Appliances
There are quite a few blog posts here about building, but less on interior furnishings etc. Appliances are definiately something worth talking about. I am sure most people have heard about the energy star ratings on appliances. They are very helpful in determining the most efficient products out there. However, what about the appliances that are sitting at home? Is there anything wrong with using them until they literally break? Yes and no. Appliances that are 15-20 years old should most likely be recycled. If they are resold, that will just mean it is going to continue to suck energy at a higher rate in a different location. The older machines do just that, they use more energy to do the same job. When you are purchasing a new appliance, the establishment that you are getting it from should take the old one away to be properly recycled. Yes, it will mean that it will be going to a landfill, but they can do the best job of making sure it has the least amount of negative impact on the earth. If you are purchasing a used but not old appliance, there are local governmental recycling programs you can check out. If you do decide to upgrade your appliance, you will generally save between 10-50% on the energy costs of the new versus old appliance.