An Option of Ranges

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Sunpentown SR-1851 single-burner ($129; www.sunpentown.com)

Electric
Electric coils aren't necessarily efficient, but they beat out solid disk burners (similar to hot plates), which take much longer to heat up. Glass-topped radiant and halogen elements are easier to clean, but they aren't much more energy efficient than coils and cost quite a bit more.

Electric coil cooktop models vary widely in price but not in performance: 30-in. Kenmore 42732 is a bargain ($629.99; www.kenmore.com).

Gas
Gas cooktops allow for fine control of heat, but they take longer to warm pans and have to be properly vented to avoid trapping combustion gases.

GE JGP637WEJWW ($779; www.geappliances.com)

Maytag MGC6536BD ($719; www.maytag.com)

Wall Ovens

Considerably more expensive than ranges, wall ovens can be placed for maximum user-friendliness at waist level or eye level during a kitchen renovation. Look for models with convection modes, which circulate heated air around food and cut energy use by approximately 20 percent.

The electric Frigidaire Gallery GLEB30S9F ($1,399; www.frigidaire.com) and GE Profile JT915WFWW ($1,799; www.geappliances.com) both come with convection modes.

Ranges

All-in-one ranges are more affordable than cooktops and wall ovens, and many at the lower end of the price range function very well. Whether wall oven or range, choose one with a self-cleaning feature, which provides added insulation that cuts energy consumption. However, if you use the self-cleaning feature more than once a month, you lose any extra savings the added insulation provides.

Hotpoint RB757WHWW self-cleaning electric range without convection ($429; www.geappliances.com)

GE JBP84TKWW self-cleaning electric range with convection ($1,199; www.geappliances.com)

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