> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://willtosip.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Best Energy Efficient Range Hood: Broan Alta Leads - URL: https://willtosip.com/best-energy-efficient-range-hood/ - Published: 2026-09-07T06:53:37.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-07T09:49:28.000Z - Description: Five range hoods compared on airflow, sone rating, filter design and certification. The winner is ENERGY STAR listed and runs at 1.5 sones on working speed. - Author: Jody Sargent - Tags: Kitchen & Dining, Kitchen, Ventilation The best energy efficient range hood is the Broan-NuTone Alta ALT1303SS, a 30-inch ENERGY STAR certified hood rated at 350 Max Blower CFM and 1.5 sones on working speed. If you want the same airflow without paying for the newest LED module, the Broan-NuTone GLA1303SS lands one price step below with the same 350 CFM and the same 1.5-sone figure. Everything else in this set trades airflow for a lower ticket, and one pick here is a bulb. In this guide 1. [Best energy efficient range hood at a glance](#best-energy-efficient-range-hood-at-a-glance) 2. [How I screened this shortlist](#how-i-screened-this-shortlist) 3. [What actually decides an energy efficient range hood?](#what-actually-decides-an-energy-efficient-range-hood) 4. [CFM, sones and the numbers that mislead](#cfm-sones-and-the-numbers-that-mislead) 5. [1\. Broan-NuTone Alta ALT1303SS — Best overall](#1-broan-nutone-alta-alt1303ss-%E2%80%94-best-overall) 6. [2\. Broan-NuTone GLA1303SS — Best for quiet operation](#2-broan-nutone-gla1303ss-%E2%80%94-best-for-quiet-operation) 7. [3\. SNDOAS PCK-GF3976 — Best for families](#3-sndoas-pck-gf3976-%E2%80%94-best-for-families) 8. [4\. Zomagas ZMS-3976 — Most versatile](#4-zomagas-zms-3976-%E2%80%94-most-versatile) 9. [5\. LPSAFP JDR E27 5W LED bulb, pack of 2 — Best upgrade part](#5-lpsafp-jdr-e27-5w-led-bulb-pack-of-2-%E2%80%94-best-upgrade-part) 10. [Ducted or ductless: which should you pick?](#ducted-or-ductless-which-should-you-pick) 11. [What the listings do not tell you](#what-the-listings-do-not-tell-you) 12. [The verdict](#the-verdict) 13. [FAQ](#faq) ## Best energy efficient range hood at a glance | Pick | Airflow | Noise / Certification | Price | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ----------------- | ------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Best overall**[Broan-NuTone Alta ALT1303SS](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FG5NQFZ7?tag=willtosip-20) | 350 CFM max | 1.5 sonesENERGY STAR | [Check Price](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FG5NQFZ7?tag=willtosip-20) | | **Best for quiet operation**[Broan-NuTone GLA1303SS](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DHDV4QF1?tag=willtosip-20) | 350 CFM max | 1.5 sonesENERGY STAR, Title 24 | [Check Price](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DHDV4QF1?tag=willtosip-20) | | **Best for families**[SNDOAS PCK-GF3976](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CM6FRW8N?tag=willtosip-20) | 230 CFM max claim | No certification listed | [Check Price](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CM6FRW8N?tag=willtosip-20) | | **Most versatile**[Zomagas ZMS-3976](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C1G2G2QK?tag=willtosip-20) | 280 CFM claim | No certification listed | [Check Price](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C1G2G2QK?tag=willtosip-20) | | **Best upgrade part**[LPSAFP JDR E27 5W LED (2-pack)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BY225BSH?tag=willtosip-20) | Replacement bulb | 5W LED, 50W halogen equivalent | [Check Price](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BY225BSH?tag=willtosip-20) | ## How I screened this shortlist Every listing was cut for one of three reasons: no stated airflow, no stated noise level, or no way to judge the energy claim against a certification. What survived was a small set where the deciding facts are on the page. I lined up the size and weight figures, the airflow claims, the noise ratings where published, and the certifications called out on the listing. That is a narrower filter than most roundups apply, and it matters here because "energy efficient" is a phrase manufacturers use freely. Only two picks in this set carry an ENERGY STAR line on the listing, and both are Broan-NuTone. The rest lean on LED lighting and low-wattage motors to make the case. - Two of five picks are ENERGY STAR certified on the listing. - Two of five list a specific sone rating (both 1.5). - Three of the five list a warranty length; two do not. - One pick is a replacement bulb, included because relighting an existing hood is often the cheaper, greener move. The full-hood picks all share a 30-inch under-cabinet format, which is the size Amazon returned most often for this query. ## What actually decides an energy efficient range hood? Most guides in this category compare CFM. That is not what decides it. A 900 CFM hood that you run on high for ten minutes uses more energy than a 350 CFM hood that clears the same smoke in fifteen. The deciding criterion is **airflow you actually need, delivered at a noise level you will actually use, on a motor that has passed a third-party efficiency test.** That is why ENERGY STAR matters more than raw CFM on a hood listing. The certification looks at airflow per watt across the speed range, not the marketing headline. In this set, only the two Broan-NuTone units carry it, and the Alta ALT1303SS pairs it with a Title 24 compliance note for electric ranges. The GLA1303SS lists both certifications too. The second decider is sones. A hood you switch off because it is too loud is not saving any energy. Both Broan picks list 1.5 sones on working speed, which the listing compares to a refrigerator. Neither the SNDOAS nor the Zomagas publishes a sone figure, which is a real gap when the whole point is "will I run it". ## CFM, sones and the numbers that mislead CFM is a maximum, not a working figure. A hood rated at 350 Max Blower CFM does not push 350 on the low setting, and you will use the low setting most of the time. Both Broan picks in this list are 2-speed. The SNDOAS lists 230 CFM at max, the Zomagas 280 CFM. On paper the Broan units win by about 25% at the top end. Sones is worse. A "quiet" claim without a figure is marketing. The two Broan hoods publish 1.5 sones on working speed. Neither of the entry-priced hoods gives a number, and that gap tells you where each manufacturer expects the buyer to look. A third figure buyers overpay for: motor wattage. It appears on almost no listing, this one included, so use ENERGY STAR as the proxy. That certification exists precisely because raw wattage was too easy to game. 1. Look for a sone figure, published, not implied. 2. Look for ENERGY STAR or Title 24 on the listing itself. 3. Look for two speeds minimum, so the low setting can run for long, quiet stretches. 4. Look for LED lighting, which every pick here includes. 5. Look for washable or replaceable filters; charcoal-only ductless designs cost more to run over years. ## 1\. Broan-NuTone Alta ALT1303SS — Best overall **The Alta pairs a certified 350 CFM ceiling with a 1.5-sone working level and a three-year LED module warranty, and that combination is not matched anywhere else in this set.** [![Broan-NuTone Alta ALT1303SS 30-inch under-cabinet range hood in stainless steel — the only pick with a three-year LED module warranty](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31LjtkR1eVL._SL500_.jpg)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FG5NQFZ7?tag=willtosip-20) **Best for:** an electric-range kitchen that wants certified airflow at low noise **Skip it if:** you cook on gas and need make-up air handled at higher CFM Within this set, the Alta is the newest of the two ENERGY STAR picks and the only one publishing a three-year warranty on the LED module (with a one-year on the hood itself). Broan says the unit is Title 24 compliant with electric ranges, delivers up to 350 Max Blower CFM, and runs at 1.5 sones on working speed. The dimensions come in at 5.12 x 20.1 x 30 in and 18.5 lb, so it sits a hair taller than the GLA1303SS but marginally lighter. The hidden rocker controls and enclosed bottom with two dishwasher-safe micro filters read as small upgrades on paper, and the EZ1 brackets are the same one-person install kit the GLA1303SS uses. The listing also flags compatibility with optional make-up air dampers, which matters in tight, well-sealed homes. The trade-off: this is the second-most expensive pick here and the slowest seller of the five by category rank. You are paying for the LED warranty and the newer chassis. If you do not need either, the GLA1303SS below is the same airflow and sone rating for less. **Pros:** - ENERGY STAR certified with Title 24 note - 350 Max Blower CFM at 1.5 sones on working speed - Three-year LED module warranty - Two dishwasher-safe micro filters - Ducted or non-ducted with charcoal filters (sold separately) **Cons:** - Most expensive full hood in this set - One-year hood warranty despite three-year LED cover - Charcoal filters not included for ductless mode [Check Price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FG5NQFZ7?tag=willtosip-20) ## 2\. Broan-NuTone GLA1303SS — Best for quiet operation **Same 350 CFM, same 1.5 sones, same ENERGY STAR line, one price step down: the GLA1303SS is the quiet-and-certified pick for buyers who do not need the newer LED module.** [![Broan-NuTone GLA1303SS 30-inch stainless steel under-cabinet range hood — matches the Alta on airflow and noise at a lower price](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31WZvkj3X7L._SL500_.jpg)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DHDV4QF1?tag=willtosip-20) **Best for:** open-plan kitchens where hood noise carries into the living space **Skip it if:** you want the newest LED module warranty in this set The GLA1303SS is the older sibling to the Alta and, for the airflow-and-noise buyer, it is the more efficient use of money in this set. Broan lists it at 350 Max Blower CFM, 1.5 sones on working speed, ENERGY STAR certified and Title 24 compliant with electric ranges. Weight is 19.2 lb across 5.9 x 19.7 x 29.5 in, so it is fractionally deeper front-to-back than the Alta and about half a pound heavier. Broan's own claim on the listing is that this unit is up to 44% quieter than the leading competitor and 20% more effective at removing pollutants. Take those as marketing, but the 1.5-sone figure is a hard number and the ENERGY STAR line is verifiable on the listing. The trade-off against the Alta is on the LED side: this hood does not carry the three-year module warranty the Alta does, and it lists one year on the whole unit. If the LED does eventually fail, replacement is on you sooner. On the other hand, it sells markedly faster in the category than the Alta, so the price-to-feature ratio is doing work. **Pros:** - ENERGY STAR certified and Title 24 compliant - 350 Max Blower CFM at 1.5 sones on working speed - EZ1 brackets for one-person install - Sells faster in the category than the Alta - Second-most affordable full hood here **Cons:** - No published LED module warranty - One-year manufacturer warranty - Micro filter count not stated on listing [Check Price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DHDV4QF1?tag=willtosip-20) ## 3\. SNDOAS PCK-GF3976 — Best for families **A slim 30-inch stainless hood that leans on a compact chassis and a 230 CFM airflow claim, well suited to weeknight cooking in a small kitchen.** [![SNDOAS 30-inch stainless steel under-cabinet range hood — the one buyers choose most often in this set](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31ZXuddIEIL._SL500_.jpg)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CM6FRW8N?tag=willtosip-20) **Best for:** a busy weeknight kitchen that needs a slim, easy-clean hood **Skip it if:** you want a published warranty on paper before you buy This is the one buyers choose most often here, and it is easy to see why on paper. The SNDOAS lists a 4.7 x 17.5 x 29.9 in footprint, a 430-grade stainless brushed body, a two-speed rocker control and a MAX 230 CFM airflow claim. Two-way venting handles either top or rear ducting, and the design is billed as slimmer than most other 30-inch under-cabinet hoods. The energy case here rests on the LED light and a lower-power motor than the Broan pair. There is no ENERGY STAR line on the listing, and no sone figure, which is the honest limit of the case. If you want a certified efficient hood, this is not it. If you want a light, compact hood for a small kitchen at a lower price than the Broans, this is where the set lands you. Against the rest of this list, the trade-off is transparency. No published warranty, no sone rating, and airflow only slightly ahead of the Zomagas. It is the mid-priced pick without the paperwork the premium picks carry. **Pros:** - Slim 4.7 in profile suits tight cabinets - 230 CFM two-speed with rocker control - Ducted or ductless conversion - 430-grade stainless brushed body - Sells faster than every other full hood here **Cons:** - No ENERGY STAR or Title 24 certification listed - No sone rating published - No warranty length stated on listing [Check Price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CM6FRW8N?tag=willtosip-20) ## 4\. Zomagas ZMS-3976 — Most versatile **A close cousin of the SNDOAS on chassis, with a 280 CFM airflow claim, a three-layer grease filter and a stated one-year manufacturer warranty.** [![Zomagas 30-inch under-cabinet range hood in stainless steel — the only entry-priced pick with a published warranty](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31ToN2CJkIL._SL500_.jpg)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C1G2G2QK?tag=willtosip-20) **Best for:** a rental or small kitchen where ductless mode may be the only option **Skip it if:** you need airflow above 280 CFM for heavy searing and wok work The Zomagas shares the 4.7 x 17.5 x 29.9 in slim footprint with the SNDOAS, which suggests a shared reference design. Where it differs on the listing: a 280 CFM airflow claim, a three-layer grease filter that combines aluminium mesh with activated carbon cotton, a 2W LED light called out for low draw, and a one-year manufacturer warranty in writing. That warranty line is the one thing the entry-priced SNDOAS above does not publish. For a ductless install, the filter design is the useful detail. Ductless hoods live or die on the filter, and a composite mesh-and-carbon layer is more forgiving than mesh alone. Feature bullets describe a top 7-inch ducted vent and a rear rectangular vent, so the conversion options are similar to the SNDOAS. The gaps are the same as before: no sone figure, no ENERGY STAR line. The energy claim is on the 2W LED and the motor, not on a certification. Against the Broan pair, that is a real gap; against the SNDOAS, it is a small edge on airflow and paperwork. **Pros:** - 280 CFM two-speed with rocker control - Three-layer mesh and carbon composite filter - 2W LED light - One-year manufacturer warranty stated - Cheapest full hood in this set **Cons:** - No ENERGY STAR or Title 24 line on listing - No sone rating published - Charcoal element in filter needs periodic replacement [Check Price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C1G2G2QK?tag=willtosip-20) ## 5\. LPSAFP JDR E27 5W LED bulb, pack of 2 — Best upgrade part **Not a hood, a fix: a 5W LED bulb rated as a 50W halogen replacement, sized for Zephyr and Dacor hoods with an E27 socket.** [![LPSAFP JDR E27 5W LED range hood bulb, pack of two — a 50W halogen equivalent for existing hoods](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/418CGY7+QZL._SL500_.jpg)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BY225BSH?tag=willtosip-20) **Best for:** keeping a Zephyr or Dacor hood in service with a lower-wattage bulb **Skip it if:** you do not own a hood with an E27 socket at the right length Included in this roundup because the greenest hood is often the one already on your wall. If your existing unit works and the only complaint is a hot, thirsty halogen bulb, a swap is the shorter path. LPSAFP says the JDR E27 120V 5W long-neck LED is 73mm tall, rated as a 50W halogen equivalent, and specifically compatible with Zephyr part Z0B0011 and Dacor parts 62351 and 92348\. The manufacturer claims over 20,000 hours of life and RoHS and CE certification. Two bulbs to a pack, 4.16 oz total, 3 x 3 x 2 in packaging. The listing carries a 180-day warranty and a note to confirm bulb size against the hood before buying, which is the single most important line: E27 fittings vary by length and glass shape, so measure first. The trade-off is obvious. This does nothing for airflow or motor draw. It replaces a halogen with a 5W LED and, on a hood you use every day, that adds up over a year. It does not turn an old hood into an ENERGY STAR unit. **Pros:** - 5W draw versus 50W halogen equivalent - Manufacturer claim of 20,000-hour life - E27 base fits listed Zephyr and Dacor parts - Two bulbs per pack - Cheapest pick in this set **Cons:** - Compatibility limited to specific hood models - Only 180-day warranty - Does not address motor or fan energy use [Check Price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BY225BSH?tag=willtosip-20) ## Ducted or ductless: which should you pick? Ducted vents smoke, steam and grease outside the house. Ductless recirculates air through a charcoal filter and back into the kitchen. On energy, ducted usually wins because you are not pushing a fan against a saturated filter, and every full hood in this set supports both modes. If your kitchen already has a vent run to the outside wall or roof, use it. All four full hoods here list top or rear duct options. The two Broan picks pair that with ENERGY STAR certification for electric ranges. The SNDOAS and Zomagas list two-way venting but no certification. If your kitchen has no duct route, the Zomagas is the more thought-through ductless design in this set because of the composite three-layer filter. Charcoal filters are sold separately for the Broan Alta in ductless mode, which is worth pricing in before you buy. Ductless mode also asks more of the LED and the motor over time because the fan is fighting a partially loaded filter, so factor a filter replacement schedule into the "efficient" claim. ## What the listings do not tell you Range hood listings hide three things worth knowing. - **Working-speed CFM.** Every full hood here quotes a maximum. Real usage sits on speed one for most cooking. Neither Broan nor the entry pair publishes a speed-one CFM figure, so plan on roughly two thirds of the headline number and pick the hood that still clears your range at that lower setting. - **Duct run losses.** Every 90-degree bend and every foot of flexible duct trims real airflow. A hood rated at 350 CFM in a lab does less at the range with three elbows in the run. Shorter, straighter ducting matters more than another 50 CFM on the box. - **Filter replacement cost.** Aluminium mesh is dishwasher-safe. Activated charcoal is not, and it needs replacing every few months in a busy kitchen. Two of the picks here rely on charcoal for ductless mode, and neither price includes the replacement filter cost. None of this is on the listing pages. It is on you to ask. ## The verdict The Broan-NuTone Alta ALT1303SS is the best energy efficient range hood in this set because it is ENERGY STAR certified, delivers 350 Max Blower CFM at 1.5 sones on working speed, and pairs those figures with a three-year LED module warranty no one else here matches. That combination is what "energy efficient" is supposed to mean on a hood: enough airflow to clear the range quickly, low enough noise that you actually run it, and a certification behind the claim. If the LED warranty is not worth the price step, the Broan-NuTone GLA1303SS is the direct swap. Same airflow, same sone rating, same ENERGY STAR line, one price band lower. That is the pick for open-plan kitchens where you value the quiet and do not care which module is under the light diffuser. Below that, the SNDOAS and Zomagas are entry-priced hoods that describe themselves as energy conscious without carrying the certification to back it. They fit smaller kitchens and lower budgets. The LPSAFP bulb pack is the outlier: a 5W LED that keeps an existing Zephyr or Dacor hood in service without a full replacement. ## FAQ ### Is a range hood really energy efficient if it uses a lot of CFM? Is a range hood really efficient at high CFM? Yes, if the motor is certified and you only run high when needed. ENERGY STAR looks at airflow per watt across the speed range, so a 350 CFM certified hood used mostly on low can draw less over a year than a 230 CFM uncertified hood run on high because the airflow is thin. Check for the certification, then match the CFM to your cooking. ### Is the Broan-NuTone Alta worth it over the GLA1303SS? Is the Alta worth the step up over the GLA1303SS? Only if the LED module warranty matters to you. Both hoods list 350 Max Blower CFM, 1.5 sones on working speed, ENERGY STAR certification and Title 24 compliance with electric ranges. The Alta adds a three-year LED module warranty. If a bulb assembly failing at year two is a real cost concern, take the Alta. Otherwise the GLA1303SS is the same airflow for less. ### Will a 30-inch under-cabinet range hood fit my kitchen? Will a 30-inch range hood fit under standard upper cabinets? Usually, but confirm the height. The Broan Alta measures 5.12 x 20.1 x 30 in and the GLA1303SS 5.9 x 19.7 x 29.5 in. The SNDOAS and Zomagas both come in slimmer at 4.7 x 17.5 x 29.9 in. Measure from the cooktop up to the underside of your cabinet, plan on 24 to 30 inches of clearance, and confirm the duct exit lines up with your existing run. ### What is the difference between ducted and ductless energy efficient range hoods? The difference between ducted and ductless hoods is where the air goes. Ducted vents outside through a top or rear duct, which every full hood in this list supports. Ductless recirculates through a charcoal filter and back into the kitchen, which asks more of the fan and the filter over time. Ducted is usually the more efficient mode. Ductless mode also carries ongoing charcoal filter replacement costs. ### Can I just replace the bulb instead of buying a new range hood? Can I replace the bulb to save energy? Yes, if the rest of the hood is working. The LPSAFP JDR E27 5W LED in this list is rated as a 50W halogen equivalent and specifically compatible with Zephyr part Z0B0011 and Dacor parts 62351 and 92348\. Measure the socket length first: the bulb is 73mm tall, and E27 fittings vary. It will not fix a failing motor, but it cuts light draw significantly. Range hood shopping usually goes wrong at the same point: buyers pick on headline CFM, ignore the sone rating, and end up with a loud hood they never run. The efficient pick is the one you switch on for every meal, not the one with the biggest number on the box. That is why the Broan-NuTone Alta wins this set. It has the airflow to matter, the certification to back the energy claim, and a working-speed noise level low enough that it stays on. If the price is a stretch, drop one step to the GLA1303SS and buy the same performance without the LED warranty. Measure your cabinet, plan your duct run, and take the certified hood. *Last updated: September 30, 2026\. Product availability re-checked.* *This page contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.*