AHAM's Blog

The Home of the Future…from 1957

What images are conjured up when you envision the “Home of the Future?”   Nowadays, you might think of a kitchen equipped with modern-looking smart appliances that can be controlled from your smart phone.  If so, you would be correct because those technologies are currently being developed and will not only save you time and effort in the kitchen, but help to lower your utility bills with increased energy efficiency.

However, six decades ago, the “Home of the Future” was envisioned very differently.  At Disneyland in Anaheim California, the Monsanto Home of the Future became a major attraction in 1957 that showcased what a typical American home would be like in 1986. Some things, such as microwaves and dishwashers, would become ubiquitous. However, some parts of this futuristic kitchen never came to pass and now seem kitschy by today’s standards, such as all-plastic dinnerware, using the dishwasher to store the dishes, and replacing the refrigerator/freezer with hidden “cold zones” for “irradiated food.”

This website features more information about the Monsanto Home of the Future and includes a fun 8-minute film from the late 1950s of a housewife daydreaming about living there. You can see more pictures of the Home of the Future here.  

Or watch here:

 

What do you think of this Monsanto Home of the Future?    What do you hope the Home of the Future will look like?    Tell us!

South Carolina Offers Rebates for ENERGY STAR Appliances

If you live in South Carolina and have been holding off on purchasing a new energy efficient appliance, now is the time to get one – but you have to act fast! The Aiken Standard reported that beginning Friday, January 27^th through February 5^th, dishwashers, refrigerators and room air conditioners will receive a $50 rebate and clothes washers will receive a $100 rebate. All appliances must be ENERGY STAR certified to be eligible for the rebate.

Upgrading to ENERGY STAR appliances are not only greener than the appliances of yesteryear by consuming less electricity and water, but they will leave you with more green in your bank, too. By purchasing an ENERGY STAR washer, you could save over $135 per year on your utility bills. In fact, in 1990, the average consumption for a washer was 2.67 kilowatt hours (kWh) per cycle and one manufactured in 2010 consumes only .66 kWh per cycle – a 75 percent decrease!  Click here to find ENERGY STAR qualified washers.

For more information about the rebate program, visit the South Carolina Energy Office’s website.   If you do not live in South Carolina, click here to review savings opportunities in your area.

Smart Appliances Make Headlines at CES

Smart Appliances were the subject of quite a few news articles, including the City News in Toronto, the Chicago Tribune, USA Today and Consumer Reports, as a result of the 2012 International CES in Las Vegas, NV.

Additionally, click here to view copies of the presentations about smart appliances made during the AHAM-sponsored panel discussion "Window to Tomorrow's Connected Home."

Washers and Dryers: Now More Energy Efficient and with More Options

One hundred years ago, doing the laundry was an all-day affair and it often was back-breaking work for those who had to do it. As technology advanced, manufacturers designed washers and dryers that took much of the sweat out of wash day and left people with a lot more time to do other things. More recently, washers and dryers have gone “high-tech” and are far more energy efficient than they were 20 years ago.

As this recent Washington Post article points out, washers and dryers have became the “trophy appliances” for many Americans: “By 2000, the power laundry room had joined the kitchen as another place for trophy appliances. Consumers who needed to replace old washers embraced the innovations, despite the higher price, realizing long-term savings from lower utility and water bills, better cleaning and improved fabric care. The streamlined washing machines had growing numbers of special cycles and options. You could buy a coordinating dryer that used moisture sensors to dry clothes that came out already less wet from HE washers.” Furthermore, manufacturers are developing “smart” washers and dryers that could be connected to the Smart Grid and communicate with the utility company to operate during off-peak hours.

By purchasing an ENERGY STAR washer, you could save over $135 per year on your utility bills. In fact, in 1990, the average consumption for a washer was 2.67 kilowatt hours (kWh) per cycle and one manufactured in 2010 consumes only .66 kWh per cycle – a 75 percent decrease!  Click here to find ENERGY STAR qualified washers. Additionally, you may be eligible for a rebate for an energy efficient model.

AHAM 6 Increase by 1.2 Percent from One Year Ago

Yesterday, the Wall Street Journal reports that shipments of the “AHAM 6” major appliances in the U.S. “…increased in September for the first time since March, rising 1.2 percent from a year earlier.” The AHAM 6 includes clothes washers and dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers, ovens and ranges. During the month of September, refrigerators and freezers climbed from 1,080,800 to 1,166,800 shipments – a 7.9 percent from September 2010 while shipments of ranges, ovens and microwaves increased 3.10 percent, from 1,608,000 to 1,657,000.

If you would like to receive monthly factory shipment reports, visit the AHAM Store to purchase a one-year subscription. Each monthly report includes the number of shipments for cooking (ranges and ovens), home laundry (washers and dryers), kitchen clean up (dishwashers, disposals and compactors), food preservation (refrigerators and freezers) and home comfort appliances (room air conditioners and dehumidifiers). Subscriptions are based on the calendar year.

Additionally, AHAM has a five-year data series available, which includes factory shipment report for the current year as well as from 2007-2010.

New Appliances Now More Efficient Than Ever

For most consumers, when it comes to replacing appliances, one of their primary concerns is how much it will cost to operate them.  Over the past several decades, appliance manufacturers have developed technologies that have drastically reduced appliance energy consumption, which has resulted in lower electricity bills for consumers.  For example, in 1991, an average dishwasher consumed 2.67 kilowatt hours (kWh) per cycle and in 2010, the average consumption for a dishwasher is 1.37 kWh – a 45 percent decrease.  In 1990, a typical household refrigerator consumed 916 kWh per year, and by 2010 that had decreased to 462 kWh per year – that’s nearly a 50 percent decrease!    Based on the national average electricity prices, that means replacing a refrigerator from 1990 with a new unit of average efficiency will save your household over $100 per year!

Purchasing an ENERGY STAR unit will save even more energy and utility costs.   Use the ENERGY STAR calculator to determine how much money you will save by replacing your refrigerator.   Also, look at the rebate calculator to see what is available in your zip code.    These rebates can help offset the initial purchase price of a new unit.   There may even be a bounty available in your area for turning in an older working unit.    See AHAM’s database of verified refrigerators to check on the energy usage of the latest models.

A recent article from NewJersey.com provides a good overview of the ENERGY STAR program and how you can cut your utility bills when you make your next appliance purchase.

AHAM Marks Fire Prevention Week by Distributing 250,000 Safety Brochures

National Fire Prevention Week is October 7-12, 2011 and AHAM is again supporting this Week by providing several safety brochures (just pay shipping). Last year, AHAM distributed over 250,000 brochures to local fire departments, schools and non-profit agencies.

The following brochures are available:

• “Protect Against Range Tipping”
• “Recipe for Safer Cooking Procedures”
• “Clothes Dryer Safety”
• “Portable Heater Safety Brochure” (English)
• “Portable Heater Safety Brochure” (Spanish)

There is no shipping charge if your total order is less than 250 brochures. However, there will be a nominal shipping charge for larger orders. You may order brochures online or click here for an order form. Email AHAM if you have any questions.

AHAM Supports MA Bill That Would Provide Consumer Tax Credits for Energy Efficient Appliances

Today AHAM's Government Affairs Director Kevin Washington provided testimony before the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Revenue in favor of H. 1675, which would provide tax credits to residential consumers who purchase clothes washers, clothes dryers and dishwashers. AHAM also recommened to the Committee that the bill be amended to include other energy efficient appliances that are designated ENERGY STAR appliances.

Said Mr. Washington, "The typical household spends $1,900 a year on energy bills. With ENERGY STAR products, Massachusetts residents can annually save up to 30 percent – nearly $600. This amount of consumer savings adds up to lower energy production and greenhouse gas emissions equal to 50 power plants."

The complete testimony can be found here.

AHAM President Testifies Before Senate on Consensus Appliance Efficiency Agreement

AHAM President, Joseph M. McGuire, testified yesterday before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in support of legislation to enact the appliance efficiency standards portion of a landmark consensus agreement among appliance manufacturers, efficiency and consumer advocates and state energy officials.  The bill, Implementation of National Consensus Appliance Agreements Act of 2011 (S. 398) would amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to improve energy efficiency of refrigerators, freezers, clothes washers, clothes dryers, dishwashers and room air conditioners. 

AHAM's testimony highlighted several ways the agreement will save energy and increase our energy independence:

• improve product energy efficiency saving more than 9 Quads of energy over 30 years
• save consumers billions of dollars in reduced energy bills
• require clothes washers and dishwashers to use nearly 5 trillion less gallons of water over 30 years
• reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 550 million metric tons of CO2

To read AHAM’s full written testimony, click here.  To view the webcast of the event, click here.  

 

Industry and Advocacy Groups Agree on New Efficiency Standards for Home Appliances

Home appliance manufacturers and energy efficiency advocates announced a major agreement offering major efficiency advancements for refrigerators, freezers, clothes washers, clothes dryers, dishwashers and room air conditioners.  The deal could save consumers BILLIONS of dollars on energy bills and reduce global warming emissions for decades to come!

The major energy-saving deal was announced today by AHAM, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) and a nationwide coalition of energy and water efficiency supporters  who have called for new national minimum efficiency standards, production tax credits for super-efficient appliances and inclusion of “smart grid” readiness as a feature of future ENERGY STAR qualified appliances.

Based on Department of Energy (DOE) analysis, the recommended standards and tax credits will save more than 9 quads of energy over 30 years, or roughly enough to meet the total energy needs of 40 percent of American homes for one year.  The recommended water efficiency standards and tax credits for clothes washers and dishwashers will save about 5 trillion gallons over 30 years.  Global warming CO2 will be reduced by 550 million metric tons over the same time period, without considering the emissions reductions from smart appliances.  These reductions are equivalent to taking 100 million of today’s typical cars off the road for a year.

The official announcement along with more details of the agreement, including the proposed new minimum efficiency standards, is available on the AHAM website.

For some additional reading: NRDC blogger Lane Burt discussed the potential impact this agreement could have on appliance energy savings today on NRDC's Switchboard - read it here.  The Environmental Leader and Climate Wire also covered the news.