Save energy: when to repair household appliances – money and life

For refrigerators and other things, defects can usually be repaired. But that does not always make sense. Our expert gives advice.

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Martin Sambale

Repair the broken vacuum or buy a new one? Unload or repair the defective refrigerator at the recycling center? If an electrical device frees the mind, we stand before such decisions. The focus is on the question: Is the remedy always worth it financially? But there is also an ecological component. After all, it takes a lot of energy and resources to produce all the little and big badistants. Modern appliances with integrated electronics contain about gold, tin, tantalum or copper. In addition, the disposal of electronic waste poses a problem.

Having repaired electrical appliances, it's better for the LCA

From an environmental point of view, it is usually best to have the defective equipment repaired and use it for as long as possible. Whether the remedy also has a financial meaning depends on the specific case. In simple terms, it can be said that if it is a high-quality device, the repair is usually more useful than the new purchase, especially when the end of the expected life is remote. For low cost items, repair costs are usually high compared to the price of buying new comparable products, which leads to the purchase of a new device.

The higher energy efficiency can also speak for the new purchase – this is especially true for products in which the energy consumption has improved significantly. A lot has happened here in recent years. Therefore, you must use the new devices as long as possible. For example, in the case of laptops, the Öko-Institut concludes that a new device should be used for 80 years, even with a 10% reduction in energy consumption, up to 10%. That savings in a new device have exceeded production costs. The same goes for TVs and smartphones. Refrigerators with efficiency clbades A ++ to A +++ should also be used as long as possible, as one can not expect great gains in efficiency.

The new refrigerator consumes less energy

If, on the other hand, an energy efficiency clbad A + or A refrigerator requires expensive repair, it is advisable to immediately buy a new A +++ appliance. If you purchased your refrigerator in the year 2000 or before, or if you have a B-rated appliance or worse, you should even replace the still-running appliance with a new A +++ model. an ecological point of view.

For tumble dryers, it is generally recommended to replace appliances A without a heat pump at the latest after a fault. For models with clbad B energy efficiency and worse, from an environmental point of view, it is advisable to immediately buy a new appliance with the highest level of energy efficiency. For dishwashers, it is profitable to use energy efficiency clbad A + and for vacuum cleaners up to efficiency clbad B, appliances for as long as possible, including including the fastest replacement possible with a product of the highest energy efficiency clbad.

Products that last a long time are more expensive

In terms of sustainability, better products for electrical appliances should be used. Longevity has its price. Although the most expensive model does not necessarily do its job any longer, it is more likely to do so.

In response to our disposable society, there are so-called repair cafes in more and more cities and communities. There are also such facilities in the area, for example in Augsburg or Kempten, where volunteers help others repair their broken property and save them from the barrel.

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