Appliance Design - May 2008 - (Page 8)

NEwS watch Fraction of 0.5 and OG-300 certification from the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC) in order to carry the Energy Star label. An OG-300 certified solar water heater with a 0.5 Solar Fraction and a fifty-gallon electric storage auxiliary water heater would achieve a Solar Energy Factor of 1.8, saving 50 percent in energy use and annual savings of $180, compared to a typical electric storage water heater. To qualify for the Energy Star label, residential gas condensing water heaters must have an EF of 0.8, which is 37.9 percent more efficient than the federal standard, and a minimum First-Hour Rating of 67 gallons-per-hour. Under these criteria, taking effect Jan. 1, 2009, a 50-gal. water heater would save nearly 30 percent in energy consumption and result in $102 in annual energy savings compared to the conventional typical gas storage water heater. CFL products under the Energy Star label, which include new categories for CFLs that contain less mercury, new candelabra products and more rigorous testing procedures, are expected to save about $30 billion in utility costs over the next five years. The DOE has set the limits of mercury that a CFL can contain to less than 5 milligrams for most bulbs. The agency has incorporated a thirdparty testing program for all bulbs effective in November 2008, and tightened lamp color requirements, and added high-heat testing requirements for reflector products. Revised Energy Star criteria for CFLs takes effect Dec. 2, 2008. The criteria for CFLs were last updated in 2003. < BaNNING DISPOSaLS. In an effort to prevent and minimize sewer overflows, the Raleigh City Council voted to ban new or replacement garbage disposal units from being installed or connected to the city’s sanitary sewer system. The owners of functional garbage disposals may continue to use the appliances. Raleigh averages 48 to 50 sewer overflows annually, and city officials claim that roughly 40 percent of these overflows are directly caused by food and grease being placed in the sewer system. Makers of garbage disposals lobbied against the ban, saying the appliances should not be singled out as the only source of sewer grease. Executives from InSinkErator said that garbage disposers are good for the environment because they reduce the amount of waste going to landfills. said it opened 40 dealer stores during fiscal 2007, and would open more in rural and urban areas this year. Sears has 857 dealer stores, which sell appliances, electronics, lawn and garden equipment, hardware and car batteries. that manufactures the OLED devices. The machine is being utilized for further manufacturing research at GE’s Global Research Center in Niskayuna, N.Y. ELDERLY waNt tEchNOLOGY. Two GE's Global Research center demonstrates first roll-to-roll manufactured OLED. SEaRS SELLS MORE. Sears Holdings said it plans to sell appliances in more of its Kmart stores and would open more dealer stores this year. Sears Holdings, based in Hoffman Estates, Ill., said it “will continue to explore opportunities to profitably cross-merchandise products and services” between its Kmart and Sears stores, according to a Reuters report. The company plans to continue rolling out home appliances, such as those in its Kenmore brand, to more Kmart stores. Appliances accounted for about 15 percent of company revenues during fiscal 2007. In 2007, 280 Kmart stores sold major home appliances, which is up from about 100 stores in 2005. The company ROLL-tO-ROLL OLEDS. GE Global Research, the centralized research organization of General Electric, and GE Consumer & Industrial, demonstrated what it called the world’s first roll-to-roll manufactured organic light-emitting diode (OLED) lighting device. This demonstration is a key step toward producing OLEDs and other organic electronic products at dramatically lower costs, the company says. The demonstration completes a four-year, $13 million research collaboration among GE Global Research, Energy Conversion Devices Inc. and the U.S. Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology. GE researchers provided the organic electronics technology and were responsible for developing the roll-to-roll processes, while ECD provided its roll-to-roll equipmentbuilding expertise to build the machine new reports find that older adults want to use technology so they can age safely in their home, but cost is a concern. A report from the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) identified a willingness to try technology like home security services, sensors to detect falls and devices to regulate temperature, lights and appliances. But, cost remains a factor with 75 percent of caregivers and 80 percent of those 65 years old and older willing to pay $50 or less per month for the service. There is also a conflicting perspective between caregivers and those likely to need care. People 65-plus report a high willingness to use technology, but more than eight in 10 caregivers believe they would have some, or a great deal of difficulty convincing those they care for to adopt the technology. A separate report from the Center for Aging Services Technologies (CAST) of the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA) details five categories of technologies that can ease the burden of care giving, including: sensors; health technologies such as blood pressure monitors; medication dispensers; and computer games that provide social networking, brain stimulation and can monitor cognitive abilities through the use of diagnostic games. 8 applianceDESIGN May 2008 www.applianceDESIGN.com http://www.appliancedesign.com

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Appliance Design - May 2008 Contents Editorial Shipments/Forecasts News Watch New and Notable Displays & Indicators Elastomers Quality & Standards Indoor Air Quality IHHS Highlights New Products Classifieds Design Marts Advertiser’s Index Association Report: PSMA

Appliance Design - May 2008

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