Hamilton Beach kitchen appliances

Why It's Good:

Hamilton Beach is known for their quality, cute appliances in rounded mod shapes, ice-cream colors and user-friendly controls.

Why It's Green:

To reduce their carbon footprint, Hamilton Beach Brands, including Proctor Silex products, is incorporating energy-efficient designs, less packaging and recyclable materials. Europe has been greening their largest manufacturers for years, and now it looks like American companies are coming around. To that end, Hamilton is using the Restrictions of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS) that has been adopted by the European Union as their standard of production.

Where To Get It:

http://www.hamiltonbeach.com
Call 800-851-8900 for more information, and be sure to ask which products are designed to be more energy efficient, being that they just started the initiative and aren't all there quite yet.

The Buzz on Green Blenders

Being single, I'm always toying with the idea of registering myself whether or not there's a potential groom in the picture. The latest entries on my phantom registry are small appliances by Hamilton Beach, now that they've initiated green standards. An ice-cream, ice-tea and waffle maker (pictured, left to right, clockwise) to make life sweeter...Snapping back to reality, however, I know I'm facing wedding season, and I've decided that my new strategy for when I can't skirt my way out of other people's weddings is to buy the greenest item on their registry. That makes me feel better about the whole presents-out versus presents-in situation. When I don't have other people's weddings on my mind, however, as a city dweller, I'm envisioning other people's swimming pools. Last year, I bribed my friend Magda into pool privileges by offering to BBQ in her backyard. This summer, I know exactly how to finagle my season pass out of her: a space-saving Hamilton Beach drink blender for the cabana, to whip up a sweet batch of strawberry daiquiris.—Allison Reynolds