Home Appliances

Development

Many contemporary home appliances are the result of relatively recent technological innovations and are often electrical or computerized improvements on manually operated appliances that performed a similar function in the past. Examples include the electric shaver replacing the razor blade, the air-conditioning unit replacing the ceiling and standing fans, and the CD player replacing cassette tape player. In similar cases, newer appliances may be acquired to supplement, rather than entirely replace, [Page 388]older devices. For example, electric clothes dryers have not entirely replaced outside clotheslines (or drying racks), but nonetheless are designed to perform a similar task.

Energy Consumption

Home appliances have come under the scrutiny of various regulators and independent groups concerned with energy security and environmental sustainability. It has been estimated that these appliances comprise approximately 17 percent of household energy consumption. Further, 10 percent of this electricity is consumed by appliances that are not even in use in what is known as standby power. Appliances are frequently assessed by independent programs, such as Energy Star, which partner with various public and private organizations in order to offer energy and water efficiency ratings for a range of home appliances. Such rating systems are designed to both inform consumers about the energy requirements for a given appliance on the market, as well as offer a means to compare the efficiency of different models of a particular appliance type.

Effects on Perceptions and Behavior

Social scientists have attempted to understand the role that appliances play in the lives of their users beyond the immediate instrumental tasks they are intended to perform. For instance, there has been an increasing prevalence of air conditioning units inside the home, as well as in other in spaces such as the workplace, car, and shopping mall. Sociologist Elizabeth Shove has noted that this widespread use of air-conditioners has contributed to changing expectations about what is considered normal ambient temperature.

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