Spotlight Article:
The Impact of Refrigerator Standards on U.S. Households
Appliance standards have long been a contentious issue in American culture, but they have become more so recently with the so-called culture wars (Hoffman, 2012). In this article, we explore some of the issues surrounding appliance ...
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LEFTOVERS
You are what you refrigerate. Sociologists Bruce Hackett and Loren Lutzenhiser probed the intimate ways people relate to their refrigerators ("Shelf Life: An Inquiry Into What--and who--Can Be Found in Your Refrigerator," May/Jun '87, p. 17). [continue reading]
WHAT'S WRONG WITH REFRIGERATOR ENERGY RATINGS?
As refrigerators become more and more efficient, consumers and utility demand-side managers are faced with a number of questions. [continue reading]
RECYCLING REFRIGERATORS: WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY?
Over the past decade, a number of utilities in the United States and Canada have successfully implemented programs to collect and dismantle old refrigerators, freezers, and air conditioners from their residential customers. [continue reading]
Performance Versus Projections: Does Your Refrigerator Measure Up?
Every new refrigerator is sold with a bright yellow "Energy Guide" label affixed to the door. The label lists the refrigerator's energy consumption (translated confusingly into dollars per year) and compares that unit to other, similar models. [continue reading]
HAULING IN THE CULPRITS: MICHIGAN'S BOUNTY PILOT
The Michigan Public Service Commission examined the potential of picking up operating, second refrigerators in the mid-1980s. [continue reading]
REFRIGERATOR REPLACEMENT IN FLORIDA: A CASE STUDY
Florida's hot and humid climate challenges even the best refrigerators. Not surprisingly, refrigerators guzzle a lot of electricity in Florida. [continue reading]
MAINTENANCE DOESN'T NECESSARILY LOWER ENERGY USE
Utility bill stuffers direct customers to clean their refrigerator coils in order to save the customers a few dollars and the utility companies a few power plants. [continue reading]
SMUD'S REFRIGERATOR GRAVEYARD - CONDITIONS OF THE DECEASED
As part of the Sacramento Municipal Utility District's (SMUD) high efficiency refrigerator program, the district offers an incentive of $100 to customers who trade in an older refrigerator in conjunction with the purchase of a new model. [continue reading]
Building Performance Journal Editors
Our Blog Has Moved
Thanks for your interest in contributing a blog to the Building Performance Journal (formerly Home Energy magazine). We’re ...
Jim Gunshinan
Is Energy Efficiency an American Value?
Energy efficiency is good for the economy, good for families, good for workers, and good for the environment.
