered in the July 28 news story "Fans of L.E.D. Say This Bulb's Time Has Come."

LEDs have achieved widespread commercial use in traffic lights, street lamps, and other applications. But General Electric, Osram Sylvania, and Royal Philips Electronics are now looking into residential applications. (A Philips iW MR LED is shown.)

As with any emerging technology—pay attention, all you alpha geeks—price is a big issue in how fast consumers will adopt them. LED bulbs cost upward of $100 each. Even if as claimed they last 100 times longer than traditional incandescents and best compact fluorescent lightbulbs for longevity, that's likely a tough sell, especially given the slow economy. But their prices will inevitably drop, making LEDs something worth keeping an eye on.—Daniel DiClerico

Essential information: Read our report on undercabinet lighting, which covers LED fixtures.

Can appliances make you heavy?

Never mind the three Rs and the ABCs. Second graders now have to pay attention to their HDL and LDL.

In early July, the American Academy of Pediatrics called for wider cholesterol screening of children as young as 8. And data from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show an ongoing trend in heavy kids; in the 6-to-11 age group, 18.8 percent of children were overweight in 2003-2004, up from 6.5 percent in 1976-1980. Studies have also shown a disturbing rise in the number of children with medical conditions typically associated with adults—cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes.

Heath experts blame the nation’s weight problem on a variety of factors, including easy access to high-calorie fast food and soda; ever-expanding portion sizes; and sedentary behavior brought on by increased TV and computer use. But those explanations are the obvious causes, the low-hanging fruit roll-ups of this issue. There are other forces at work, and while they might not be as obvious, they are insidious.

One possible contributor could be appliances. That thought crossed my mind at last February’s International Builders’ Show when I saw a major manufacturer’s prototype refrigerator with a built-in can dispenser. Press the lever on the front door of the refrigerator and out popped a 12-ounce can of soda. This novelty feature doesn’t have to dole out calorie-heavy soda—people could load the unit with sugar-free soda or seltzer—but it’s a sign that Americans are drinking a lot of pop. The company has for now pulled the plug on the project.

This sort of gee-whiz feature impressed the media at the trade show, but in the kitchen it could become a quick-delivery system for “liquid candy,” as the Center for Science in the Public Interest dubbed sugar-laden soda in its “How Soft Drinks Are Harming Americans’ Health” 2005 report. A 12-ounce can of the typical nondiet soda has 10 teaspoons of sugar and 150 calories. One out of every 10 boys drinks five and a half 12-ounce cans, or about 800 calories per day, according to CSPI data.

Refrigerators could play a role in childhood obesity in other ways. While the average American household actually has seen a slight decrease in size (2.61 members in 2006, down from 2.67 in 1986), the typical refrigerator has grown by several cubic feet. We recently tested a Samsung side-by-side with a claimed capacity of 26.1 cubic feet of storage that’s twice as big as our top-rated model from 20 years ago.

More room for food means, well, more food. And not necessarily healthy fruits and vegetables, but rather stuff that tends to be high in calories, fat, sugar, and salt. “A much healthier lifestyle is the little European refrigerator that forces you to go shopping every day,” says Marion Nestle, Ph.D., professor of nutrition, food studies, and public health at New York University and author of What to Eat: An Aisle-by-Aisle Guide to Savvy Food Choices and Good Eating. “It forces you to buy fresh foods over ones that are packaged or prepared.” Note that refrigerators do have features that could inspire a healthier diet, including dedicated produce bins, humidity-controlled crisper drawers, and water dispensers.

Buzzword: Neighborhood Effect

What it means. This buzzword comes from Cambridge, Massachusetts, or more precisely, that neighborhood's Harvard University Joint Center for Housing Studies.

In the April 2008 paper "Good Home Improvers Make Good Neighbors," Kevin Park, a JCHS research assistant, defines neighborhood effect as "a situation where neighborhood conditions (including overall level of home improvement spending) impose costs and benefits or otherwise influence the behavior or actions of a homeowner. Similarly, the home improvement activities of an individual homeowner may impose costs and benefits on nearby property owners and thereby influence the general level of maintenance in the neighborhood." (Download a PDF of the paper here.)

In other words, upkeep is contagious, and the neighborhood as a whole benefits from homeowners' TLC.

Why the buzz? The housing market is still reeling—the foreclosure rate is climbing—and even the most optimistic economists aren't predicting a prompt recovery. Foreclosure is the heartbreaking result for homeowners who can't keep up with their mortgage payments. Herein lies the downside of neighborhood effect. Using a related buzzword, the Center for Responsible Lending refers to "subprime spillover," whereby a foreclosure on a home lowers the price of nearby single-family residences by 0.9 percent. The negative impact is cumulative—each additional foreclosure lowers values an additional 0.9 percent.

But that's the glass-half-empty view of neighborhood effect. Park's paper is largely about the positive impacts of home improvement. And as we observe in our August 2008 kitchen-remodeling special section, today's housing market actually makes it a good time to start a project: Contractors aren't swamped, and appliance retailers and home centers are offering more deals than ever.

Homeowners tend not to see past their property lines when calculating the return on investment of a project. But Park finds a "statistically significant effect of neighborhood home-improvement activity on home appreciation." Between 1996 and 2004, appreciation rates were 15 percent greater in neighborhoods where people spent a lot on home improvement than in low-spending ones.

So the next time your neighbors kick up a fuss over your ongoing renovation, or you over theirs, remember the concept of neighborhood effect.—Daniel DiClerico

Essential information: Use our new Home Improvement Guide interactive, which provides buying advice and more for appliances, tools, and building materials for every area of your home.

Q&A: Are synthetic materials any good for outdoor decks?

We desperately need to replace our rotted-out wood deck. Are synthetic decking materials a good choice?

While most people who put in a deck use real wood, some synthetic planks can offer good looks that will last—with less maintenance. Check out our latest report and watch our video (right) to learn about synthetic decking materials.

Also read about the different decking types, check your outdoor space to make sure its safe, and find out which fastener to use.

Radon in countertops question stays in the news

Do granite countertops emit dangerous levels of radon? That question continues to get attention, as evidenced by a front-page story in the Home section of the July 24, 2008, edition of The New York Times. “What’s Lurking in Your Countertop?” the headline inquires ominously in the story by Kate Murphy.

We reported on this very subject last month in Buzzword: Radon, which noted that there’s not much evidence that granite countertops release harmful amounts of this potentially dangerous gas into homes. Radon remains the second leading cause of lung cancer in the country.

We recently tested 11 do-it-yourself radon test kits. Look for our report and ratings of these kits in the September 2008 issue of Consumer Reports, on sale and online in early August.—Daniel DiClerico

Essential information: Learn how to deal with radon.

Dirt Devil vacuum tool recall

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission on July 23, 2008, announced the recall of 987,000 tool attachments for Dirt Devil vacuums (shown) because of a laceration-hazard risk. For full details on the recall, read this entry on the Consumer Reports Safety blog.

Essential information: When you're in the market for a new vacuum, read our latest report and visit our vacuum product page, where you'll find our expert buying advice for the different types of vacuums, like those featured in our video shopping guide. And did you know that the vacuum cleaner turned 100 this year?

Buzzword: Earth Energy

What it means. Earth energy is the newfangled name for the time-honored tradition of tapping the earth’s underground energy to heat or cool a building by running various liquids through a network of buried pipes. You’ll often see the term as part of an earth-energy system, or EES.

“Geothermal had always been the name for our earth-energy process, and it was confusing because everyone was expecting to see hot water coming out of the ground,” says Mark Morelli of Santa Rosa, California-based Air Connection, Inc. “Then my company shifted to calling it a ‘GeoExchange’ system, but ‘earth energy’ makes it easier for people to relate to what we do.”

“Earth energy certainly reflects what an EES does, which is to use the heat of the ground to both heat and cool your home,” says Greg Dudley, a sales manager at Earth Energy Technology & Supply in Marietta, Oklahoma.

Why the buzz? As Americans seek alternatives to fossil-fuel-generated energy, interest in renewable energy has grown—Morelli and Dudley report that their businesses have boomed in the past year—as has its profile. Al Gore in mid-July called for Americans to wean themselves of electricity generated by fossil fuels.

Earth-energy systems are one way to decrease our fossil-fuel reliance. In its most-efficient form, an EES takes the form of a ground-source heat pump. Throughout the U.S., the temperature just a few yards below the surface hovers around 55°F. Running groundwater, an antifreeze mixture, or a refrigerant through pipes and into the pump in your home will produce heat for home heating and hot water. Reverse the flow during cooling season, and the system will remove excess heat from your home and cool your indoor spaces. (See the illustration, courtesy of the California Energy Commission, above.)

While EES are not mainstream, people are talking about them. Members of the Consumer Reports HVAC forum, for instance, are discussing earth energy, with posters sharing information and links, like this one to the California Energy Commission’s Web page on geothermal heat pumps.

A typical EES will run two to four times as much to buy and install as a conventional oil- or natural-gas-fired heating-and-cooling system. But given the rising carbon-based fuel prices and the lower annual operating costs for an EES, a system could conceivably pay for itself within a few years in the best-case scenario, according to industry experts. Payback time will vary depending on a number of factors. High costs of electricity and installation (drilling is pricier in rocky soil) and a colder climate will increase how long it takes to break even.

What’s more, petroleum-based polyethylene pipes used in many earth-energy systems are getting more expensive and, and installers are likely to pass on that cost to you. And unlike solar-power systems, earth-energy systems don’t benefit from the wide array of utility rebates and state and federal tax incentives, although the earth-energy industry is lobbying to change that.—Gian Trotta

Essential information: Use the heating and cooling cost calculators on GreenerChoices.org. And look for our special section on saving energy at home in the October 2008 issue of Consumer Reports, on sale and online in September. And watch our video on ceiling fans, right, for some basic energy-saving information this summer.

New Feature: Refrigerator video buying guide

If you're in the market for a new refrigerator and are on a tight budget, you're in luck. Relatively basic $500 refrigerators now come equipped with rimmed glass shelves that catch spills and gallon-size-storage on doors. And more manufacturers are adding an icemaker to their models.

Before you head out to shop, watch our new video buying guide (right) and read our latest refrigerators report, learn about the real capacity of these appliances, and refer to our ratings of bottom-freezers, built-ins, side-by-sides, and top-freezers (available to subscribers).

Vintage Consumer Reports: Lightbulb testing

The big round object in the photo at right isn't some early satellite or a giant fitness ball. It's an integrating, or Ulbricht, sphere that we used for an August 1965 report on incandescent lightbulbs to check the quality and quantity of their light output.

Each bulb—we tested five major brands—was suspended in the center of the sphere, whose sides were coated with a specially formulated high-reflectance white paint. A precisely regulated current lit each bulb while a photoelectric cell and meter measured the light output in lumens. We ran the test on the bulbs when they were new and after they had burned for 500 hours.

Our testers chose the 500-hour milestone because most of the tested bulbs had a claimed life span of 750 hours. Some of the bulbs burned out far short of their advertised life, while others well exceeded it. But most lasted just about 750 hours.

Forty-three years later we're still testing lights, though now they're compact fluorescent lightbulbs. We covered CFLs in an October 2007 report and continued to test them for months. Read the results of that testing in this update. Our follow-up tests revealed that some low-priced CFLs aren't lasting as long as manufacturers claim.—Gian Trotta

Essential Information: Watch our video on CFLs, right, and read about Home Depot's new CFL-recycling program.

10 Questions for . . . Katherine Steiger, Professional Organizer

In this installment of 10 Questions for . . . , Senior Editor Daniel DiClerico talks to Katherine Steiger, a professional organizer whose company, Right Stuff Organizing, helps households in the Boston area combat clutter. Steiger shares her tricks of the trade and favorite sources and explains how to keep things organized with kids in the house.

What are the most common sources of clutter in the home?
Mail is one of the biggest causes of clutter. It's relentless, and people just don't know how to deal with it. The first thing is to get your name off the mailing lists by visiting the Direct Marketing Association Web site. That will put an end to unwanted catalogues. Also, don't subscribe to things that you don't read.

I encourage clients to deposit unwanted mail directly in the recycling bin. It can take some time to get off the mailing lists and cancel subscriptions, so this is a good stopgap. If the mail comes through a slot in the front door, keep the recycling bin right there. That might not be the most elegant solution, but if you're entertaining you can always move the bin temporarily. The important thing is to stop the pile up of papers.

In general, what does it take to live an organized life?
I often say to my clients, "Be ruthless." The general rule is if you haven't used something in a year, you're probably not going to ever use it. Maybe there's that one roasting pan you use for Thanksgiving that you do need—you don't want to spend $100 every year to buy a new one. But if you haven't touched the thing in 10 years, you're probably not the one hosting Thanksgiving. So you really need to be honest with yourself. It's the same with clothing. If you haven't worn an outfit for a whole cycle of seasons, get rid of it. Here's where charities help. People always feel better donating clothing than tossing it in the garbage. There's a charity called Dress for Success that prepares out-of-work women for job interviews, including giving them an outfit. Charities are one of the organizer's greatest tools. OnlineOrganizing.com has clearinghouse of organizations that makes it easy to donate just about anything.

There are so many products out there geared toward organization. Are they useful?
People often think if they just buy the right stuff their lives will be perfect. You can spend $200 at the Container Store or Target, but if the products don't get used they haven't helped you. So first you have to figure out what you're going to be left with. Professional organizers use the acronym SPACE:

• Sort the stuff.
• Purge those items you no longer use.
• Assign the keepers a place.
• Pick a Container.
• Equalize—if one comes in, one goes out.

So you see, products are far along in the process. When the time comes, containers should be sized relative to what you have—little things in little containers and big things in bigger containers. And it's always better to use clear containers so that you can see what's inside.

How has the green movement affected home organization?
A big challenge I find is older homes that weren't designed to cope with modern recycling needs. Just figuring out a place where clients can keep a bin or basket is tricky. But there are a lot of retractable trashcans and recycling systems that can be tucked into a cabinet, solving the spatial problem. Sometimes products are the answer.

Another great green organizing resource is Freecycle. This community-based Web site allows you to give away items to or get them from other people in the network. Often you have something that you just don't need anymore and that isn't valuable enough to sell but may not fit within your local charity's donation guidelines. For instance, most charities don't take Legos and other toys for safety reasons. Freecycle is a way to keep them out of the landfill.

The kitchen is command central in many households. What are some tips for keeping one orderly?
The biggest step is getting rid of the stuff you don't use. We all have items crammed in the back of cabinets, the ice-cream or bread maker or the special late-night-TV slicer that we got as a gift 10 years ago. These items should not be taking cabinets space away from things you use every day. If you really do make ice cream once a year for the Labor Day picnic, that's fine. But move the maker to a shelf in the basement.

Once you've purged, you need to create centers of activity. That's a concept organizers use a lot, not just in kitchens. The goal is to create zones where you do the same kinds of activities. That might mean putting all your baking stuff together in a cabinet by the oven and keeping the things that you need for food prep by an island countertop. It's also important to create a landing pad in the kitchen, since it's usually the first and last point of entry for families. A dedicated spot for keys and cell phones will keep you from hunting around for them when you leave. It will also keep the counters clear. You can't let this prime real estate get cluttered with unnecessary stuff.

Tip of the Day: Safely apply herbicides

The best way to keep your lawn free of weeds is to fertilize, water, and mow it properly. You can also make your lawn more resilient to weeds (and drought) by allowing it to grow longer. A healthy lawn will resist weeds without your having to apply chemical herbicides.

But if you're going to use herbicides to deal with broadleaf plantain, crabgrass, dandelions (shown), oxalis, and countless other weeds, you'll need to apply it properly. To identify common lawn weeds, use our interactive guide. Keep in mind that spot application of herbicides will require the use of less chemicals, which could save you money and be better for the environment.

Herbicides are classified according to their use or mode of action:

Nonselective herbicides like Roundup kill all kinds of plants.

Selective herbicides like Ortho Weed-B-Gon Max Weed Killer for Lawns Concentrate kill some plants but not others. In your lawn, selective herbicides kill dicots (which include many common lawn weeds), plants with branching veins in variously shaped leaves.

Postemergent herbicides such as Roundup and Weed-B-Gon kill growing weeds and may be either selective or not.

Preemergent herbicides prevent some weed seeds from even germinating. They are typically used in early spring to prevent crabgrass. Most often these herbicides are combined with a fertilizer, as in Scotts Turf Builder Halts Crabgrass Preventer.

To learn how to safely and properly use granular herbicides and concentrated liquid sprays, read our expert advice.

Buzzword: Alpha Geek

What it means. Alpha, the first letter in the Greek alphabet, has spawned a lot of power-hungry personality types, including alpha males and alpha moms. The latest members of the Order of Top Dogs, alpha geeks, are perhaps not as tough as those other alphas though they do typically have a strong interest in cutting-edge technology.

Alpha geek term first gained traction in office culture as a way to describe the person with the most technological know-how. (You know, the coworker you seek out when you can't figure out how to download pirated files through your company's ironclad firewall.)

Alpha geeks strut their stuff outside the corporate world, too. For example, your Apple-crazed friend who happily waited in line overnight to buy the new iPhone 3G is an alpha geek, as is your cousin who's been LinkedIn since early 2004 and sends out annoying invites to join LinkedIn to you and the rest of your family.

Why the buzz? Electronics aficionados are the most likely to be alpha geeks, but home and garden enthusiasts can be AGs, too. Consider cooking technology. An alpha geek will adore induction cooktops, which continue to impress our engineers and whose prices appliances are dropping.

Alpha geeks are surely joining the steam revolution, a technology that has found its way into many appliances, including dishwashers, washing machines, and even ranges. Steam modes are supposed to improve performance, although our engineers haven't found steam a noticeable improvement.

Outside the home, alpha geeks will probably know the pros and cons of zero-turn-radius mowers, or "ZTRs," as they no doubt call gear like the Cub Cadet shown above. They're also likely enamored of robotic lawn mowers, which are about as high tech as any outdoor power equipment can be. Note that one of the two models we tested was not acceptable.—Daniel DiClerico

Essential information: See our Kitchen-Planning Guide for the latest on cooking technologies and our Complete Lawn & Yard Guide for what's new for the outdoors.

Edison Electric Institute promotes energy efficiency

Just as consumers are getting socked by skyrocketing energy costs, the nation's power companies are paying more for fuel. The Energy Information Administration's recent short-term energy outlook, for instance, noted that escalating fuel costs are making it more expensive for utilities to generate electricity.

But you could end up footing the bill. "Within the past few weeks," the EIA report stated, "a number of utilities have requested permission from State regulators to raise electricity rates in response to rapidly increasing delivered fuel costs for power generation." Residential electricity prices are projected to rise by an annual average of about 5.2 percent in 2008 and 9.8 percent in 2009, up significantly from the 2.2 percent increase in 2007.

The electric utilities are aware of the challenges facing themselves and their customers. So on July 10, the Edison Electric Institute hosted a lunch at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. A six-member panel of EEI representatives addressed journalists to discuss "the effort underway to transform the role that energy efficiency plays within the electric power sector," according to the event program.

The EEI is the association of U.S. shareholder-owned electric companies, and its agenda is to ensure that its members turn a profit. So when EEI President Thomas Kuhn talked about the pressure the industry is under to "meet the growing demand for electricity in an affordable and reliable manner, and to supply it with minimal impact on the environment," I took his comments with a grain of salt.

Still, whatever their motive, many  power companies are pushing energy efficiency, largely by teaching their customers how to use less electricity. That puts them in an interesting pickle, because every kilowatt that customers don't consume affects their bottom line. It's akin to the tobacco industry being forced to tell smokers that its products will eventually given them cancer or kill them. Of course, that didn't exactly end cigarette sales.

Similarly, the electric industry is hardly on life support—nationwide consumption is projected to climb 30 percent by 2030. But the power companies try will need to find a model that sustains their own growth and the planet.

U.S. appliances gain in energy efficiency

Not all the news on the energy-use front is depressing. Major home appliances sold in the U.S. in 2007 perform much more efficiently than they did seven years ago, according to a recent study by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers.

Washing machines, refrigerators, and dishwashers in this country consumed 43 percent less energy overall last year than they did in 2000. Washing machines posted a 63 percent decrease in energy use even as tub capacity grew by 8 percent, refrigerators now use 30 percent less energy, and dishwashers consumer 29 percent less energy.

Taken together, according to AHAM, the energy savings from these three appliances would offset the carbon-dioxide emissions from 1.3 coal-fired power plants or more than 698 million gallons of gasoline. Americans consumed 130.2 billion gallons of gasoline in 2001 and 140.2 billion gallons in 2007.

By comparison, the fuel efficiency of the average U.S. passenger car from 2000 to 2007 remained relatively unchanged at 27.5 miles per gallon—the minimum required to meet federal Corporate Average Fuel Economy, or CAFE, standards. "During the last seven years, with more consumers purchasing larger and for the most part less-efficient vehicles, meeting higher CAFE standards has been a challenge," says Charlie Territo, a spokesman for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, a Washington, D.C.-based trade association that represents 10 major auto companies. New CAFE rules approved last year mandate an increase in fuel economy for cars, pickups, SUVs, and vans to 35 mpg by 2020.

"Dishwashers, refrigerators, and clothes washers have had programs for seven out of the last 10 years that include active efforts by utilities and governments to make it profitable for manufacturers to produce efficient machines and provide a cushion to help overcome any failures," explains David Goldstein, Ph.D. codirector of the energy program for the National Resources Defense Council.

Improved designs often drive efficiency:
• Today's front-loading washing machines, for example, are more water and energy efficient even though these appliances typically have greater load capacities than their predecessors did, according to Emilio Gonzalez a senior program leader in the Consumer Reports Technical division. (Watch our washing machine video buying guide, right.)

• The latest dishwashers filter wash water better and more often so they can avoid multiple large fills and reuse the water they have, cutting down water and energy use. "Soil sensors in dishwashers can save water and energy," Gonzalez says. Updated federal energy-efficiency requirements and Energy Star standards for dishwashers will go into effect in 2010. Our dishwasher Ratings (available to subscribers) reveal the most and least efficient models.

• The average refrigerator today consumes 498 kilowatt-hours—despite even wider use of energy-hungry water dispensers and icemakers. (The capacity of the average refrigerator in this country has not grown in recent years.) That's significantly less than 1,726 kWh used in 1972 and the 704 kWh figure from 1990. The improved efficiency has actually led to slight decreases in annual operation costs, even as the average cost per kilowatt-hour for residential electricity rose from 8.24 cents to 10.80 cents from 2000 to 2007. It cost $58 to run a refrigerator seven years ago but about $53 today.

10 Questions for . . . Andy Graves, Countertop Fabricator

In this installment of 10 Questions for . . ., Associate Editor Kimberly Janeway speaks with Andy Graves, owner of Olive Mill, a countertop fabricator/installer in Anaheim, California. Graves has been in the business for 22 years, and runs two Web sites about countertops, one for consumers and another for the trade. Here he offers his advice about buying, installing, and maintaining kitchen countertops.

What's hot in countertops?
Green materials, including product like Vetrazzo, IceStone, Paperstone, UrbanSlabs, EcoTop, Richlite, and many others. You can see the complete list of eco-friendly products at CountertopReview.com, my consumer Web site.

(Consumer Reports recently tested Richlite, a paper-composite countertop. Find out how it and other materials performed by researching our countertop Ratings, available to subscribers.)

What's crucial when choosing a counter?
Knowing your expectations. Many customers want the "perfect" material, and it doesn't exist. Customers need to find the material that fits their lifestyle. How much maintenance are you willing to do? Granite, concrete, tile, and wood all need sealers applied periodically. Can you afford this material? People need to find a great product that fits their budget.

What important detail do your customers ignore when selecting a material?
Seams. Because the samples never have seams in stores, customers just don't think about them and when they don't, they're usually disappointed when the counter is installed because the seams draw your attention. Solid surface, stainless steel, and wood have seams that can be finished to be virtually inconspicuous. And poured concrete can be one piece if done on site. But granite, quartz, laminate, glass, paper composite and marble have noticeable seams that can be seen and felt. And remember, the larger the top, the more seams.

Laminates are in wide use and did well in our recent tests. Why does this material remain so popular?
It's a great product and it's inexpensive. The newer ones come in a wider array of colors. The seams are minimal and there's no grout. Laminate is also very durable and can last a long time.

Undermount sinks are popular but not every material is suitable for such an installation. Which materials can be used with this type of sink?
A waterproof material is preferred—solid surface, stainless steel, and quartz are your best choices. Wood, granite, and concrete are also good choices, but make absolutely sure that they are thoroughly sealed. If the countertop material is sealed, you shouldn't have a problem with water damage.

Which materials can be used for seamless sinks, where you use the same material for the sink and counter?
Choose solid surface, stainless, or concrete when you want to use the same material for the sink and counter. (The photo right, courtesy of Olive Mill, shows a seamless solid-surface installation.)

Some countertop companies advertise prices in square feet, others in linear feet. What's the difference?
Not many companies charge based on linear feet. It has gone towards square feet, which is the basic length, or running feet, multiplied by the width. Linear feet and running feet are the same thing, a figure that represents the total length of countertops along the wall. But don't count the inside corner twice.

Vintage Consumer Reports: Kitchen countertops

Fifty years ago, we used a wide range of materials, including ammonia, coffee, drain cleaner, ink, juices (beet, grape, and lemon), mustard, shoe polish, tea, and vinegar, to test kitchen countertops for durability, ease of maintenance, and stain resistance (photo, right).

Our testers pitted, stained, and scraped rigid plastic laminates (then-new Formica), flexible plastic laminates, calendared and printed vinyls, and linoleum against traditional materials like wood and stainless steel.

Stainless steel proved, well, stainable and earned a poor rating because it discolored severely from application of some common materials; wood also stained badly. A natural material (ceramic tile) and a synthetic product (Formica) topped the overall ratings.

Jump ahead 50 years to our latest countertops report, for which we beat up butcher block, ceramic tile, granite, limestone, marble, and stainless steel as well as materials like concrete, paper composite, quartz (engineered stone), and solid surface. See how we test countertops in the video, right.

Quartz and granite finished at the top of the rankings. The top two 1958 counter materials, ceramic tile and plastic laminate proved to be very good this time around. Plastic laminate has come full circle and is now being offering in a series of modernized 1950s patterns, like crisscross and boomerang. You'll find more details on our latest tests in our Ratings (available to subscribers).—Gian Trotta

Essential information: For more "counter intelligence," learn how to maintain your kitchen counters and read our money-saving secrets of a successful remodel. Uncover more Vintage Consumer Reports: toasters (1956), air conditioners (1957), general appliance woes (1967), and ceiling fans (1982).

Honda lawn mowers recalled

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission on July 9, 2008, announced the recall of abut 20,5000 Honda lawn mowers due to a laceration hazard. The rear shield on the affected mowers can break off, possibly allowing debris to be thrown toward the person mowing. As of the recall date, no injuries have been reported.

The mowers, made in the United States by American Honda Motor Corp. of Torrance, California, have the model number HRX217(K)2HXA or HRX217(K)2HMA with a serial number MAGA-1500001 through MAGA-1520532. You'll find the model and serial numbers on a label on the upper rear of the mower deck. The mowers, $900, were sold at Honda dealers and Home Depot stores nationwide from October 2007 to June 2008.

If you own a recalled mower, stop using it immediately and call your local Honda dealer to arrange for a free repair. For more information, call Honda (800-426-7701, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday) or go to Honda's recalls page.

Essential information: Get more information about electric and gas mowers and lawn tractors, read our latest mowers report, and use the expert advice in our Complete Lawn & Yard Guide to help your lawn look its best.

 

Hawaii to require solar water heaters in new homes

Late last month, Hawaii became the first state in the nation to require solar water heaters in new homes. With few exceptions, solar water heaters will be required in all newly built single-family homes beginning January 1, 2010.

"This solar power legislation is another important step in our long-term plan for energy independence in Hawaii," said Governor Linda Lingle. "In addition to solar, it is critical that we continue to develop innovative energy solutions that capitalize on our natural renewable resource advantages in order to achieve our goal of having 70 percent clean energy in Hawaii by 2030."

The Hawaii law allows builders to install gas-powered water heaters if the home includes another gas appliance. Hawaii's Public Utilities Commission will set standards for solar water heaters, and counties in the state will create implementation procedures. (The illustration above, courtesy of the U.S. Department of Energy, shows an active closed-loop solar water heater.)

Water heating accounts for 15 to 30 percent of a typical household's energy use, according to the DOE. Solar water heaters, while significantly more expensive than their conventional counterparts, can reduce water-heating bills by at least 15 to 25 percent, depending on the efficiency of the system and local climate conditions, the DOE estimates.

A typical two-collector solar water heater costs $5,000 to $7,000, installation included. But after incentives like rebates and tax credits, that cost could drop to $1,400 to $2,100, according to Hawaii's Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. (Download the PDF here for more details.)

For Hawaiians, who largely rely on imported fuel and pay among the nation's highest energy prices but enjoy abundant sunshine year-round, solar water heaters could bring long-term financial benefits.—Kristi Wiedemann, Science and Policy Analyst, GreenerChoices.org

Essential information: Read "Save hundreds on energy costs" for more expert advice on slashing your utility bills. Don't miss our reports on thermostats and windows for more information on products that can help you reduce energy consumption.

These mowers prove "reel" disappointments

"I can't take the way the mower's blades only cut some of the grass. Each row requires at least two passes. Whereas I initially loved the mower's simplicity, I'm now envious of the power of the self-propelled mowers. I'm jealous that my power-mowing neighbor doesn't need to carbo-load the night before a big mow. Grass with more than six days of growth requires a cool-down with a sports recovery drink. I can't help wondering when Al Gore last mowed a lawn."

That's how Jenny Sokol, a columnist with The Orange County Register, described her experience with a reel lawn mower in "It's Not Easy Being Green With a Push Reel Mower."

We share not only Sokol's desire to reduce her carbon footprint but, sadly, also her disappointment in reel mowers. As we found in our latest report on lawn mowers and tractors, reel mowers don't do a particularly good job cutting grass.

One 15-inch model proved difficult to push (not a good trait for a reel mower), and a 20-inch reel mower simply didn't cut some areas. Another 15-inch model did cut evenly, but its maximum height is too low for most grasses when the weather turns hot. Get the details of our testing in "Reel Mowers: A Disappointing Trio" (available to subscribers).

If you have a small yard, a far better green mower move would be to buy an electric model. This type of mower is easier to use and maintain than gas-powered models and creates no exhaust emissions at the machine. You'll find details on three corded and five cordless electric push mowers in our Ratings (available to subscribers).

Also, learn about lawn-mower-exchange programs—you swap your gas model for an electric mower—and check out the Black & Decker CMM1200, an Energy Star-qualified electric mower.—Steven H. Saltzman

Essential information: Use our Complete Lawn & Yard Guide to keep your property in tiptop shape this summer.

Inside CR Test Labs: How Consumer Reports tests products

Readers of Consumer Reports and ConsumerReports.org have plenty to say—last year, 127,887 of our readers called, wrote, or e-mailed our customer-relations department with comments and questions about the thousands of products we test each year. In the home-and-garden area, they wondered about refrigerators that don't keep food cold, dishwashers that drown out conversations, and funny-looking twisted lightbulbs that claim to save energy.

The occasional rhetorical question arrives in our inboxes, as in "What the heck were you thinking?" (Actually, we get that genre of query pretty often, some of them not suitable to print here.)

Here we address some of the common inquiries we get about how we test products for the home. If you've got a question about a home-related product, send it to us at home@cro.consumer.org.

How do you pick the models you test?
We try to test models that represent the spectrum of products in a given market. Our analysts seek out products with new features and technological advances and a wide range of prices. After they analyze market share, marketing strategy, and advertising and promotional materials, they contact manufacturers to determine whether items will be available for at least three months after a report is published. The analysts then recommend a list of models that managers in our technical and editorial divisions review.

During the next step, staff shoppers buy the products at retail outlets in the throughout the Northeast—our offices are in the New York City suburbs—or online, never revealing that the purchases are for Consumer Reports. (We want to ensure that we test the same products you'll buy.) When we need to buy best-selling regional brands, we use shoppers around the country. Most significant, and unlike most other publications, we buy everything we test.

In rare instances, when a product isn't in stores yet, we buy it from the manufacturer, revealing this in our report; we'll subsequently test a version that we buy at retail and report on those findings.

How long does it take from when you decide to test a product to when you publish the results in a report?
Typically it takes about 9 to 12 months from the time we contact manufacturers for product information until a report appears in the magazine and/or online, a time frame that includes testing.

Note that for some fast-changing products like GPS units we can buy and test units and publish testing information in as few as two weeks. For other products that don't change as fast or for seasonal items (say chain saws), testing can take three to four months.

There are exceptions. Full testing of interior paints, for example, takes six months, but full testing of exterior paint requires up to three years.

How do you test?
Our experts develop tests that re-create the experience you'll have with the product. They also consider industry standards for testing a particular product; note that those tests usually gauge only a minimum level of performance while our tests aim to find the highest-performing products. We develop tests for those products that lack industry standards for ease of use.

In some cases, an industry models its tests on ours. For example, we developed an emissions test for vacuums that determines how much dirt and dust blows into the air when a model is running. The industry then devised its own test that’s based on ours, and now that test is the industry standard.

What do you do if a product malfunctions or breaks during the test?
When either happens we buy two more of the same product. If the new versions do not exhibit the same problem and we suspect the original problem was a quality-control issue, we base the results on the models that performed correctly; we chalk up the problem to an isolated issue. If either (or both) of the new samples exhibits the same problems, we make a judgment on whether it is a flaw in quality control or design and factor this into our Ratings.

A product-design flaw means that most consumers will experience problems with this item, while quality-control issues—materials, assembly, packaging, shipping—should not affect all of the products.

Tip of the Day: Buy the best washing machine for your home

In our 2007 report on washing machines, some of the top-loading models were only so-so performers. But manufacturers made improvements to their models, as we found in our 2008 washers review.

If you're in the market for a new washing machine, watch our video (right) and read our latest report and buying advice.

Essential information: Follow our washing tips to get your clothes clean, learn about the best laundry detergents, and plan your new laundry room. And don’t forget to check out our new Home Improvement Guide interactive, which provides buying advice and more for appliances, tools, and building materials for every area of your home.

Q&A: How can I identify green flooring products?

I want to replace my kitchen floor with sustainably harvested wood. I've seen all kinds different green labeling on flooring. How do I know whether a material is environmentally sound?

If you had lived during the 19th century, you wouldn't have had many flooring choices for your home. Chances are the lumber used would have been the dominant species from a nearby forest, and you likely wouldn't have had concerns about the condition of the forest.

Fast-forward to 2008. You'll now find a wide array of wood-flooring options, including many domestic choices, products that originate in exotic locales around the world, and a number of nonwood materials, as we detailed in our August 2008 report. (The same goes for decking products, as we covered in our July 2008 review.) In this time of greater environmental awareness, you can choose flooring—and hundreds of other wood products—based on how sustainably they were produced.

That's where certification enters the picture. Among the dozens of sustainable-forestry certification programs, the Forest Stewardship Council and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative are the most recognizable in this country. Both nonprofit organizations, which date to the 1990s, aim to promote sustainable forestry.

Forest Stewardship Council
The FSC was founded by the World Wide Fund for Nature, other environmental groups, and industry representatives. The FSC's global standards for forestry management include 10 environmental, social, and economic principles and 56 criteria. All products that claim to contain FSC-certified wood must undergo an independent certification.

In part because the standards are very detailed and represent a balance of interests, leading environmental groups, including the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Sierra Club, consider the FSC to be the most credible forest-certification program.

To identify 100 percent FSC-certified products, look for the FSC logo (shown) along with "100%." The FSC also has percentage-based content labels, which indicate a blend of FSC-certified wood and other controlled sources and/or recycled material. You'll find a list of FSC products by using the search tool on the Forest Certification Resource Center Web site.

Q&A: How can we get a new area of our wood deck to match the existing part?

We need to replace a section of our pressure-treated deck, and I'm concerned the old wood and new planks won't look good together. How can we get the two sections to match?

Once you lay down the new deck, a thorough cleaning of the old section should help to even out any shade differences between the lumber.

• With a stiff-bristle brush attached to a long handle, apply a cleaning solution across the entire deck. Use a store-bought product or make your own by carefully adding 1 quart of bleach to a large bucket filled with 3 quarts of water. The cleaning solution will remove built-up dirt while the bleach solution will help rid the deck of mold and mildew.

• Use a pressure washer as an alternative to or in addition to a cleaner for dirt removal. Check out our advice for choosing a pressure washer and watch our video on using this equipment safely (above right).

• Using the wide spray pattern on the pressure washer, begin with the nozzle 2 feet away from the surface and move closer as needed but no closer than 6 inches to avoid damaging the wood fibers. If you don't have a pressure washer, use a garden hose with a sprayer attachment.

You could leave your deck unfinished, as the passage of time will finish the job of evening out the appearance between the two sections. But in your particular case, staining the deck will improve its appearance and unify the two sections visually. Plus, since your deck likely contains wood infused with chromated copper arsenate, staining it will have another payout. CCA, intended to make lumber resistant to insects and rot, contains known carcinogens. The penetrating stain will prevent water from saturating the wood and help to prevent arsenic from leaching out of your older lumber.

Our recent report on deck stains found some excellent solid (opaque) and penetrating stains to consider. After you buy the best stain for your deck (Ratings are available to subscribers), here's how to apply it.

• Let the deck dry out for a few days after you wash it before staining it, then follow the instructions printed on the can of stain. Typically, instructions recommend brushing deck boards one at a time following the grain. Be careful to not allow any pools of stain to form.

• If you use a roller, follow up with a brush to work in the treatment between the planks.

• Apply as many coats as the manufacturer recommends and wait for the indicated time between coats. Some finishes, including Sikkens Cetol SRD 1708902 semitransparent stain, $27 per gallon, can provide one-coat protection.

A final point to consider. The wood preservative ACQ (alkaline copper quaternary) can corrode some low-quality fasteners. If the planks you'll install are treated with ACQ, you might need to upgrade the fasteners you'll use.

Essential information: You'll find more information on deck materials, deck stains, and other outdoor-living essentials on our decks and deck stains product page. And don't forget to clean under your deck.

Read our annual kitchen-remodeling special

Combine expert advice on the best appliances and materials with the real-life remodeling experiences of thousands of homeowners and what do you get? The annual Consumer Reports kitchen guide, part of our August 2008 issue.

Our engineers spent months sizing up refrigerators, running dishwashers, staining countertops, and punishing flooring. Some products impressed, while others fell flat.

Use our kitchen-planning guide to find expert advice on the appliances and materials that will make your project—whether a face-lift or a full-scale remodel—a success and help you stick to your budget. Here's what new for 2008:

Secrets of a successful remodel

Where to get the best deals on appliances

Cabinet upgrades

Countertops buying guide

Flooring review

Cooking appliances review

Dishwashers review

Refrigerators review

Forum and Function: Readers' solutions to summertime problems

If you find yourself in a bind around the house this holiday weekend—or maybe you just have some spare time—you might want to take a look at the wealth of user-generated information on our forums. You'll find suggested solutions to some summer-specific household issues—or at least get some sympathy from fellow readers.

Summer comfort: Make your air conditioner more dependable and efficient

• Curing noisy air conditioners
• Using an air conditioner with a fan
• Does fan speed affect efficiency?

Outdoor pleasures: Here's what's fueling discussions about grills, an essential summer tool

• Who makes the best gas grill?
• Should you refill or exchange your liquid-propane tanks?
• Natural gas vs. propane: Which fuel is better?

Appliances woes: Higher temperatures take a toll on many appliances. Here are solutions to a few recurring problems

• Dryers: What to do about condensation
• Curing a smelly washer
• Replacing a refrigerator: Which French-door model is best?

And finally, if summer