Invented by a second year computer-engineering Bhutanese student in New Delhi, India, the pedal powered washing machine called “dhobi”.   “Dhobi” won 22-year-old Vishma Rai, the first prize for innovative Green Energy technologies for India 2011. The prize was that Green Energy would help mass produce and market the product.  “But I wanted this to be a Bhutanese green product with a Bhutanese name before it’s mass produced,” Vishma said.

It took Vishma two months to get a no-objection certificate from his university to mass produce Dhobi. He has taken a semester off and is now planning to approach His Majesty and various agencies for support, both financial and administrative.

The idea to invent this product, which is under process for registration, was inspired from a cycle rickshaw. With a capacity is five kilograms, it took Vishma about seven months to make Dhobi.

“There was no washing machine in our boy’s hostel and we go to the gym to burn calories,” he said. “They say necessity is the mother of invention, and I thought of making something that would help us wash clothes and burn calories by pedaling.”

Neighbour’s Editorial: I’m not sure how handy this would be …  Plus the caloric calculations in the original article seem to be wrong.  It’s kinda big – but in the world of green energy and all things ‘eco’, I suppose it might have a spot to fill.

Read full article here.

Customers are often quite surprised by the cost of hiring an appliance professional to work in their home.  I can sympathize.  I feel the same way every time I have to bring someone into my home to upgrade or repair something.  The truth of the matter is that costs keep going up.  The above chart shows the changes in fuel costs since early 2009.  As you can see, my fuel costs alone have gone up over 50%.  But that is not the whole story.  Every company in the repair supply chain has also seen their fuel costs go up over 50%.  They transfer that cost to me … and I, in turn, transfer it to you.  In the end, it is you the consumer that is hit hardest.

Tax changes are also costing consumers more.  In July, Ontario Premier McGuinty combined the GST (Goods and Services Tax) with the PST (Provincial Sales Tax) to create the HST (Harmonized Sales Tax.)  This should have been a neutral change … except it was not.  Gasoline used to only have the GST added to it at a rate of 7%.  Now it has the HST added at a rate of 13%.  This tax increase comes directly out of the pocket of small (and large) business owners …  again, we in turn, pass those costs onto you the consumer.

The consumer is at the bottom of tax pile.  While I am a service supplier, I am also a consumer – so I totally understand the frustration that people feel when they see their basic cost of living continuously going up.  I will always do everything that I can to help keep repair costs low, but much of the cost is directly out of my control.  We all are paying more for pretty much everything these days.

BTW – have you ever tried washing your jeans by hand? I’ll bet not…

Here is a great article and video that talks about how washing machines have changed our society. Why The Washing Machine Pushed Humanity Forward.

Sub Zero / Wolf has broken the back of the plant union by threatening tomove the plant to Kentucky.  The union took the threat seriously enough that they actually agreed to a 20% wage cut and a 5 year wage freeze.  This is virtually unprecidented in appliance manufacturing with most plants simply announcing moves to Mexico or Asia.  The union has little to do or say with these decisions.

While most bloggers are suggesting the this is evil corporate tactics, I think that they have actually done the workers right.  In the current recession, the demand for high end appliances has really dried up.  Sub Zero / Wolf had 2 options … reduce costs or shut down.  They gave the union workers the option of helping reduce costs or hit the unemployment lines.  They chose the former.  Good for them and good for Sub Zero.  Hopefully, ten years from now when the US is on the rebound, Sub Zero remembers the commitment that workers showed to the company and rewards them when they can.

Read the whole story at Channel3000.com.

Hazard Identified

An electrical failure in the relay, the component that turns on the refrigerator’s compressor, can cause overheating and pose a serious fire hazard.Two incidents and no injuries have been reported in Canada. Outside of Canada, Maytag has received 41 reports of refrigerator relay ignition, including 16 reports of property damage ranging from smoke damage to extensive kitchen damage.

Corrective Action

Consumers should immediately contact Maytag to determine if their refrigerator is included in the recall and to schedule a free in-home repair. Consumers should not return the refrigerator to the retailer where it was purchased.For more information, contact Maytag toll-free at (866) 533-9817 anytime, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.repair.maytag.com.  Click Here to see if your fridge is affected.

Number Sold

Approximately 193,500 units were sold at department and appliance stores and by homebuilders in Canada.

Time Period Sold

The recalled products were sold from January 2001 through January 2004.

Breakdown of Model Affected 

Side by Side Refrigerators with Serial Numbers ending in: AA, AC, AE, AG, AJ, AL, AN, AP, AR, AT, AV, AX, CA, CC, CE, CG, CJ, CL, ZB, ZD, ZF, ZH, ZK, ZM, ZQ, ZS, ZU, ZW, ZY, ZZ AND Model Numbers beginning with: ARS, CS, JC, JS, MS, MZ, PS

Top Mount Refrigerators with Serial Numbers ending in: AA, AC, AE, AG, AJ, AL, AN, AP, AR, AT, AV, AX, ZK, ZM, ZQ, ZS, ZU, ZW, ZY, ZZ AND Model Numbers beginning with: AT, CT, MT, PT.

As an aside, when guys find leaks on the Whirlpool compression fittings, they’ve been cutting them out and joining the ends together with a sleeve. Twice, I have simply heated the compression and soldered completely over it and not had any problems. It looks kind of ugly, but it works for me.

Raleigh began disposing of garbage disposals Monday, banning new or replacement installations. But opponents to the ban plan to put the City Council through the grinder over the move.

The disposal ban, which the City Council approved two weeks ago, is among the first in the country. Violators face fines of up to $25,000 per day.

Under the ban, homeowners can continue to use existing disposals, but no new devices can be installed and existing ones can’t be replaced when they quit working. Homes that have obtained city permits and are already under construction will be allowed to keep their disposals, officials said.

Some builders and residents said they would protest the disposal ban at Tuesday’s council meeting.

“I don’t think this has been handled properly at all,” resident Caroline McCall said. “I feel that it was a knee-jerk reaction.”

City officials said putting food and grease through a disposal and into the municipal sewer system clogs the lines and frequently causes back-ups and overflows.

Raleigh has had almost 100 sewer overflows in the last three years, with raw sewage sometimes flowing into area streams. The state Division of Water Quality has threatened to fine the city for each overflow if it doesn’t correct the problem.

Mayor Charles Meeker said disposals also waste about 500,000 gallons of water a day citywide.

“I suspect that, once the public understands the environmental problems and the water wasted, they’ll understand this is the right thing to do,” Meeker said.

McCall and developer Richard Gaylord said they don’t understand the city’s action.

“They have no way of knowing if the grease spill (causing a sewer overflow) came from a garbage disposal or where the grease came from,” McCall said.

“I don’t think people had forewarning,” Gaylord said. “I think there is some confusion out there as to how this will be implemented and what the parameters are.”

The ban also has come under fire from City Councilman Philip Isley, who missed the March 4 vote on the issue, and from the mayors of Garner, Knightdale, Rolesville, Wake Forest, Wendell and Zebulon.

The six towns are part of the municipal water and sewer system, so Raleigh’s regulations apply to residents in those towns as well. The other mayors said they should have been consulted before Raleigh enacted the disposal ban.

Isley said he plans to ask council members to take a step back and study the issue in committee, but he said he might not have the votes to support the move.

My (Neighbour’s Appliance) opinion is that this will not stop people from pouring grease down their sinks.  People have been doing it since we got indoor plumbing and will continue to do it until indoor plumbing is somehow eliminated. 

The Bravos steam dryer offers a variety of steam cycles, including the 15-minute “Rapid Refresh” setting, to quickly rejuvenate a single item or outfit. The “Custom Refresh” steam cycle is for larger loads and is ideal to de-wrinkle clothes left overnight in the dryer, or to refresh and deodorize throw pillows, comforters or curtains.

“It’s a new way of thinking about laundry,” said Blane Buckingham, director of Maytag brand marketing. “Many items of clothing, like sweaters or skirts that have only been worn once, may not need a complete wash and dry cycle or a trip to the drycleaners. The Maytag Bravos steam dryer quickly refreshes and deodorizes these items so they can be worn again, saving time and money.”

The Bravos dryer conveniently connects to the existing laundry-room waterline, so there is no reservoir to fill, just on-demand steam cycles with the push of a button. Inside the dryer, a small nozzle distributes a fine mist of water throughout the heated dryer as clothes tumble. The heated air combines with mist to form steam to help relax wrinkles and remove odors from dry clothes.

The Maytag Bravos washer and dryer adds the power of steam to its list of highly appealing features. The washer offers the preferred top-load design, largest capacity available (4.6 cu. ft.), and high efficiency functionality that saves 51 percent more water and 62 percent more energy than conventional top-load washers(1). The Maytag Bravos washer recently earned Tier II certification from the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE).

As with all Maytag brand appliances, durable components and dependable features are at the heart of the Bravos pair — including an impeller wash system with Sensi-Care(TM) technology, commercial-grade stainless steel wash basket, and Gentle Breeze(TM) Drying System with IntelliDry(R) sensors — providing years of smooth and reliable performance.

“Maytag brand washers last longer than any other leading brand(2),” said Buckingham. “This is a level of dependability that has built trust with Maytag brand appliance owners for more than 100 years.”

Visit http://www.maytag.com for more information.

From the Whirlpool Press Release.

All of the winning products were featured in the February issue of Woman’s Day Kitchens and Baths. Awards will be presented at the annual Kitchen/Bath Industry Show (K/BIS) in Chicago, April 2008.

“We are proud to accept these prestigious awards from one of the most respected publications in the industry,” said Paul McCormack, Senior Marketing Manager at Miele. “It’s an affirmation of Miele’s commitment to producing high performance, quality products that are durable, green and packaged in an innovative design blending form and function.”

Independence™ Series – Judge’s Comments:
“Finally, we have a 30” counter depth, fully integrated, well-designed refrigerator – at the right price,” states Arthur Tanturri, of Chelsea Fine Custom Kitchens and judge for the KB Awards. “Hands on a slam dunk. Everything is flush and uniform, plus the size at 30” is the perfect width. In our world, 36” is too big and 24” is too small. Miele is really listening to designers when they bring new products to market. It makes our lives easier as high-end kitchen designers. We can finish our jobs with the right elements. We are selling aesthetics and practicality. Things like this product enable us a lot more.”

A feast for the eyes… Miele’s new Independence™ Series is here and luxury refrigeration, as we know it, will be forever better. Independence™ embodies Miele’s legendary quality and innovation… from its high performance dual-compressor system and intuitive MasterCool™ touch controls to its patented Wi-Fi RemoteVision™ technology that delivers total peace of mind as it protects valuable food and wine investments. Estimated retail price listed for a 30” bottom mount combination refrigerator / freezer with stainless steel door panels is $7,295.  Retail prices for the entire assortment will be made public in late April when the products are on retail display, but may be provided upon request for qualified news stories.

DA 424 V Ventilation Hood – Judge’s Comments:
“At last, a hood that won’t mess up sight lines as the telescopic hood elevates out of the way when not in use,” states Tanturri. “Our kitchens look like furniture and especially for open settings, you want to enjoy the aesthetic value. When you are cooking certain foods with a lot of heat, steam or smoke – you want the ventilation close to flame – but you don’t want to leave it there. Most ventilation is installed up too high because of the aesthetic – and then it doesn’t work effectively. This product just makes sense. It’s a really good invention. The best inventions are the simplest ones.”

Miele’s height-adjustable DA 424 V island ventilation hood showcases a unique motorized height adjustment feature, which enables the hood to glide up, out of the way, or down, closer to the cooktop when needed. A simple touch to the controls smoothly shifts the product to the perfect elevation to remove smoke and odors, or to a more ergonomic level for the cook. Estimated retail price listed as $4,099 and is scheduled to launch in the fourth quarter 2008.

Whirlpool offers consumers the largest breadth of ENERGY STAR qualified appliances. Its more than 700 innovative models include:

• The Whirlpool Duet steam washer. The washer naturally steams away tough stains, from grass to grease, without pre-treating. This model also saves consumers 73 percent water and 77 percent energy, compared to top-load washers manufactured before 2004, and using the normal cycle.
• The Whirlpool Cabrio Steam dryer combines mist and heat in the dryer to naturally steam away wrinkles and odors, reducing trips to the dry cleaner and providing front-load laundry efficiency in a top-load configuration.
• Energy efficient refrigeration combined with flexible technology options through the Whirlpool Centralpark connection. The refrigerator offers a plug-and-play platform right on the door, providing support to consumer electronics including a digital picture frame and digital music player without compromising on energy efficiency.
• The Maytag Bravos high-efficiency, large-capacity top-load washer. The Bravos system features an impeller wash system with Sensi-Care technology and a commercial-grade stainless-steel wash basket – providing the thorough, dependable clean of a front-load system in a top-load configuration.
• The Maytag EPICz high-efficiency front-load washer’s space-saving design, providing dependable performance features and commercial-grade components, is one of the most energy efficient in the industry. The washer received NSF International (formerly National Sanitation Foundation) certification for its sanitary cycle, which heats wash water up to 153-degrees Fahrenheit.
• The Maytag brand dishwasher with a SteamClean option. SteamClean delivers enhanced cleaning performance on glassware for soil and spot removal. Whirlpool Corporation was the first in the appliance industry to launch a steam option in dishwashers.
• A new SteamClean option for Jenn-Air dishwashers. The SteamClean option enhances an existing wash cycle, such as the China/Crystal cycle, with improved soil and spot cleaning to produce an even more lustrous shine. In addition to steam, these models also have a new silent sound package, making an already quiet, energy efficient dishwasher even quieter.

For more information, see the Whirlpool Press Release here.