hether you are renting, planning to buy a new home, or interested in ways to remodel your existing home, this section of PATHways has some good information for you. Each issue will focus on products that are changing the way America lives.

	Horizontal Axis Washer and Diagonal Air Flow Dryer Public laundromats have long favored front-loading washing machines. These water-saving machines are now available for home use. Commonly referred to as horizontal axis washing machines, these washers tumble clothes like a dryer instead of agitating them. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, horizontal axis washing machines use about 40 percent less water and 50 percent less electricity per load. New high-speed, diagonal airflow dryers are a great complement to horizontal axis washing machines. These new machines dry clothes quickly and efficiently. To shorten ironing time, airflow dryers help clothes "billow" to reduce wrinkling during the drying process. Many airflow dryers feature electronic sensors to measure the moisture content of clothes. These "smart" dryers automatically shut off heat when the clothes are dry, reducing unnecessary energy use and electric bills.
	Fiber-Cement Siding Do you want the look of wood siding without the loss of heating and cooling inside your home? Check out fiber-cement siding. Composed of cement, sand, and cellulose fiber, this product is more durable than wood. It is installed over studs or exterior wall sheathing and then coated with a water-resistant barrier. Your builder will have no trouble installing fiber-cement siding, because the process is the same as working with wood. It is termite resistant and noncombustible, and has a 50-year warranty. Best of all, fiber-cement siding can be painted to enhance your home's appearance.
	White LED Lighting If you thought fluorescent lighting was efficient, wait until you hear about light-emitting diode (LED) lamps. They consume less than 25 percent of the electricity used by fluorescent lights, and the lamps last 10 times as long. White LED lights have been around for a long time. They have been a staple of recreational vehicles, boats, and early solar house prototypes. The price of LED lights has unfortunately been prohibitive for most Americans. Thanks to new technology, however, LED lights cost a fraction of their former price. Now all homeowners can afford LED lamps inside their home and choose from an array of choices for exterior home and garden lighting.

If you want more information, check out PATH's website. You will find contact numbers, product descriptions, and information on the benefits, limitations, costs, and availability of more than 130 new products and technologies for the home.