AHAM's Blog

All About Induction Cooking

AHAM has told you about the Five appliance that can help you save money, but did you know there is a type of cooking technology that can save you time, money and piece of mind?  Induction cooking is relatively new and unknown, but induction cooktops are gaining popularity among kitchen designers. 

Induction cooking works by transferring heat directly to your pot or pan through an electric current.  The cooktop will only heat your pan when it is in direct contact with the surface.  For a complete explanation of how this cooktop works, read this helpful article in Kitchen and Bath Business: Understanding Induction. 

So how can an induction cooktop save you time, money and piece of mind?

• Induction allows you to cook your meal faster.  You will have more control over the heat, with the ability to adjust the temperature with more accuracy and bring water to a rapid boil in less than two minutes.  Clean up could not be easier with the flat, ceramic glass cooktop.  You can wipe it clean in seconds, and since it does not get hot, even spills and splatters are easy to clean.
• The direct-to-vessel heating used in induction cooktops does not waste heat.  This makes this technology more sustainable than others, and you will save on your utility bills.
• Finally, since the cooking heat stays contained to the pan, the surface of the cooktop will always remain cool.  Watch the video below from HGTV to see that you can lay your hand on the cooktop next to your pan with no worries!  Your kitchen will stay cooler and you will not need to be concerned about burns from touching the surface directly.

 

AHAM Presenting Sustainability and Smart Appliance Papers at EEDAL

AHAM is participating in the 6th International Conference on Energy Efficiency in Domestic Appliances and Lighting (EEDAL) being held in Copenhagen from May 24-26.  Kevin Messner, AHAM’s vice president, government relations, is traveling to the conference next week to present papers on sustainability and smart appliances.

This year, the focus of EEDAL is on technologies that will make household energy consumption more efficient.  Government representatives and industry experts from around the globe will gather to share their knowledge and experience on energy efficiency, energy supply, climate change, smart meters and appliances, among other topics. 

Attendees can hear Kevin Messner present Sustainability – Measuring Environmental Impacts, written by Wayne Morris, AHAM vice president of division services, and Kevin Messner, on Tuesday, May 24.  Smart Appliances: The Future of Appliance Energy Efficiency, written by Kevin Messner and Chellury (Ram) Sastry of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, will be presented by Kevin on Wednesday, May 25.

AHAM Announces Partnership with CSA Standards and UL Environment to Develop Sustainability Standard for Home Appliances

AHAM is announcing its partnership with two leading standards organizations, CSA Standards and UL Environment, to develop sustainability standards for home appliances.  The purpose of this project is to provide an objective and practical measurement tool to assist the public in evaluating the sustainability of home appliances.  By creating a scientific foundation for evaluating sustainability, consumers will be able to make more informed purchasing decisions.  AHAM hopes that this metric will further consumer confidence in these products.

Five Winds International, an internationally recognized sustainability consulting firm, has been selected as a project manager for this initiative. 

You can read the official announcement of this partnership on the AHAM website.

      

 

Promoting Appliance Sustainability

Sustainability and “being green” remain hot buzzwords in 2009, even as the economy cools down.  Most industries have benefited from marketing their sustainability efforts.  In fact, the green building materials market grew 45% between 2003 and 2008 to $57 billion.  

For the home appliance industry, sustainable practices can include designing products to use less, or more natural materials.  It can include reducing energy usage or packaging materials.  It can also include designing products that use post-consumer recycled materials. 

Household appliances have been demonstrating sustainability for many years.  Since the 1970s, major appliance manufacturers have been designing products that show significant decreases in energy consumption each year.  

And, beyond energy, 90% of major appliances are recycled at end-of-life!  The steel used in your refrigerator today may be the same steel used in your new car tomorrow.  Recycled steel is efficient and reduces the drain on our environment by avoiding the mining of coal and iron ore.   

The home appliance industry has made dramatic improvements to appliances over the recent years and is committed to providing high-performance sustainable products for years to come.  Producing and promoting sustainable products is one of the most important efforts we can make to improve our lives, and the lives of the generations to come.