Great article. Consumers need to demand better but unforuntately I think it’s too late. I have a Roper stove that is about 22 years old. It had a ‘simple’ digital timer…when that went the entire stove was inoperable. How ridiculous is that? I called about getting a replacement timer and was advised the stove was too old. I then called about getting one made — that would come from B.C. and cost $179.00 and no guarantee (!!) it would work. An electrician friend said he could re-wire the stove to bypass the timer. He did that 3 years ago and stove works of course. There is the empty space where the timer was (I was too lazy to put it back in — still have it!). I have been thinking that I would finally like to buy a new one with a self-cleaning oven and convection. At pretty much the same time, my dishwasher stopped cleaning dishes properly — I have tried all I know to fix it, but there is no obvious problem, it sounds and runs the same, spray nozzles are clear, nothing else seems wrong but it doesn’t clean very well at all. Due to that and the stove I wanted to get new appliances but in looking at reviews and the fact they last less than 5 years for the most part…well I will likely keep these till they die or try to find old ones and pretend I am going ‘retro’! All the news you wrote is bad, but the energy saving claims are the worst. My electric bills are better than all of my friends and everything I have is older and I use old fashioned bulbs (let’s not go there — the news one don’t last the years they say they will as I tried them). 20 years ago my mom bought a new freezer and when she opened it she couldn’t see to the bottom — there was no freezer light! She called the store and they said ‘well it’s energy efficient so they don’t put the light in any more.” My mom said “how is it energy efficient if I have to turn on the 60 watt overhead bulb and grab a flashlight to try to see in the freezer?” lol! Sorry for the long winded commentary. The worst part as you have indicated is the myth of recyling and reducing waste. All I can do is re’use’ as long as possible and ignore my friends who say ‘you renovated your kitchen, you really should get new appliances’ :)