Going Green
Water Miser.
Federal regulations limit toilets to 1.6 gallons per flush, but customers looking for even better water conservation may be interested in the dual-flush toilet from Neptune. At full flush, the fixture uses 1.6 gallons; at the low-flush setting, it uses half that. Over the course of a year, the water savings add up, lowering sewer bills and putting less strain on single-family septic fields. Neptune’s toilets come in two styles (the Parma is shown), in white ($720) or biscuit porcelain ($770). Neptune, 450/773-7058, www.neptuneb.com
Bamboo Counters.
Consumers warming up to floors made of bamboo (which is actually a type of grass, not wood) might want to apply the same green logic to kitchen and bath countertops. Totally Bamboo offers 11/2-inch-thick and 2-inch-thick counters in 30-inch-by-96-inch slabs. According to the company, the material is harder than maple and engineered to stay flat; the counters — available in four grain patterns — are made with a food-grade, formaldehyde-free adhesive. They come unfinished (sanded to 180-grit), and cost $30 per square foot. Totally Bamboo, 818/765-9000, www.totallybamboo.com
Paper Cuts.
PaperStone Certified countertops are made from 100 percent postconsumer recycled paper, says the maker. Available in seven colors, they come in 30-inch and 60-inch widths, in lengths up to 12 feet, and in thicknesses from 1/4 inch to 2 inches. Originally designed for use as skateboard ramps, the slabs are unaffected by water and can be worked with carbide-tipped woodworking blades. A 1-inch-thick countertop costs $35 per square foot. KlipTech Composites, 360/538-9815, www.kliptech.com
Ovens
Two in One.
Can’t quite squeeze a double wall oven into that kitchen remodel? Maybe a GE Freestanding Double Oven Range will do the trick. Instead of devoting the appliance’s bottom drawer to pots and pans, the company has added a second, 1.2-cubic-foot chamber capable of either warming food or baking at up to 450°F. Altogether, the electric range contains 6.5 cubic feet of baking space, and the gas model, 6 cubic feet. The gas range includes an oval burner for a griddle. Prices run from $1,500 to $1,800. GE Appliances, 800/626-2005, www.geappliances.com
Space-Conscious.
A built-in warming drawer is one way to expand a small kitchen’s usefulness without taking up much wall or cabinet space. Viking’s 30-inch model, with a volume of 1.6 cubic feet, fits in a 91/4-inch-high opening. Temperature settings range from 90°F to 250°F; an adjustable vent allows foods to be crisped or kept moist. The 450-watt element runs on a 15-amp, 120-volt service. Also available in 27-inch and 36-inch versions, the 30-inch drawer costs $1,375. Viking Range Corp., 888/845-4641, www.vikingrange.com
Warp Speed.
For many homeowners, time is of the essence — so why not offer them an oven that will cook a 12-pound turkey in 42 minutes flat? The TurboChef 30-inch Double Wall Speedcook oven’s upper chamber uses a combination of microwaves and high-speed air to cook food up to 15 times faster than conventional ovens. The lower compartment uses top and bottom heating elements and a convection fan. The appliance comes with seven speed-cook modes and 400 preprogrammed cooking profiles. It costs $7,500. TurboChef, 866/543-6569, www.turbochef.com
