was there really a golden age of virtually indestructible appliances?
by:MX machinery 2019-08-27
I just replaced the microwave for the second time in less than three years. The warranty period for this machine has been extended for several months. By contrast, my grandmother bought the first Taiwanese microwave in the 1970 s, a very durable machine that was passed on to my mother after ten years of service, it took another 20 years. We had a refrigerator in the basement of our childhood home that looked like it was built in our 40 s. It never broke down once. I\'m sure we ended up calling BC Hydro and let it go. Back in the day, so- What is called durable is durable. It is not uncommon for a high quality washing machine to last 20 or 30 years. ( It is not surprising that Whirlpool and matag made military components and ammunition during World War II. ) The indestructible washing machine or refrigerator has become something of myth and legend. When BC Hydro challenged customers in 2009 to share the story of the heritage refrigerator, they discovered a working model from 1930. Welcome to the modern world. \"Even 25 years ago, they didn\'t make appliances the same way they do today,\" said Steve Edgar, senior manager of coastal appliances. \"Today\'s home appliances are used for about 10 years, but 25 or 30 years ago it\'s more like 20 to 25 years. This is not a myth at all. \"Today\'s appliances look better, but they can\'t hold up,\" Edgar said . \". Edgar\'s assertion is not just a good memory. The National Association of Home Builders has provided me with two studies. 1993 and 2007- This provides a snapshot of the life of the device and the results are clear. During this period, the life expectancy of each major appliance decreased by 8 to 31 age points. Kitchen stoves, refrigerators, and washing machines have been hit the most, but dishwashers and water heaters follow. The microwave and dryer fell by less than ten per cent. The two powerful forces of cause and result are driving this decline towards mediocrity. First, the price pressure. Even for the sake of quality, most people don\'t want to spend much more. The price of the washing machine in 1950 is very close to the monthly income of a working class, equivalent to about $4,000 today. Needless to say, Edgar said, people want these machines to exist forever. \"Today, the main thing selling electrical appliances is the appearance. \"Few customers ask longevity questions,\" he explained . \". \"They will buy an extended warranty, though, because they are replacing a device that is only five years old and they are shocked that the device does not last for a long time. \"Consumers also scrap broken ones faster- When the repair cost is usually close to the price of the new equipment, down the equipment. \"The labor is really expensive, and then there are parts,\" Edgar said . \". \"It\'s often cheaper to buy a new one. \"The general rule of thumb is to replace if the repair cost is more than half the price of the new machine. New machines are almost always more efficient, so it\'s cheaper to run. But efficiency is double. Edgar said the sword and the power to improve energy efficiency may also lead to a decline in the life of electrical appliances. Energy Guide labels and Energy Star efficiency standards Canada passed on 1978 and 2001, respectively- Amazing success in reducing the electricity consumption of household appliances. But there is a cost in efficiency: the material is lighter and the cost is higher In order to reduce the service life of the equipment, high-efficiency motors are involved. Matt littlele of B said, \"it\'s terrible. He believes that the home appliance industry has fallen into a system of planned elimination. \"The Energy Star was created with the best intentions, but it has evolved into a manufacturer trying to get (Energy Star) Instead of making more stickers Efficient machines . \" \"So now you have a refrigerator of the same size, but there is a smaller compressor that will last five or ten years instead of 20 to 30 years. \"Little collects old machines for recycling and rebuilds better machines by removing parts from other similar models. \"Manufacturers don\'t want you to fix them so they make the parts unusable so people can buy new machines,\" he said . \". In his assessment, Edgar was only slightly charitable. \"Manufacturers are under various pressure from the government to improve their efficiency,\" Edgar said . \". \"But in the end, they just wore out faster. A 2012 report by Natural Resources Canada says energy demand for energy star washing machines is a quarter of a standard machine made 10 years ago. The top refrigerators and dishwashers are also greatly improved. According to the report, the electricity consumption of a set of appliances purchased in 2010 is about half of the same set of appliances purchased in 1990. However, at least you save some money on the electricity bill and you will spend more often on replacing the appliance. Wise: carry warranty information with you. You may need it faster than you think. If the energy saving is great, should you throw away the work appliances and reduce the electricity bill? This is an argument you often see in the environmental media, but it\'s not that simple. If super- The purchase cost of efficient appliances is higher, and it may take you decades to save on the BC Hydro bill. Although there are two Hydro Grade rate structure To promote protection The electricity bill in this province is very cheap. Not only that, but its carbon footprint is small compared to coal Electricity is available in most parts of North America. Upgrade from 25-year- According to BC Hydro of data old refrigerator to a good of Energy Star model can reduce up to 55 of power consumption every year save 425 KW when in accordance with Hydro of highest price 50 dollars. So let\'s try some simple math. If you apply for a maximum rebate of $100 for BC Hydro for a new refrigerator, if you choose a brand that is eligible for a manufacturer rebate, if you live in a rebate City -- Some match the kickbacks of Hydro, though usually just on the washing machine You can deduct $300 from your purchase price. After rebate, in the middle- The qualified Bosch refrigerator costs about $2099. It takes 2155 to recover your investment at today\'s electricity price, but then: Let\'s start saving! Even spending hundreds of dollars on a high price. Efficiency equipment may take several years to pay off in dollars and may have a longer service life than the machine is expected. From the perspective of BC Hydro, the real reward is protection or demand side management. You know its brand, PowerSmart, a bunch of programs designed to help us reduce power consumption. By reducing demand, hydropower, by delaying the need to build power stations and dams, reduces the need to invest considerable money in new capacity, which cost billions of dollars. Because I\'m a community. I am a thoughtful person and don\'t want to see more dams blocking our rivers, it is absolutely necessary, I bought Energy Star appliances but I didn\'t cheat myself on saving. Paying more for efficiency is more beneficial than paying consumers. However, I would also like to know the environmental cost of shortening the life of the appliance. Is the cost of replacing a new appliance higher than the cost of running a heavy appliance Responsibility model built for longer duration? If we were in a low energy saving Carbon environment for coal Burning Energy at smelters and manufacturing plants in China or Ohio? BC Hydro couldn\'t answer my question. But according to Statistics Canada, the cost of energy, water and vehicle fuel to make electrical appliances is less than ten percent of the total cost of production, and you may save it in surgery for months or years. The downside is that if your equipment or its components are made in China or Ohio, then the carbon intensity of coal The firepower used in its manufacturing process may be 10 to 40 times greater than the power in B. C. Quebec and even Ontario just shut down their last coal supply. Thermal power plant. You can easily lose the environmental benefits of purchasing energy-saving appliances because you have chosen the wrong brand. In your decision, there are thousands of pages of mysterious charts and figures to look at carefully -- In the production process, good luck in deciding the right brand. Let me know if you understand.