Chadeaux
Gold Member
- Sep 13, 2011
- 5,512
- 6,408
- Detector(s) used
- Ace 250
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- Cache Hunting
Energy saver this, Econo model that . . . has anyone ever wondered if these "new appliances" are actually saving energy, or simply a ruse to make money?
I do work for a "Furniture and Appliance" dealer. I love the new LCD and LED televisions, the pictures are fantastic! According to the tags they are supposed to use less energy (probably do) than my old tv. On the other hand, there is one big drawback --- whereas the old CRT televisions were designed to last 10 years (that was the "average" life expectancy) the new sets are designed to be dead after 5 years of normal use . . . max.
So, while there is some energy savings while the set is being watched (compared to old Betsy . . . 20+ year old Magnavox set) I got to wondering: How much energy does it take to BUILD one of those sets. Since on average it will take two of the new style sets to last as long as the average CRT, if the manufacturing process uses very much energy it would offset any energy savings that might have been realized. In the case of old Betsy, it would take manufacturing 4 of the sets.
So, here we go to google, ask and the other search engines. Guess what? You can find out how much energy it takes to make an aluminum can, bottle 16 oz of water, or make a tube of toothpaste but not how much energy it takes to make the new televisions, the new "energy efficient" appliances, etc.
I am beginning to wonder if we've been sold a bill of goods in order to pick our pockets?
A washer used to last 5-7 years. Now they don't last two. It is not unusual for the old style dryers to last 20 years. Mine is 10 years old and still works like new. They won't make two years anymore. All appliances must now have an embedded computer control. Anything that can be programmed to work can also be programmed to fail. Is that happening? I don't know, but to me it sure looks suspiciously like a guy who worked for a glass company in New Orleans. He took to the streets with a BB gun in the late hours of the evening in order to shoot out windows at the used and new car lots back in the 1970's.
Are we supposed to believe that building these appliances doesn't use energy? No energy to make the metal body, motors, switches, springs, etc.?
Is a "disposable" appliance really an efficient use of "scarce" resources, or is the allegation that resources are scarce an even bigger ruse?
Does anyone else thing things are getting screwy?
I do work for a "Furniture and Appliance" dealer. I love the new LCD and LED televisions, the pictures are fantastic! According to the tags they are supposed to use less energy (probably do) than my old tv. On the other hand, there is one big drawback --- whereas the old CRT televisions were designed to last 10 years (that was the "average" life expectancy) the new sets are designed to be dead after 5 years of normal use . . . max.
So, while there is some energy savings while the set is being watched (compared to old Betsy . . . 20+ year old Magnavox set) I got to wondering: How much energy does it take to BUILD one of those sets. Since on average it will take two of the new style sets to last as long as the average CRT, if the manufacturing process uses very much energy it would offset any energy savings that might have been realized. In the case of old Betsy, it would take manufacturing 4 of the sets.
So, here we go to google, ask and the other search engines. Guess what? You can find out how much energy it takes to make an aluminum can, bottle 16 oz of water, or make a tube of toothpaste but not how much energy it takes to make the new televisions, the new "energy efficient" appliances, etc.
I am beginning to wonder if we've been sold a bill of goods in order to pick our pockets?
A washer used to last 5-7 years. Now they don't last two. It is not unusual for the old style dryers to last 20 years. Mine is 10 years old and still works like new. They won't make two years anymore. All appliances must now have an embedded computer control. Anything that can be programmed to work can also be programmed to fail. Is that happening? I don't know, but to me it sure looks suspiciously like a guy who worked for a glass company in New Orleans. He took to the streets with a BB gun in the late hours of the evening in order to shoot out windows at the used and new car lots back in the 1970's.
Are we supposed to believe that building these appliances doesn't use energy? No energy to make the metal body, motors, switches, springs, etc.?
Is a "disposable" appliance really an efficient use of "scarce" resources, or is the allegation that resources are scarce an even bigger ruse?
Does anyone else thing things are getting screwy?