SPRING 2009

ENERGY SAVING REFRIGER ATORS

ECO IDEAS MATTER

PANASONIC IntroducES a new standard in home appliances. Fresh-thinking design, clever features and user-friendly technology all engineered to standards you can rely on.
Panasonic is renowned for producing some of the highest quality, most technologically advanced consumer electronics in the world. We have been applying this same know-how to home appliances for many years in Japan, and now these energy efficient, eco-friendly appliances, are available here in Europe. Advanced energy saving technologies, revolutionary design and the ultimate in convenience, combine to bring a major upgrade to your kitchen.
our commitment to the environment
When it comes to being environmentally friendly, at Panasonic we approach the challenge differently by examining it in every aspect of our business. Unlike other companies, Panasonic controls every aspect of its product manufacture, from the design process to production. So not only do we design eco-friendly products, but we produce them in a more environmentally friendly manner as well.
Panasonics sponsorship of the WWF International Arctic Program
The Arctic is affected first and worst by climate change; the effects of warming are already being felt. The Arctic is also a global temperature regulator, with many delicately balanced relationships that have the potential to seriously amplify the impact of climate change around the world. It is one of the worlds largest, most valuable and pristine natural regions, but it faces challenges from both climate change and increased human use. Panasonics support will enable the WWF to scale up activities at a time when the Arctic faces unprecedented change. The activities include devising and promoting governance and management regimes to help protect Arctic ecosystems, eliminating illegal fishing activities, and researching, monitoring and supporting the continued well-being of key arctic species such as polar bears. Supporting these initiatives is an important part of Panasonics global eco ideas strategy. Part of our aim is to improve the efficiency of products, reduce the environmental impact of manufacturing and encourage people to get involved in environmental issues through local communities, across Europe.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY MATTERS
Household appliances account for the majority of a households energy needs especially the refrigerator that has to run day and night, all year long, consuming a lot of energy.
Innovative new features in the Panasonic NR-B30FX1 refrigerator make it one of the most energy efficient, with a rating of A++ and with No Frost technology. Based on energy consumption you cant buy a better refrigerator. This drastic reduction in energy use is not only good for the wallet, but also kind to the environment.
A Panasonic core technology
A more Energy-efficient RefrigeratOR Inverter Technology
Conventional refrigerators have one power level, but your new Panasonic refrigerator has five, to make the best use of energy. Inverter technology runs on minimal power overnight, and at times when you use it less. This saves valuable energy while reserving power for quickly freezing items if you need to. Variable operation means it can automatically adjust how much energy it uses, according to how you use the appliance which saves even more power. Temperature sensors and microprocessor technology work together to help the inverter finely adjust the compressor. This means it can operate at the most appropriate power level. It also takes into account the temperature inside the refrigerator, to give you the best chilling and freezing results without wasting energy.
U-Vacua Vacuum Insulation Panel
Traditional insulation requires more material for better performance creating thicker walls and reduced space. Panasonic introduces a brand new technology, using less material. Glass-fibre processed in a vacuum, produces an ultra-thin sheet that has 20-times more insulation than traditional materials. The result is more energy efficiency, reduction in material used, and more space in the freezer for you.

Quiet operation

One big difference with Panasonic refrigerators is the quiet operation. At just a whispering 36dB, it is one of the quietest of its kind - you will not even notice its there. The Inverter actually reduces variations in noise frequency especially when its working hardest. Even when the compressor switches on and off when youre using the fridge more often, youll hardly notice it.

No Frost

NO FROST TECHNOLOGY
Traditional refrigerators with direct cooling form frost; especially in the freezer. This ice layer reduces the cooling effect, therefore consuming more energy to achieve the same desired temperature level. To save energy, Panasonic refrigerators are equipped with no-frost technology, keeping your refrigerator frost-free and performing efficiently with the added convenience of not having to defrost.

SAVING VITAMINS MATTERS

Keeping food fresh from garden to the dinner table The task of a refrigerator is a simple one: to preserve your food and keep it as fresh, healthy and rich in vitamins as the day you bought it. However, most fruit and vegetables start losing valuable nutrition the moment you place them in the refrigerator.

Vitamin Safe compartment

The standard refrigerator is normally too dry for storing fruit and vegetables, only offering a single temperature for the entire refrigerator. The Vitamin-Safe compartment is optimised to a high humidity level, and the temperature can be adjusted between 0C and 5C, to ensure your fruit and vegetables stay fresher for longer.
Approved by SLG Prf-und Zertifizierungs GmbH, certifying the optimisation of the storing system by using Vitamin-Safe. (SLG is a renowned independent test laboratory).

Retaining Vitamins

With traditional refrigerators, the light goes out as soon as you close the door. But fruit and vegetables stored in the dark start losing vitamins. So weve installed two flashing LEDs in the vitamin-safe compartment to simulate the blue and green hues of sunlight. They continue working even when the door is closed. The LEDs activate your fruit and vegetables natural defences and stop them to losing vitamins. It really works and the effect of our LEDs has been tested and certified by SLG, a renowned independent test laboratory.

Full extendable drawer

The Vitamin-Safe compartment offers you 48 litres of storage space. The fully extendable telescopic rails allow easy access to all of the contents in your drawers.
Panasonic Vitamin-Safe not only helps preserve vital nutrients, but allows you to store fruit and vegetables separately at their ideal storage temperatures.
KEEPING FOOD SAFE MATTERS
Advanced technology keeps food safe. Naturally you want a clean refrigerator that keeps your food safe. Panasonic has developed a hygiene technology that not only fights odours, but also protects against harmful bacteria as well.
Our Hygiene Active system is a combination of technologies, protecting your food from coming into contact with harmful bacteria.

How it works

Hygiene Active

Air In

Fan Silver-coated filter, Deodorising filter & LED
Silver is traditionally known for its antibacterial properties and is used in various products. The combination of a silver filter producing silver ions, water mist and blue LED light forms an antibacterial cleanser called Hydroxy Radical which naturally occurs in the troposphere. This natural effect is produced inside the fridge, eliminating 99.9999%* harmful bacteria.
*Figure evaluated by ISO 22196 testing measure.

Air circulation

Clean Air Out
At the top of the refrigerator, a circulating fan pulls in cold air from the main compartment, through the Hygiene active filter and deodoriser, then sends clean air back in. This means there is clean and fresh air inside your refrigerator at all times.

Deodorising Filter

When a refrigerator smells fresh, its a good sign that its clean and free of harmful bacteria. Panasonics unique Zeolite filter eliminates unwanted odours, keeping your refrigerator smelling clean and food smelling fresh.
Approved by SLG Prf-und Zertifizierungs GmbH, certifying the Optimising the air by using the hygiene active (SLG is a renowned independent test laboratory).

DESIGN MATTERS

At Panasonic, we believe that to produce something truly different, you need to approach it differently from the start. So our designers and engineers work closely together through each stage of product development, encouraging continuous improvement with fresh ideas and new concepts.
Thats exactly how this refrigerator was created. With its ingenious U-Vacua Vacuum insulation panel for example, we were able to build a refrigerator with more space inside. As well as looking into ways we can produce appliances that use less energy, we also consider how you use the refrigerator every day, and how we can make it easier for you to use.

Fully covered back

48L 82L
With traditional designs, dust often builds up on the condenser at the back of the refrigerator, which can affect its performance and shorten the refrigerators useful life. So weve introduced a full flat cover for the back of your Panasonic refrigerator, to keep the compressor dust-free and operating efficiently for longer.

GRIP-LESS HANDLE

Panasonics innovative design uses a flat door handle, giving the refrigerator a sleek, clean look. The full-length gripping area makes it easy to open the door at any point. Not only is this more convenient for all the members of your family, but its extremely stylish too.

LARGE capacity

By using Panasonics revolutionary U-Vacua Vacuum insulation panel, we have created a refrigerator with a larger capacity. Storage is not only plentiful, but also accessible due to the spacious interior design.

High Grade Aluminium

High grade aluminium is used for the grip-less handle. The elegant finish not only looks impressive, but is also pleasing to the touch.

Telescopic Rails

The vegetable compartment with extendable rails, offers convenient and easy access to all of the contents.

Resists fingerprints

The surface is specially treated to resist fingerprints, even when touched by soiled fingers this also reduces cleaning time.
EFFECTIVE STORAGE MATTERS
Panasonic refrigerators are designed for the easiest possible use while ensuring convenient, effective food storage.
Frost free performance means no frost will form on food or the interior. Youll benefit from reduced electricity bills, and you wont have to spend time defrosting.

LED Lighting

Visibility is improved by LED lighting, that illuminates the refrigerator from the top to eliminate shadows. Youll see all your food more clearly than with conventional yellow light, and these lights use much less electricity saving energy.

Tempered Glass

All shelves are made from durable tempered glass, which is not only safe, but attractive and easy to clean too.

Adjustable Shelves

You can easily adjust the shelves up or down to accommodate the storage of tall or irregularly shaped items.

Metal Bottle Rack

This stainless steel rack makes it easy to store bottles of all sizes, without using valuable shelf space.
The ice tray and spacious ice box allows for storage of 135 ice cubes.

Ice Tray and Box

Sealed Case
With a lid that prevents products drying out, this case is suitable for storing not only small portions of wrapped food, but cosmetics and medicines also.

YOUR CONVENIENCE MATTERS

Ease of use and functions that enhance everyday convenience. Panasonic have produced easy to use controls because the refrigerator is something the whole family uses every day.
Large LCD Operation Panel
Selecting or changing functions and temperature settings can be done from the control panel on the front of the refrigerator.

Inverter Power Indicator This gives a visual indication of the inverter energy usage.

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS

MODEL NR-B30FX1-XB NR-B30FG1-WB GENERAL INFORMATION Colour Total Net Capacity Refrigerator Net Capacity Freezer Net Capacity NoFrost-Technology Energy Efficiency Energy Label Energy Consumption special features Fruits & Vegetable Compartment Anti-Bacterial Function Display
Vitamin-Safe Hygiene Active White LCD Yes 36 dB LED 4 yes (2) life time Zeolite filter 3 yes 15 kg 21 h yes, 50 h yes yes yes 1986mm 663mm 701mm 96kg 1874mm 600mm 637mm 86 kg Inverter Reversible door hinging, hinged right 5025232501014 Vitamin-Safe Hygiene Active White LCD Yes 37 dB LED 4 yes (1) life time Zeolite filter 3 yes 15 kg 16 h yes, 50 h yes yes yes 1986mm 663mm 701mm 90kg 1874mm 600mm 637mm 80 kg Inverter Reversible door hinging, hinged right 5025232501007 A++ 228 kWh/year A+ 270 kWh/year stainless steel with anti finger print 309 l 227 l 82 l yes arctic white 309 l 227 l 82 l yes

Low Power

Full Power
Temperature Indicator This displays the temperature of the refrigerator, the fruit and vegetables, compartment and the freezer. Temperature Setting Buttons Change the temperature settings of each compartment separately using one-touch buttons.
Function Operation Buttons
Energy Saving This setting changes the temperature for all three compartments to the most energy efficient temperature. Super Freeze Use this setting when you want to quick-freeze items. It can operate continuously for up to 50 hours. Vitamin-Safe The LEDs in the fruit and vegetables compartment illuminate and the vitamin saving function operates. Hygiene Active Antibacterial Hygiene Active system in operation. Alarm/Child Lock This turns off the alarm which sounds if the door is left open, or there are any abnormalities in the refrigerator temperature. Press and hold this button to lock the buttons.
Independent Temperature Controls Noise Level Refrigerator Features Shelves Drawer Case Lighting Door Pockets Wine Rack Deodorising Freezer Features Number of Drawers Ice Compartment Freezing Capacity in 24h Max Storage without Electricity ProgramME Options Super Freezing Holiday Mode Door Open Alarm Child Lock (locks Temperature Controls) Technical data Packed Height Width Depth Weight Product Height Width Depth Weight Compressor Door Opening Ean Code

LOCAL DEALER

www.panasonic.co.uk

Ecoideas

You may already be a conscientious recycler and composter when it comes to food and packaging, but your kitchen is still the least environmentally friendly room in the house. Its time to eco-valuate every appliance and product to give them a green makeover.
Lean, green kitchen machines

WORDS: LINDSEY HARRAD

According to the Energy Saving Trust, fridges and freezers use around 2 billion worth of electricity in the UK every year, which equates to the annual output of four 700MW power stations. These energy-guzzling appliances remain switched on 24/7, so its vital to ensure your fridge is as eco-friendly as possible. To make your existing fridge-freezer more energy efficient, consumer watchdog Which? suggests using a fridge thermometer your fridge should be operating between zero and 5C, and -18C for your freezer. Which? also advises opening the doors as infrequently as possible, and closing them quickly after removing food. Dont put hot food in the fridge as more energy is needed to cool it down. Regular defrosting of your freezer will make it run more efficiently, and dont forget to clean the coils behind the appliance, too. Dont overfill your fridge, but freezers should be tightly packed to work most efficiently so get batch cooking! If your fridge-freezer pre-dates 1999, its EU rating may be as low as a G, with no limit on how much energy it consumes, so its probably time to recycle it (contact your local council to find out the best way to do this). Only fridges made before 2000 are likely to contain ozone-depleting nasties like CFCs and HCFCs, but 95 per cent of any fridge unit is recyclable, regardless of age or CFC content, and you are legally obliged to dispose of your old fridge responsibly. Replace it with an energy-efficient model if everyone in the UK upgraded to Energy Saving Trust Recommended fridges and freezers, it would save more than 700 million worth of electricity every year. For a stylish A++ energy-efficient fridge-freezer, the Panasonic NR-B30FX1XB Fridge Freezer in Stainless Steel (left) is ideal (849, www.johnlewis.com).

The cold facts

We Brits are addicted to our daily cuppa or four but if everyone boiled only the water they needed we could save enough electricity in a year to run the UKs street lighting for nearly two months. The stylish chrome Eco Kettle 2 has a dual chamber design, so you can boil just one cup at a time (39.95, www.ethicalsuperstore.com). Limescale decreases energy efficiency, so try Ecozones non-toxic Kettle & Iron Descaler (2.49, www.ethicalsuperstore.com), or simply boil water with a splash of white vinegar in your kettle once a month.

Tea and toast

Interestingly, vegans are most likely to have a more eco-friendly cup of tea, with green tea literally being greener than a regular tea with milk. Milk has a higher carbon footprint than boiling water, mainly thanks to cows and their methane emissions, so for extra green points, choose herbal tea. While relatively low energy users, toasters are one of the most regularly replaced kitchen appliances thanks to our throwaway mentality when it comes to cheap electrical goods. A government
report revealed that the UK discarded 30 million small household appliances in 2003 alone. For a greener slice of toast, invest in quality that is built to last the Dualit NewGen four-slice toaster is a design classic handmade in the UK, and has energysaving individual controls for each slot. It also has replaceable parts you dont throw away a Dualit toaster, they fix it for you (195, www.dualit.com).
If you buy organic veg, it probably doesnt make sense to prepare them on a plastic chopping board manufactured using petrochemicals. Wood is durable, has natural antibacterial properties and is biodegradable. Look for British oak or chestnut boards and check for the FSC mark, which guarantees the wood is sourced from sustainably managed forests. Bamboo is another good choice it grows very quickly and in abundance, without the need for chemical pesticides. We like the distinctive striped bamboo board from EcoCentric (21.95, www.ecocentric.co.uk). If you prefer to bung your board in the dishwasher, the innovative 100 per cent recycled cardboard chopping board, is light, hygienic and durable, with a black, slate-like finish that wont blunt your knives (14.99, www.nigelsecostore.com).

Chop till you drop

Kitchen cleaning products contain chemicals that have a variety of effects on the environment and our health, plus a questionable history of animal testing. With phthalates linked to infertility, and synthetic fragrances associated with asthma and allergies, to name just a couple of examples, ideally you should eliminate them from your kitchen. Under our kitchen sinks there are a number of products which can cause irreversible damage to our water system, says Clare Allman, UK marketing manager for Ecover. They impact on the system in two ways: they pollute our water supply and they create a burden on the system, as more water is required to neutralise the chemicals. Ecover products are based on plant and mineral ingredients derived from renewable sources, which respect the environment and biodegrade quickly and completely after use. Brands such as Ecover, Method (both vegetarian) and Ecoleaf (vegan) offer environmentally friendly alternatives to standard cleaning products and are increasingly widely available, although purists and the budget-conscious could switch to white vinegar or baking soda either of these mixed with warm water can clean almost anything. For a completely chemical-free approach, microfibre E-cloths are hard to beat. A new study, carried out for E-cloth, revealed that using just water can remove more than 99 per cent of all bacteria, including E. coli and listeria. An all-purpose E-cloth is just 4.99 and is guaranteed for at least 300 washes, making it a cheaper, greener alternative to using throwaway kitchen towels and all those unnecessary anti-bac sprays. Buy online at www.e-cloth.com or from supermarkets. And if you clean regularly, you are less likely to need harsh chemicals to remove stubborn dirt Dull, but true!

Greener cleaner

Great news evidence suggests we shouldnt feel too bad about using our dishwashers! Mike Berners-Lee, author of How Bad are Bananas? The carbon footprint of everything (Green Profile, 8.99), has calculated that very careful handwashing with hot water has a slightly lower carbon footprint than using a fully loaded dishwasher at 55C. He says this is partly because manual washing usually uses hot water heated by a gas boiler, while dishwashers heat water from cold using electricity. A modern boiler can capture more than 90 per cent of the energy in the gas, whereas most of the energy from fuel used to generate electricity is wasted in generation and transmission. However, very few of us handwash this carefully, often leaving the hot tap running for rinsing, for
Handwasher or dishwasher?
example. So, on balance, Berners-Lee suggests the dishwasher used on an economy cycle is slightly greener than the average handwasher. For the most eco-friendly results, buy an Energy Saving Trust Recommended dishwasher, which will use around 20 per cent less energy and save around 47kg of CO2 annually. Try the Bosch Exxcel SMS63E12GB, which has A-rated washing, drying and energy efficiency (529, www.currys.co.uk). Only run your dishwasher when completely full, and use eco-friendly tablets try Ecovers dishwasher tablets (13.99 for 70 tablets, available from most major supermarkets).
It doesnt make sense to prepare organic veg on a plastic board made using petrochemicals
Cotton production relies heavily on the use of chemical insecticides and fertilisers, and requires huge quantities of water, which has caused irreversible damage to the environment in some countries. The international cotton industry is also associated with unethical farming and manufacturing practices from field to factory there is widespread exploitation, including child labour. Tackle this issue in your kitchen by recycling your tired old towels as cleaning cloths and replace them with organic cotton tea towels. Organic cotton is produced without synthetic chemicals and promotes biodiversity. Perfect for veggies is the UK-made Eat Your Greens organic cotton tea towel (9, www.keepcalmgallery.com).

Cotton with a conscience

Why waste water?
According to Waterwise (www.waterwise.org.uk), the typical family uses around a quarter of its water in the kitchen, and there are numerous ways you can reduce water waste while cooking and preparing food. Waterwise suggests that when you wash vegetables, fill the bowl with cold water (8 litres) and dont leave the tap running (wasting 9 litres per minute). Even drinking a glass of water can be wasteful dont run the tap until it gets cold, keep a jug of tap water in the fridge instead. Try a colourful Brita Marella filtered water jug with 100 per cent recyclable filters (20, see www.brita.net/uk for stockists). Finally, dont pour leftover glasses of water, cooking or vegetable washing water down the sink give your house or garden plants a drink instead.

While whipping up your favourite dishes, try a few easy energy-saving ideas. Always use a lid on your saucepans to conserve energy and reduce cooking time, and match saucepans to the size of the ring a small pan on a large ring allows up to 40 per cent of the energy to evaporate. Avoid lengthy preheating and keep your oven clean for improved efficiency. Self-cleaning ovens tend to conserve more energy because they are well insulated. Microwaves are comparatively energy efficient, but when you do have to use the oven, fill all the shelf space and cook several dishes at once. Slow cookers are economical and use low levels of energy, compared to heating a large conventional oven. Try the Morphy Richards Ecolectric Slow Cooker which claims to use up to 44 per cent less energy than other slow cookers (34.99, www.morphyrichards.co.uk).

Hot stuff

The typical family uses a quarter of its water in the kitchen
Washing machines, tumble dryers and dishwashers use 1.4 billion worth of electricity and produce 6 million tonnes of CO2 every year thats the same as the carbon dioxide emissions from around 2 million cars, according to the Energy Saving Trust. Always run a full load on a cool temperature 30C uses around 40 per cent less electricity. Cut down on phosphates by switching to an eco-friendly washing product, or try detergent-free Ecozone Ecoballs, which have no toxic chemicals, are reusable for up to a thousand washes (around 3p per wash) and are refillable (a starter pack for around 150 washes is 9.99, from www.lakeland.co.uk). A tumble dryer uses a lot of electricity and is expensive to run, so use it infrequently. Line dry outside whenever possible if everyone with a tumble dryer in the UK line-dried clothes outside in the summer months it would collectively save around 180 million a year and the same CO2 emissions as 270,000 cars. When you must use the dryer, pop in Reusable Dryer Balls which reduce drying time by up

Green wash

Energy Saving Trust Recommended appliances
to 25 per cent and provide chemical-free softening (7.99, www.lakeland.co.uk). When you upgrade your washing machine, think about buying an energy-efficient product. Miele is a high quality brand designed to last for 20 years of normal use. Try the Miele W1945 EcoComfort washing machine which has an A+ rating and accurately calculates your water and energy consumption for each wash (999, www.johnlewis.com). The most energy-efficient products carry the Energy Saving Trust Recommended logo, making it quick and easy for you to find products that have met the strictest criteria on energy efficiency. These products will cost you less to run and help you do your bit for the environment. The Energy Saving Trust tests a percentage of products every year, so where theres an Energy Saving Trust Recommended logo theres a more eco-friendly choice. To find out more, visit www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/ recommended.

Always run a full load of washing at 30C, using 40 per cent less electricity

Complete eco-kitchen

When it comes to the kitchen itself, the ozone layers the limit for being more eco-friendly. How far you go depends on your budget and imagination but regardless of which company you choose to supply your kitchen, check not only the green credentials of the materials used, but also the processes involved in manufacture and transport. Many off-the-shelf cabinets and worktops use glues and finishes that emit toxic VOCs (volatile organic compounds), while formaldehyde is often used to attach veneers and laminates to kitchen cabinets, all of which can release nasty toxins into your home. Untreated natural hardwood or bamboo cabinets and worktops are renewable, non-toxic and recyclable check for the FSC mark. For a more eclectic look, reclaimed natural hardwood is the ultimate green choice as it is recycled combine it with reclaimed ceramic wall tiles, recycled glass splashbacks, and non-toxic water-based paint for a completely green approach. For something a bit different, try a recycled glass worktop. GlassEco won a Grand Designs award in 2010 for its innovative worktops made from 95 per cent recycled glass and plastics. The worktops are custommade and manufactured in the UK by a low-carbon factory. Find out more at www.glasseco.co.uk.