As the economy continues to falter, Americans are looking to stretch their dollars yet still maintain the lifestyles they enjoyed in better times. With that in mind, multifamily owners and developers are choosing appliances that make residents feel they’re getting the best quality for their money, and appliance manufacturers, in turn, are designing products that offer a compelling value proposition.
“When we were evaluating the appliance package for our green condo project, 904 West, we wanted our customers to feel like they were getting more value for their dollar,” says Rance Clouse, president of Fortis Realty Services, an Austin, Texas–based multifamily developer. “The bar already is set with Energy Star, so we focused on the manufacturer that could give us the best quality at the best price so we can pass that along to our customers.”
At 904 West, a 24-unit condo project completed in late 2010, Fortis installed Bosch appliances. “Bosch had brought a new package to the marketplace, and we liked the opportunity to offer a new collection of their products that wouldn’t be found in other, competitive projects,” Clouse explains.
For its newest condo project, the 25-unit Pease Place, Fortis chose Whirlpool’s Gold appliance package, which includes a gas range, dishwasher, microwave, and refrigerator. “The deciding factor was that Whirlpool has taken deliberate steps to improve long-term value with improved quality ratings and warranty support,” Clouse says.
These and the other appliances featured this month continue to offer more value through extra space savings, better efficiency, and improved technology.
Package Deal: With Bosch, multifamily developers can choose an entire package of Energy Star–rated appliances that include refrigerators, dishwashers, cooktops, microwaves, and washer/dryers, as well as built-in options designed to optimize cooking, such as counter-depth refrigerators. Made with renowned German engineering, all Bosch appliances feature sleek, contemporary styling. For more information, call Bosch at 800-944-2904 or visit www.bosch-home.com/us.
Clever Cooktop: The latest induction cooktops from Jenn-Air offer a sleek, understated design and powerful elements. Available in 30- and 36-inch models in black or black with a stainless trim, the cooktops feature 13 heat settings to maximize user control, with specific settings for simmer, melt, and “keep warm.” The Sensor Boil option automatically brings water to a boil with the touch of a button and lets the cook know when the water is boiling. For more information, call Jenn-Air at 800-536-6247 or visit www.jennair.com.
Gold Standard: Part of the Whirlpool Gold collection, the 26-cubic-foot GSF26C4EXY side-by-side refrigerator features an in-door ice maker and ice bin designed to provide 30 percent more freezer space than similar units. Built-in sensors automatically adjust temperatures to cool food to the desired temperature in half the usual time, according to the maker, while the Adaptive Defrost system defrosts the freezer only as necessary, saving energy. For more information, call Whirlpool at 800-952-2537 or visit www.insideadvantage.com.
Stacked and Loaded: Maytag Commercial Laundry’s newly designed Stack Washer/Dryer offers a full-size, high-efficiency washer and super-capacity dryer in the same space typically reserved for a single washer. The Energy Star–rated washer is CEE Tier III qualified, the top rating offered by the Consortium for Energy Efficiency, and features a high-speed extractor that removes excess water, providing users with dryer laundry and reducing owners’ energy and water bills. For more information, call Maytag at 800-662-3587 or visit www.maytagcommerciallaundry.com.
Silent Night: KitchenAid’s Superba Series EQ dishwasher features advanced sound-dampening technology. The unit operates at 40 decibels in the normal cycle, equivalent to the hushed sound of a library, and is made to deliver 25 percent better combined wash-and-dry results compared with the highest-priced models of leading premium brands. Its ProWash Cycle employs a sensor to determine the appropriate wash cycle during prerinse and adjusts for best cleaning performance. Meanwhile, the product’s ProScrub Option uses 36 powerful spray jets to deliver concentrated cleaning for stubborn messes. For more information, call KitchenAid at 800-422-1230 or visit www.kitchenaid.com.
High-Tech Clean: LG Electronics has launched a new line of coin, card, and on-premises laundry products. The durable, energy-efficient washers and dryers are stackable, fitting interchangeably in the top or bottom position. The units feature SmartDiagnosis, which allows technicians to efficiently troubleshoot mechanical issues over the phone, limiting service calls. A smart phone/PDA link function enables customers to access remotely information such as a cycle’s remaining time. For more information, call LG Electronics at 800-243-0000 or visit www.lgcommerciallaundry.com.
