Appliances

[Koolau]

I've replaced the (~$40) water inlet valve (ice & water) once in the last 25 years.

Mine is the first model year after the efficiency contest...unsurprisingly the winner was a fridge that just added more insulation on the interior.

Energystar.gov's calculator used to allow you to input your exact model number.

Last time I checked I'd save maybe $3/month versus a new fridge cost of $1,000+

Well, as they say, economy isn't cheap! I've often wondered about obtaining the last little bit of energy efficiency (in cars, fridges, whatever) at a huge cost in design and execution - not to mention more frequent repairs. Mentioned elsewhere, when DW's mom went into the nursing home around 2000, DW had to clean out the fridge - which had been there when DW recalled it from the early 50s. SWAG is that most fridges today are good for maybe 10 or 15 years. You can buy a lot of electricity for the cost of a new fridge. But I guess you can't stop the efficiency police once they get a little taste of, er, power. YMMV