Cash for Clunker Appliances

The Cash-For-Clunkers program has been so popular, despite it’s lack of real green benefits, there has been talk of proposals for “Cash for Homes” or “Cash for Computer Servers” and whatnot.

In Michigan, the states largest power company wants your energy-gulping, landfill-clogging refrigerators and it’s willing to pay $50 for them and haul them away for free. The programs is a small part of the utility company’s plan to meet its state-mandated goal of reducing energy consumption 5.5 percent by 2012. DTE Energy, so far, has collected more than 1,000 old refrigerators and freezers, and is partnering with Washington-based JACO Environmentalto recycle them for parts used in making computers, cell phones and steel rebar.

Similar programs can be found in New Jersey and Vermont where statewide programs offers residents a $30 rebate and free appliance pick-up. If your state does not have similar plans in place check with your local utility provider to see if they offer an appliance recycling rebate.

Utilities companies estimate that homeowners can save up to $150 a year on their electricity bill by replacing their old refrigerator or freezer with a new Energy-star rated model. Old refrigerators, made prior to 1990, use three times as much electricity as new ones and emit ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).

According to Sam Sirkin, the program development manager of Jaco Environmental, “Avoiding the release of the C.F.C.’s in fridges captures five tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per fridge, and just removing the old refrigerator or freezer from the grid saves another two to five tons of carbon dioxide due to energy savings.”

An Appliance recycling plan is far superior to the hijacked CARS program because the car rebates, which run as high as $4,500 per purchase, ultimately cost taxpayers around $160 per ton of carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere. An appliance recycling rebate between $25 and $50 removes about five tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. According to Elana Schor , that works out to a cost of $10 per ton for the richest refrigerator rebate program — more than 10 times cheaper than “cash for clunkers.”

www.NJCleanEnergy.com www.EfficiencyVermont.com www.dteEnergy.com

July 31, 2009

Magnetic Artwork

A while ago I wrote about how you can add some whimsy and color to your kitchen with the top-mount refrigerators from Amana. Now you can achieve new flair using your existing refrigerator with a magnetic artwork kit from Motifo

One pack of 1296 magnetic tiles contains six colour-coded designs for creating your own masterpiece or you can use the Motifo templates to make portraits of Audrey Hepburn, Muhammad Ali, Pink or Yoda to name a few.

A pack costs $79.95 from motifo.com, where you can also download the new design templates regularly added to the site.

Obviously you can use these anywhere they will stick. I think they could be used to liven up a plain steel entry door or bank of filing cabinets.

July 6, 2009

Dependent French Door Oven

Almost two years ago I wrote about the French door oven from BlueStar Range. For it’s new 2009 collection, the 30″ and 36″ have an updated look and dependent French doors. “Now when you open the left door on the 30” and 36” ovens, the right door will open simultaneously. This is an incredibly useful feature in commercial kitchens as it allows you to use your left hand to open the doors and your free hand to place food in the oven – we’ve now brought the same concept to the home chef,” says Mike Trapp, BlueStar’s Vice President of Operations.

“You can avoid reaching over a hot oven door since the French doors open easily with a simple pull. And for people with disabilities, a French door oven set lower to the ground allows easy access to the oven.” says Trapp. Removing the hazard of leaning over a hot oven door also makes it easier for mothers who have little helpers. (I remember my Grandmother having a fit when I was young and wanted to bake my grandfather a Birthday cake.)

Additional product features include convection oven cooking, a full extension oven rack, a heat assist element for quick start-ups, and 3,000 BTU of additional power. The wall ovens operate on either gas or liquid propane.

Customers can order the ovens in 190 different colors, at no extra charge. Custom colors are also available.

If you are not sure which color to choose, check out the series on GOLDNOTES about color for insight and inspiration or consult with Rachel from Hue Consulting and Maria from Colour Me Happy.

Retail prices range from approximately $2,520 to $8,732.

Single Wall Oven

“It is not the form that dictates the color, but the color that brings out the form.” -Hans Hofmann

June 25, 2009

The Next Kitchen Trend

With consumers favoring more stream-lined Kitchen Designs,
look for manufacturers to start offering more appliances and
electronics in modular sizes.

This picture from the Electrolux Pan-European Design family
shows how the manufacturer has unified it’s brand by sizing it’s
LCD television to integrate with built-in appliances. The
television housing matches not only in size but also in finish.

While it is unlikely that a designer will ever be able to combine different manufacturers and be able to get the finishes to match; I do look forward to seeing the various combinations larger manufacturers will start to offer.