If you’re looking for green living tips, there’s still time to catch the Better Homes and Gardens Living Green home tour in cities across the US.  The exhibit showcases green home decorating options, including a kitchen with bamboo cabinets, recycled glass counter tops, a recycled mosaic tile back splash, and green kitchen appliances.

Designed by Libby Langdon, the Living Green exhibit also includes a green living room, bathroom, and laundry room.  If you go, check out the bathroom vanity made from a salvaged dresser, sustainable wood furniture in the living room, and a media cabinet made from a recycled baby changing table.

Although it began in June, the tour continues through October with upcoming stops in Boston, Washington DC, Jacksonville, Atlanta, and NYC.  Here’s more information, photos and the tour schedule for the Better Homes and Gardens Living Green home tour.

If you’re looking for an energy- efficient kitchen stove, make sure you check out convection ovens before making your final choice. Did you know that convection ovens are much more efficient than traditional ovens? In fact they use one-third less energy, because they continuously circulate air around food, causing it to cook faster.

Convection ovens are available in counter top versions which are about the sames size as a microwave oven, or as a feature on full-size kitchen stoves. My Frigidaire range can be used as a regular oven or a convection oven. It has a switch for turning the convection fan on and off.

And since we’re on the topic of green kitchen appliances, don’t forget to use your microwave oven whenever you can. Microwaves use two-thirds less energy than traditional kitchen ranges! There are also many microwave/convection oven combination units on the market today.

Find out more about energy efficient appliances at Energy Star.

Did you know that washing your dishes with a dishwasher saves more water than doing them by hand? Thank goodness- no hand washing!  If you’re looking for green kitchen appliances, check out the water conserving automatic dishwashers made by Neff, a British company.  The Neff S5409 features a Triple A rating for washing, energy and drying, and the Neff S5409 dishwasher uses only 12 litres of water, only 3.17 gallons per load!  Other features of this green dishwasher include a time delayed start option, multiple drying settings, and an all stainless steel interior.  The energy efficient dishwasher fills with detergent from the top, and it has an automatic sensor for detecting when the dishwasher detergent is low.   Go green and have a great excuse for purchasing a brand new energy efficient dishwasher!