Bureaucracy Works In Your Favor

Hey–government bureaucrats and Congress are easy whipping boys (and girls), but sometimes it works in your favor. In the midst of the recession Congress rushed to fix a problem (that they caused, but hey, this isn’t a political website : ) and in doing so they jumped on the clunkers bandwagon, first using it as a way to resuscitate the auto industry by providing some government funds for trading in cars that were not up to environmental standards. Of course you needed to purchase a new vehicle, but that’s beside the point.

What’s good for the car industry is good for appliances too, right? Things are not that simple in government. When it came to implementing the same style program in a highly decentralized retail industry like appliances, they hit some bumps in the road. One major pothole was that each state had to have a different criteria for Cash for Clunker Appliances. Technically it’s called the Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program

This, however, works in the consumers favor . . . maybe. To borrow a political paraphrase, it’s Spring in America and with the economy showing signs of rebounding (because it’s a market and markets do that). That clunker program may well be still going on in your state. That’s right, you might be chomping at the bit for a new refrigerator, that dishwasher might be on its last legs, and who knows how old that range is! Regulators and appliance stores are just waiting to see if you qualify.

I can tell you Clunker Appliance programs have closed in the following states

· Florida
· Illinois
· Iowa
· Kansas
· Minnesota
· Rhode Island
· South Dakota
· Texas

But the rest are up for grabs. Visit the Department of Energy’s website for more details. They are updating state programs with the most current information.

The Real Scoop on Ice Machines

Buying a refrigerator is a bit like buying an automobile. We all know what to expect from an excellent refrigerator. Quality design, energy efficiency, temperature and humidity controls, shelf space. The best refrigerators have these qualities, and the worst ones don’t. Consumer Reports can tell you which is which.

And so, often times, buying decisions hinge on the little things. For cars, there are amenities such as cup holders and heated seats. For refrigerators, there is the ice maker. I love ice makers for the reason that I hate ice cube trays. Overflowing water, oversized trapezoidal cubes, weird little crumbs on the bottom (where DO those come from?), and if you want ice, but don’t have ice… Well, you can’t rush chemistry.

Apparently, I am not alone. Take this ranking of the best refrigerators available online cites the Maytag Side by French Door as the best refrigerator available. The criteria? Best icemaker.

The LG Stainless Steel Side by Bottom is relegated to second… Alas, it’s not good for tall glasses, though another LG model is cited for being the first to replicate the shape of the old ice cube trays. Um, that’s a good thing?

Oh, and for those who are interested in learning how refrigerators make ice, now you know.