We all got a pretty good wake-up call this year when oil got into the $150/barrel range. It became very clear that the days of cheap energy are over, and the time to use energy as efficiently as possible is here. This won't change. But what can change is our selection of energy-using appliances and mechanical systems, and how we maintain them to work at their optimum levels. With that in mind, we are pleased to present several articles in this year's Kitchens & Baths issue that address energy consumption.
"Cheaper Hot Water," by master plumber Dave Yates, offers six strategies for lowering your water-heating utility bills. Arranged from the simplest approach (insulate your pipes) to the more complex (go solar), Yates evaluates each approach by describing the problem, how to fix it, and what you can expect in savings.
"New Frontiers for Refrigerators." LED lights, better insulation and more efficient compressors are three details that have improved the performance of the newest refrigerators. Add in custom cooling and filtered water supplies, and your next refrigerator will not only save on energy, it will work toward keeping your food fresher and your drinking water healthier.
"A Buyer's Guide to Bath Fans" is the place to start if you've got a moldy ceiling in the bathroom, or your vintage fan shakes and rattles like an old tractor. The new fans are quiet, and they can even ventilate multiple bathrooms. For best performance, team them up with the right switch and size the fan for the length of the duct. We point the way toward your right choice.
Getting the most for your remodeling dollars is always a top priority. In "Kitchen Remodeling for Any Budget", architect Paul DeGroot lays out six case studies in different price ranges that will help you decide where to save, where to splurge and even more important, what not to do.
One of the most frequently overlooked elements in a kitchen is the lighting design. From good task lighting over your work area to adjustable ambient light for setting a mood, the right light can make a big difference in the way you use your kitchen for preparing meals, clean-up or just relaxing at the breakfast bar with a cup of coffee. "Kitchen Lighting Design" will show you how the four kinds of lighting can be combined into a flexible lighting solution that will make your kitchen look good and work hard.
Rounding out the issue are exemplary kitchen and bath remodels with ideas that can be applied to just about any project, regardless of budget, style, or floor plan. And this year the Gallery spotlights six exceptional showers, with sources for the materials that help make them shine.
If you'd like to know more about the issue, or if you've got a project that you'd like considered for next year's issue of Kitchens & Baths, drop me a line at cmiller@taunton.com. See the Call for Entries page for details on refining your submission.
Charles Miller
Special-issues editor
![Kitchens & Baths 2008](javascript:PopWindow("/onlinestore/store/20060723001/items/largeimages/FHB081201_lg.jpg");)
Homebuilding Best Sellers
-
1.
Framing Floors, Walls, and Ceilings, Updated and Expanded
$24.95
-
2.
Junk Beautiful Outdoor Edition
$21.95$14.71 -
3.
Remodeling a Kitchen
$19.95
-
4.
Code Check Complete
$40.00
-
5.
Energy-Smart Homes, Vol. 2
$8.99
- More Homebuilding Best Sellers
Receive our newsletters filled with helpful tips, plus be the first to know about sales and special offers.
Sign up today!
