Kitchen appliances of the future 'to save energy and money'

Homeowners looking to save money and energy in the kitchen may be interested in a new breed of appliances predicted to emerge in the future.

According to Martin LaMonica of CNET News, the internet-connected fridges touted to become the next big thing during the dotcom bubble have since evolved into devices capable of operating intelligently to reduce electricity consumption.

For example, a digital fridge-freezer may include a function that can register when it is running at peak times and schedule defrosting during off-peak hours to save money.

"Energy efficiency has become a killer application for making appliances smart. As opposed to the appliance being a portal to the internet, the device is hanging onto the internet instead," explained Mike Beyerle of General Electric Appliances & Lighting.

A number of kitchen appliances already include a number of energy-saving functions. For example, many new washing machines come with eco-friendly settings to enable clothes to be washed at particularly low temperatures.