Remember Reddy Kilowatt, this charming spokes"man" for the electricity industry? I do - vaguely!
Energy use of kitchen appliances first became the subject of attention by consumer advocates and environmentalists after the OPEC oil embargoes of '73-74, and again in '79. I remember fondly waiting in a gas line overnight one Thursday in August 1979 so I'd be able to get a tank of gas in my 14 mile a gallon Mercury and drive down to Misquamicut with my friends for the weekend.
Well, things have changed, and mostly for the better! Consumers and manufacturers have become energy conscious. My Prius gets approximately triple the mileage of that old Mercury. Kitchen appliances have also become more efficient and green. Energy use and water usage have been drstically reduced. Coolants in refrigerators, freezers, and air conditioners are more environmentally friendly.
The appliance categories that have changed the most in the last generation are clothes washers, refrigerators, and dishwashers. I'd like to talk about these three groups.
Washers
Chances are you know someone who hates, or at least dislikes, their new washer. Perhaps they don't like how little water goes into many of the cycles. Perhaps they don't like the much longer cycle times conpared to older machines.
Simply put, the Department of Energy has pushed appliance manufacturers into making washers that use 50% less water and energy (and sometimes more than that) than their predecessors.
Today's machines also spin out water in the final rinse cycle at a higher RPM than older machines, which helps to cut down on both drying time and energy use by the dryer (not to mention less wear-and-tear on your clothes from "baking" in the dryer!) The tradeoff for the decreased energy use is that cycle times are longer, in some cases - especially in "heavy duty" and "bulky" cycles - as much as 90-120 minutes longer.
If cycle time is important to you, some models are more accommodating then others. For example, Speed Queen top loading washers feature a 32 minute regular wash, or a 41 minute wash with an extra rinse! Electrolux front loading washers have quick cycles that can wash smaller loads in as little as fifteen minutes!
Refrigerators
Refrigerators have become dramatically more efficient, as the article below points out:
https://mn.gov/commerce-stat/pdfs/refrigerators-and-freezers.pdf
Fridges also tend to be:
- larger (in all three dimensions).
- brighter on the inside (due to the use of LED lighting).
- more environmentally friendly (due to newer coolants).
Today's units employ better temperature management inside the fresh-food compartment (the "refrigerator" portion) due to more accurate thermostat systems, which allows perishables to last longer. Also, fridges come in a greater variety of styles and sizes.
In my twenty-five plus years of selling refrigerators I have seen several mandates by the D.O.E. for increased energy efficiency. It is not unrealistic to expect your new fridge to pay for itself over the unit's life!
Do refrigerators cost more? Well, yes, but in terms of "real" dollars you really aren't paying more than you would have twenty-plus years ago for a similar unit.
Dishwashers
Let's talk about the one aspect of today's dishwashers about which I hear the most complaints: cycle times are so much longer than in the past!!
This is true. The average cycle length of a "Normal" cycle is generally a bit over two hours. Every residential dishwasher in production will have these longer cycle lengths. The only way to have your dishwasher take less time is to use the "short" or "light" cycle, which usually takes 48-60 minutes.
Fortunately, today's dishwasher offers a host of improvements over older models that hopefully compensate for the cycle time.
- Water consumption and energy use is dramatically reduced.
- Dishwasher interiors have become more roomy, making it easier to fit larger platters and pans.
- Shelf space inside dishwashers has been increased, largely through the use of a third rack available on about half the current models.
- Dishwashers as a group have become quieter, in some cases approaching silence!
- Dishwashers do a better job cleaning by using better filters, strategically placed racks, and internal water heaters to help dissolve grease.
So, while you might be less than thrilled with your new dishwasher's cycle length, at least you can be reassured that your appliance is saving you labor by cleaning your dishes for you. I find it helpful to remember that my dishwasher is cleaning for me while using gallons less water than if I was washing my hand.
Feel free to reach out via our comments section if you have any questions or thoughts on this!