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DCL
The abrupt death of the kitchen stove led me on a path to find a sustainable new one. A while back, I had a week when my appliances were all out of sink. It seemed like they had gathered around the kitchen "triangle" just to conjure up ways to drive my family crazy.
The Kitchen Conspiracy
The collapse of the appliances ran the gamut from deranged to deceased, all in one agonizing week. Here are some of the highlights from my kitchen story and the week from appliance hell:
The nozzle on the faucet sprayed me down every time it was time to clean the pots and pans, depositing water and grease all over the kitchen. The refrigerator was particularly frisky and wouldn't close, leaking precious energy and melting down the freezer in its wake. There were two broken wine glasses in the dishwasher, making emptying it a treacherous landmine.
You get the drift, my appliances were as unruly as inanimate objects can get. All but the gas stove, that just up and died at the ripe old age of 22.
The Lifespan Of Kitchen Appliances
How long should a kitchen appliance last? According to doityourself.com:
"The life expectancy of a typical appliance depends to a great extent on the use it receives. Moreover, appliances are often replaced long before they are worn out because changes in styling, technology and consumer preferences make newer products more desirable. Of the major appliances in a home, gas ranges have the longest life expectancy: 15 years. Dryers and refrigerators last about 13 years. Some of the appliances with the shortest lifespan are: compactors (6 years), dishwashers (9 years) and microwave ovens (9 years)."
The Attempted Fixes
The fridge, faucet and dishwasher had their requisite repairs. But, the stove was truly dead. After cooking on my woodstove for about a minute, I realized we were faced with a major, major appliance purchase. I had been coveting a no-frills professional gas stove for a long time, but the price tag of one of those beauties is astronomical. So, I started searching EBAY for a gently used stove and got nowhere - the shipping costs would have been prohibitive. I had read about an organization called Green Demolitions here at Planet Green. So, I knew they sold used appliances, and I knew they were connected to a charity. Green Demolitions To The Rescue Green Demolitions Recycling Luxury for Recovery is a non-profit organization that provides recycled luxury kitchens and baths at 50%-70% off new retail prices. The appliances and fixtures are donated from estates that are demolished or renovated. To even sweeten the pot, the proceeds of the sale go directly to their organization, which is an "entrepreneurial charitable enterprise" that supports outreach programs for AAA (All Addicts Anonymous). The obvious benefit for the buyer is clear; recycled quality appliances for a fraction of the cost. Green Demolitions connects people who want to give, with people who need something, for people in need. The donator gets a tax savings, reduced labor and/or disposal, while the reduction of landfill waste from all those otherwise tossed appliances is the best for the environment. The knowledge that their charitable contribution goes to self-sustaining funds for a highly effective addiction recovery program is the icing on the cake. Green Demolitions currently has 4 locations in the New York area and will ship nationwide. A win-win solution that makes the folks at Green Demolitions bonafide heroes in my book. A New Old Stove Back to battlefield of my kitchen...From Green Demolitions, we purchased a shiny, nearly new 30" professional stove that looks just like this. We got it for a song (much less than a lesser model). It is the focal point of my kitchen, and the current object of my family's affection. Luckily for us, Green Demolitions has put the rest of the revolutionaries in the "triangle" on high alert.
