With cash for clunkers for appliances on the horizon, appliance retailers are looking for Black Friday boost

The recession has slammed the appliance industry. Year-over-year shipments of major appliances, for example, were down 17 percent in September, according to the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers.

The $300 million State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program is being ballyhooed as one way to unleash pent-up demand for refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines, heating and cooling systems, and other major appliances. And though the U.S. Department of Energy will have finalized funding plans for the cash for clunkers for appliances program on November 30, the rebate programs in many states won't take place until 2010.

So appliance retailers are looking to Black Friday to boost their bottom line and kick-start sales throughout the 2009 holiday season. Here's a sneak peek at what some of them have in store:

Best Buy
Good through November 28, Best Buy's Black Friday specials cover large and small appliances, including the Dyson DC17 Animal vacuum for $350. The upright vacuum, which normally retails for as much as $550, was excellent on bare floors and very good on carpet in our tests. At 21 pounds, it’s among the harder vacuums to handle among those we've tested. If you need a new vacuum, check out our free buyer's guide to vacuums.

Home Depot
Home Depot is keeping mum about its holiday sales, but like many retailers and manufacturers this big-box chain encourages you to sign up for e-mail alerts about special promotions.

Lowe's
Black Friday discounts on kitchen and laundry appliances will run through November 30 at Lowe's stores nationwide. One highlight: Save around $400 on a matching Whirlpool Cabrio WTW6340WW high-efficiency washing machine (similar to the tested WTW6300WW washer) and WED6200S[W] electric dryer. Both units did a very good job overall in our tests. If you're in the market for a new laundry gear, check out our free buyer's guides to washing machines and dryers.

Sears
Sears' 15 percent off all appliances deal covers a wide variety of appliances and brands. The offer expires at 9 p.m. on November 27. Our appliances hub has links to our buyer's guides for kitchen and laundry appliances.

While the big-box stores dominate the marketplace, you might want to consider shopping at independent retailers. As covered in our survey-based feature on the best places to buy appliances, independent stores beat out big-box retailers thanks to superior service, easier checkout, and more-knowledgeable staff.

Tip of the Day: Take advantage of rebates for low-flow toilets, faucet accessories, and irrigation gear

As part of its WaterSense program, which aims to get consumers and businesses to use less water, the  U.S. Environmental Program has assembled a list of municipalities offering rebates on toilets, faucet accessories, and irrigation equipment. The list below, current as of September 21, 2009, includes links to the municipal sites where you can get details on the deals, such as the rebate for half the cost of an eligible high-efficiency toilet up to $200 being offered by the city of Sharon, Massachusetts, or the Irvine Ranch (California) Water District's $9 rebate for qualifying sprinkler-system pop-up spray heads.

If you're remodeling your bathroom or need new fixtures, read our reports on low-flow toilets and water-saving showerheads and check out the ratings of toilets and showerheads (available to subscribers). Also learn about tankless water heaters and the latest efficient dishwashers and washing machines. e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

City of Avondale	Arizona	Toilets
City of Avondale	Arizona	Faucet Accessories
City of Peoria Utilities Department	Arizona	Toilets
City of Phoenix	Arizona	Toilets
City of Scottsdale Water Resources Department	Arizona	Toilets
City of Tempe	Arizona	Faucet Accessories
City of Tempe	Arizona	Toilets
City of Tucson - Tucson Water	Arizona	Toilets
Town of Payson Water Department	Arizona	Toilets
Borrego Water District	California	Toilets
City of Fresno- Water Conservation Program	California	Toilets
City of Oxnard Water Resources Division	California	Toilets
City of Santa Barbara	California	Toilets
City of Santa Rosa - Utilities	California	Toilets
City of Santa Rosa - Utilities	California	Faucet Accessories
Irvine Ranch Water District	California	Faucet Accessories
Irvine Ranch Water District	California	Toilets
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California	California	Toilets
Otay Water District	California	Toilets
San Diego County Water Authority	California	Toilets
Sonoma County Water Agency	California	Toilets
Town of Windsor	California	Faucet Accessories
Town of Windsor	California	Toilets
City of Greeley Water Department	Colorado	Toilets
City of Thornton	Colorado	Toilets
Denver Water	Colorado	Faucet Accessories
City of Melbourne	Florida	Toilets
City of Titusville	Florida	Toilets
Eastern Volusia Regional Water Authority	Florida	Toilets
Manatee County Utility Operations	Florida	Toilets
Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department	Florida	Toilets
Toho Water Authority	Florida	Faucet Accessories
City of Atlanta, Department of Watershed Management	Georgia	Toilets
City of Austell	Georgia	Toilets
City of Austell	Georgia	Faucet Accessories
City of Gainesville, Environmental Services	Georgia	Toilets
City of Roswell	Georgia	Toilets
Clayton County Water Authority	Georgia	Toilets
Cobb County Water System	Georgia	Toilets
Coweta County Water & Sewage Authority	Georgia	Toilets
Fayette County Water System	Georgia	Toilets
Fulton County Department of Public Works	Georgia	Toilets
Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources	Georgia	Toilets
Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources	Georgia	Toilets
Henry County Water & Sewerage Authority	Georgia	Toilets
Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District	Georgia	Toilets
Acton Water District	Mass.	Toilets
Concord Public Works	Mass.	Faucet Accessories
Concord Public Works	Mass.	Toilets
Dedham-Westwood Water District	Mass.	Toilets
Massachusetts Water Resources Authority	Mass.	Faucet Accessories
Massachusetts Water Resources Authority	Mass.	Toilets
Neponset River Watershed Association	Mass.	Faucet Accessories
Town of Danvers	Mass.	Toilets
Town of Sharon Water Department	Mass.	Faucet Accessories
Town of Sharon Water Department	Mass.	Toilets
Town of Walpole Water Department	Mass.	Toilets
City Utilities of Springfield	Missouri	Toilets
Southern Nevada Water Authority	Nevada	Toilets
American Water	New Jersey	Faucet Accessories
American Water	New Jersey	Toilets
Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority	New Mexico	Toilets
Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority	New Mexico	Faucet Accessories
City of Gallup - Gallup Joint Utilities	New Mexico	Toilets
City of Santa Fe	New Mexico	Toilets
Homewise, Inc.	New Mexico	Faucet Accessories
Homewise, Inc.	New Mexico	Toilets
City of Durham Water Management	North Carolina	Toilets
Town of Cary	North Carolina	Toilets
Eugene Water & Electric Board	Oregon	Toilets
Tualatin Valley Water District	Oregon	Toilets
City of Sioux Falls	South Dakota	Toilets
Arlington Water Utilities	Texas	Toilets
Austin Water Utility	Texas	Toilets
Austin Water Utility	Texas	Toilets
City of Allen	Texas	Toilets
City of Irving	Texas	Toilets
San Antonio Water System	Texas	Toilets
City of Charlottesville	Virginia	Toilets
City of Virginia Beach Department of Public Utilities	Virginia	Toilets
James City Service Authority	Virginia	Toilets
James City Service Authority	Virginia	Irrigation Professional Service
Cascade Water Alliance	Washington	Toilets
Cascade Water Alliance	Washington	Faucet Accessories
City of Everett Public Works	Washington	Toilets
City of Monroe - Utilities Department	Washington	Toilets
City of Redmond	Washington	Toilets
Spokane County Utilities Division	Washington	Toilets
Water District 19	Washington	Toilets
Kaukauna Utilities	Wisconsin	Toilets
Madison Water Utility	Wisconsin	Toilets

Buzzword: Clunkernomics

What it means? This mashup of clunker and economics is inspired by the 2005 book Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything, by Steven Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner. The most notable example of clunkernomics is the Car Allowance Rebate Program, or cash for clunkers, which spurred car sales over its run last summer.

Why the buzz? Cash for clunkers has plenty of imitators in programs whose model consists of consumers trading in an old product for a new, presumably more-efficient, one. One next-gen example of clunkernomics is the $300 million State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program. The federal government’s cash for clunkers for appliances initiative, details of which are still being worked out by the U.S. Department of Energy, will give you a rebate of up to $250 per appliance on the purchase Energy Star-qualified models. Note: You likely won’t have to trade in your old dishwasher, refrigerator, or washing machine when you buy a new one.

Private enterprise is dipping its toes into clunkernomics, too, including a program centered around lighting. Philadelphia-based LED Saving Solutions announced last week that it will offer a $10 rebate per lightbulb for high-efficiency LED bulbs. “We see this initiative as a way to take the momentum created by the federal government to a new level and make a dramatic impact in our collective goal to make America more energy independent,” said Charlie Szoradi, president of LED Saving Solutions.

As clunkernomics expands, perhaps “clunker hangover” will set in, and maybe the cash-for-clunkers model has jumped the shark. After all even a New York City FM-radio station has its own clunkers deal. The WPLJ Web site says, “The government thinks a clunker is an old beat up gas guzzler. But here at ‘PLJ a clunker is a terrible song that somehow became a hit!” After a clunker airs, the 25th caller wins $5,000. Recent musical clunkers include “Don’t Worry, Be Happy,” by Bobby McFerrin and “We Built This City,” by Jefferson Starship.

But Jack Hidary, the chairman of SmartTransportation.org who is credited as being the driver behind the automotive version of cash for clunkers, isn’t concerned. “I’m happy about all the copycats,” he says. “Let’s move our country away from rampant consumerism to a focus on the utility and the efficiency of products.”—Daniel DiClerico | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential reading: When you're ready to replace you're appliances, be sure to check out the free buying guides on our appliances hub and learn about the best places to buy appliances. Save up to $1,500 on your annual utility bills, read our reports on pellet stoves and solar water heaters, and find out which compact fluorescent lightbulbs top our ratings (available to subscribers).

By the Numbers: U.S. consumers adopting some greener behaviors

83 percent

Americans who said they always run the dishwasher with a full load, according to a May 2009 nationally representative survey of 2,014 adults. The survey, conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center, focused on energy-saving practices.

"Most of the energy used by a dishwasher goes to heat water. So fill your dishwasher to get the most from the energy used to run it," says Christina Kielich, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Energy.

While running a full load is widespread behavior, only 10 percent of respondents said they're not rinsing dishes before loading the dishwasher. That's a water- and energy-wasting step that costs people real money. As Consumer Reports and most dishwasher manufacturers advise, it's not necessary to prerinse dishes before a cycle; just scrape off any food from the dishes. Read our advice on the best way to load a dishwasher and check out our buyer's guide to dishwashers.

That wasteful move is surprising considering that less-expensive energy-saving measures seem to appeal to Americans these days. Indeed, only 3 percent of survey said they are using solar, wind, or geothermal energy systems, which have high up-front costs and, potentially, long payback periods. Still, 40 percent of respondents say they'll buy a green product even if it costs more.

Many of the newest dishwashers in our continuously updated ratings and latest report on these appliances (available to subscribers) use less water and electricity than their predecessors. Some tested models consume about 3 gallons per load, while thirsty models drink up to 12 gallons. New federal regulations taking effect on January 1, 2010, limit all dishwashers to a maximum of 6.5 gallons for the normal cycle; Energy Star-qualified models use even less water.—Gian Trotta | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Our Energy Saving & Green Living guide features many easy ways to cut energy bills. Stay tuned for new details on the $300 million State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program, or cash for clunkers for appliances, and take advantage of existing incentives on Energy Star-qualified appliances.

Cash for clunkers moves to appliances. Money back for your old Kelvinator?

Will this fall's federal rebate do for home appliances and heating and cooling systems what the Car Allowance Rebate System—aka cash for clunkers—has done for cars and trucks? The appliance industry certainly hopes so: Sales of dishwashers, refrigerators, and washing machines—the three appliances covered by the appliance-rebate program—have been off by some 25 percent from their peak during the last housing boom.

As a part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the Obama administration is encouraging the purchase of energy-efficient appliances through the $300 million State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program, which will dole out amounts that could reach $200 per appliance if you buy Energy Star-qualified models.

Appliances that qualify for Energy Star use roughly 10 to 25 percent less energy than the maximum allowed for that category by the U.S. Department of Energy, which runs Energy Star with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (Watch the video here on our latest tests of water- and energy-efficient dishwashers at right.)

Unlike cash for clunkers, you won't have to turn in your old appliance to get a rebate. But states are expected to have recycling plans for the flood of old appliances the program could unleash. And while the money is coming from Washington, how much you get for which appliance will be a state-by-state decision.

State energy offices must detail the amount of the rebates for each appliance category and their plan for recycling old appliances by October 15. The money will be divided via a formula in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 that is largely based on state population. For example, California, with a population of nearly 37 million, will receive just over $35 million, while Alaska's 686,000 inhabitants will get $658,477.

Combining the soon-to-be enhanced state incentives with those from federal government and local utilities can yield significant savings. We've detailed how you can combine these specific incentives on appliances, solar-, wind-, and geothermal-energy technologies, and air-conditioning systems.

You can save even more with these recently published appliance-buying tips from more than 25,000 Consumer Reports subscribers. We've also got ratings (available to subscribers) of 16 major appliance retailers and a wide range of appliances.—Bob Markovich | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Our ratings of air conditioners, dishwashers, refrigerators, and washing machines (available to subscribers) detail the best blends of efficiency and performance in our tough tests, which are typically more stringent than the federal government's. Our ongoing tests have also shown that some Energy Star models use more energy than their EnergyGuide labels suggest. Watch this story from CNN, which features Consumer Reports Home Editor Bob Markovich talking about the appliance-rebate program. And read our FAQ on the State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program, aka cash for clunkers for appliances.

SiteSeeing: ApplianceRepair.com offers useful how-to troubleshooting tips for home appliances

Stuck with a leaky, noisy, bouncy, smelly, or otherwise underperforming appliance? The folks at RepairClinic.com, who have helped us with "Can This [fill in the blank] Be Saved?" sidebars on refrigerators, ranges, dishwashers, and other household gear, has a new site that provides even more sage appliance-repair advice for DIYers. (We haven’t tried out any of the repairs, so use your judgment to determine whether the you want to proceed with the recommended fixes.)

At the heart of ApplianceRepair.com are dozens of transcripts of the site's Sunday-morning radio show with host John Sowden (shown). Each transcript is quite effectively divided into detailed descriptions and savvy solutions to problems like:

• Musty, noisy, or dancing washing machines.

• The balky top burner on a Kenmore range.

• Refrigerator lightbulbs that won't stay lit.

• Enigmatic error codes for GE electric ranges.

• Cures for a shaky garbage disposer. See our buyer's guide to garbage disposers.

The entire archive is keyword searchable, so you might be able to find your specific model. If it's not covered, there's still plenty of good general information available; Sowden is very good at describing how each appliance works as he queries callers about particular problems.

And he often comes up with cost-effective fixes users should try before an expensive replacement. Examples include heating lemon juice in a microwave to banish the smell of popcorn and replacing a refrigerator's low-cost cooling fan rather than an expensive compressor.

If you don't find an answer there, check our stories on excessive vibration and mold in front-loading washing machines and preventing dryer fires in and installing proper venting for clothes dryers.—Gian Trotta | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: You might be able to avoid these repairs by picking the recommended models in our appliance ratings. Our own appliance-maintenance advice, repair-or-replace timelines (available to subscribers), and our members' applicance-buying strategies will help you get the most value for your money.

By the Numbers: Energy-efficiency investments would pay huge dividends, says McKinsey & Company report

$1.2 trillion

Amount U.S. consumers and businesses could save by 2020 by boosting their energy efficiency, according to "Unlocking Energy Efficiency in the U.S. Economy," a new report from management consulting firm McKinsey & Company. (The report covers nontransportation energy use.)

Under current conditions, the United States wastes more energy each year than Canada consumes. Our nearly 130 million homes, many of which lose energy to leaky ductwork, underinsulated attics, and inefficient appliances, account for roughly 35 percent of the potential energy-efficiency gains, says the report. (You can make your old windows less drafty by caulking gaps, as shown. And use a programmable thermostat to boost your household-energy savings.)

As the report details, an initial investment of $520 billion would be needed to reduce annual energy consumption by 23 percent by 2020, which translates into $1.2 trillion in savings and an end-use reduction of 9.1 quadrillion British thermal units.

Those savings are key, because worldwide energy use is projected to soar over the next two decades, according to the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Information Administration. The EIA says energy use will reach 678 quadrillion Btu in 2030.—Daniel DiClerico | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Pinpoint the biggest energy savers and energy hogs in this report on residential energy use. If you're in the market for new appliances, use our free buyer's guides to find the most-efficient washing machines, dishwashers, refrigerators, and air conditioners in the Consumer Reports ratings. And learn more about weatherization.

Q&A: I've seen green labels on dishwasher detergents. Are they legit?

I've noticed all kinds of green claims and labels on a number of cleaners, specifically dishwasher detergents. What makes a these cleaners green?

We've seen these eco-friendly claims and labels, too. Some are meaningful, others meaningless. Terms like "natural," "environmentally friendly," and "nontoxic" lack standard definitions. Even "biodegradable" means little unless the information is specific, such as "biodegradable in three days" or "certified biodegradable."

But some of the claims you'll see aren't greenwashing and can point you in the direction of greener cleaners. A statement that a detergent is "certified biodegradable" has been independently verified, as is the Leaping Bunny symbol on Earth Friendly and Seventh Generation detergents. The presence of that logo indicates that a product wasn't tested on animals during any stage of its development. Keep this shopping tip in mind: Look for specific claims such as "contains no artificial dyes or fragrances," then look at the ingredients list if there is one, which might help confirm the claim.

In the end, you'll probably want a detergent that cleans well. In our August 2009 report on dishwasher detergents (story and ratings available to subscribers), one Cascade detergent was excellent and five other cleaners were very good, including the phosphate-free Method Smarty Dish tablets (shown).
Other tested detergents without phosphates tended to perform worst overall. Method's success might be due to the amount and type of enzymes in its formulation. Enzymes help break up food for easier removal.

Whichever dishwasher detergent you use, follow the tips below to get the cleanest dishes. And remember, don't machine-wash items made of brass, bronze, cast iron, disposable plastic, gold-leaf china, or wood.

1. Load large items at the sides and back of the dishwasher so they don't block water and detergent from other dishes.
2. Orient the dirtier side of dishes toward the center of the machine.
3. Don't let dishes or utensils nest or rest side by side. If your dishwasher has an open basket, mix spoons, forks, and knives so they won't nest together.
4. Use the top rack for plastic and more-delicate items.
5. Rest glasses on prongs so they stay upright and don't fill with water.
6. Load silverware with handles down; knives, with handles up. e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: If you're in the market for a new dishwasher, read our latest report and check out our free buyer's guide.

Can sharing housework make for a better sex life?

The recession has seen hundreds of thousands of Americans lose their jobs. One result of this lingering economic slump is that men are apparently taking on more housework, as we reported a few months back. That shift is not only good for gender equality on the household-work front but it might also heat things up in the bedroom, according to this CNN report.

"When a man does housework, it feels to the woman like an expression of caring and concern, which then physically reduces her stress," Joshua Coleman, a San Francisco-area psychologist and the author of The Lazy Husband: How to Get Men to Do More Parenting and Housework, told CNN. "A guy can be completely stressed out and want to have sex to burn it off, but women are not wired like that."

In 1976, men did only six hours of housework per week, according to a University of Michigan study of 8,000 families that began in 1968. But by 2005, they were doing 13 hours of housework a week compared with 17 hours a week by women.  A 2008 survey by the Consumer Reports National Research Center showed that while most women still did the cooking, 54 percent of men responding claimed they did the cleaning.

Guys who haven't been pulling their weight around the house can find motivational help, including Q&As like "What's the Best Way to Load a Dishwasher?" on this blog and items like "10 Easy House-Cleaning Strategies" on our Web site. If you're a grilling fanatic, give your significant other the night off and make some of these easy, delicious grilling recipes.

As much as you might envision a Jetsons-like future, the time of automated home chores has yet to fully arrive. (Take a peek inside the Microsoft Home concept space.) For instance, robotic vacuums modeled on those used in the military have proved poor performers in our tests. Nor were there any real winners among some shower cleaners; the longer you wait between cleanings, the more elbow grease you'll have to expend.

So visit this blog for more expert advice on getting things done around the house. Keep in mind that it's possible for a man to overdo it—earlier this spring, a German housewife apparently divorced her husband because he did too much around the house.—Gian Trotta | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

August 2009 Report on Dishwasher Detergents: Do greener cleaners get the job done?

Phosphates help dishwasher detergents clean better, but they also boost algae growth in freshwater, threatening fish and plant life. Bans on dishwasher detergents with all but trace amounts of phosphates, like the one in effect in Spokane, Washington, are designed to help the environment.

But many of the eco-friendly dishwasher detergents we recently tested are not great cleaners. Read our latest report on dishwasher detergents (available to subscribers) to find out which of the liquid, packet, powder, and tablet products scored the best in our tough tests, and watch our video on how we test dishwasher detergents (right).

To get the cleanest dishes, scrape off heavy soil before you load them into your dishwasher. Skip the prerinsing, which wastes energy and water. Then:
• Load large items at the sides and back so they don't block water and detergent.
• Face the dirtier side of dishes toward the center of the machine.
• Keep dishes and utensils from nesting.
• Place glasses upside down on prongs so that they don't fill with water. e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: If you're in the market for a new dishwasher, read our latest report and check out our free buyer's guide.