HOME IMPROVEMENT - Kitchen upgrades that will save you money for years to come

Today we share with you some kitchen upgrade ideas that will save you money for years to come - from Consumer Reports. Enjoy!- Kurtis Kitchen & Bath

Even a minor kitchen remodel can cost you $20,000 and if price is no object, you can easily spend $100,000 or more to get the custom kitchen you want. By including some smart upgrades in your plan you can build in energy efficiencies that will save you for years to come. For starters, buy Energy Star-rated appliances, which are 20 percent more energy efficient than non-Energy Star versions. Appliances with Energy Star's "Most Efficient" designation are another 10 percent more efficient. Here are more ways to save.

Replace the refrigerator.

Trade a 10-year-old refrigerator for an Energy Star-rated model and save about $100 a year.

Switch to CFLs.

Compact fluorescent light bulbs can amount to annual savings of $24 a year just in your kitchen (based on four light fixtures). CFL bulbs each save about $6 per year in electricity, so if you have 30 bulbs in your home, that's $180 per year in your pocket. CFLs produce 75 percent less heat than traditional incandescent bulbs, so your home will be cooler in the bargain.

Ditch your dishwasher.

Save around $40 a year (and 10 gallons of water per cycle) by replacing a pre-1994 dishwasher with an Energy Star model.

Install new windows.

Time to replace your windows? You'll save some $95 per year by installing ones with the Energy Star label. As with all windows, proper, gap-free installation is a must.

Lead with LEDs.

Choose LED (light-emitting diode) bulbs for under-cabinet lighting to save even more money. They cost $25 to $200 per unit, but Energy Star versions should last 22 years based on three hours of use per day.

Right-size your cookware.

Save $36 a year for an electric range and $18 annually on gas simply by using the right size pot for cooking. A smaller pot will require less energy to heat its contents, something to remember next time you consider using a 10-quart stock pot to heat up a small package of peas. Also, keep those pots covered: You'll cook more efficiently and keep the kitchen cooler, to boot.Source URL: https://news.consumerreports.org/home/.../kitchen-upgrades-that-will-save-you-money-for-years-to-come.htmlAdapted from Consumer Reports Kitchen Planning & Buying Guide

Reviews

From start to finish Kurtis was a great company to work with. From the initial contact and design concept with Gregory Holster to the cabinet drop off team, the install team led by project manager Jeff Tuomi and the countertop company, the project was on time and all work was performed beyond expectations. This was greatly appreciated seeing as it was completed on December 23. All the people involved were professional and did an excellent job.

Ken M.

Shanna was our project consultant. Picking out cabinets along with counters can be somewhat overwhelming but her knowledge & experience helped us make the right decisions. Dylan & Juwan unloaded truck & Dylan check off ship ticket to make sure all boxes were accounted for. Courteous & pleasant to talk to…nice job of stacking everything neatly in our garage. We couldn't be more pleased with the service & so happy with our kitchen

Deborah D.

We recently worked with Lauren on cabinetry for a master bathroom renovation. She was great to work on the design and selections. Lauren was efficient and responsive from cabinet selection through ordering. Our overall installation was smooth. We had some unforeseen circumstances impacting our ability to accept delivery of our cabinets on the initial agreed upon date. Kurtis was very accommodating in rescheduling delivery given our project challenges. We couldn't be happier with our cabinets for this project.

Shannon O.

We had complete renovations to our kitchen and main bathroom. From start to finish, the design with Shanna was exactly what we asked for and Jeff stayed on top of the renovations, communicating each step of the way. Every worker was professional and the final product is elegant and functional. We were very happy with Kurtis and would choose Shanna and Jeff again.

Eileen M.

We love our new kitchen! Kurtis Kitchen & Bath did an outstanding job, and Adrian at the Clarkston location was exceptional to work with—creative, patient, and really listened to what we wanted. The project was well-organized, and we went from demo to a fully functioning kitchen in just 30 days. Highly recommend!

Carter C.