Study of the Federal Environment Agency: Why keep electrical appliances only five years? – N24

Study of the Federal Environment Agency: Why keep electrical appliances only five years? – N24

Many electrical appliances give earlier today on their minds than it was ten years ago. This is confirmed by a study by the Federal Environment Agency. Is this coincidence or shrewd manufacturer Strategy?

Consumers exchange products faster than before. Especially with flat panel TVs is the “Erstnutzungsdauer” short, even if the devices still worked perfectly, the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) announced relying on a long-term study. The so-called Obsoleszenzstudie should clarify whether manufacturers shorten the life of products targeted. Notes on early defects there are about household appliances

intermediate results at half-time according to the study exchanged in 2012 a quarter of the consumer’s flat due to technical failures from most of -. 60 percent – replaced its working device by an even better. On average, the replaced device of 2012 was 5.6 years old, according to the study. The average Erstnutzungsdauer a tube television was from 2005 to 2012, however, between ten and twelve years

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exchange in the kitchen or in the laundry room of their consumer devices faster than a few years ago: From 2004 to 2012/2013, the Erstnutzungsdauer of washing machines, dryers and refrigerators reduced by one year to an average of 13 years

already. after five years, broken

Unlike TVs exchanged but only one third of consumers a functioning device with a better one – two-thirds bought a new one because the old one was broken. “We can say that more washing machines, refrigerators and dryers are defective within five years than it was ten years ago,” the Federal Environment Agency announced this with.

Almost remained roughly equal according to the study, however, the Erstnutzungsdauer of notebooks , Tap between five and six years and surf the consumer with their device. The reasons for the exchange have, however, changed dramatically: While in 2004 only 70 percent of the functional units replaced due to a technical innovation and the desire for a better notebook, this is 2012/2013 have been “only around a quarter of cases” so, it is stated in the study.

Plan the manufacturer wear?

The interim report is based, according to the Federal Environmental Agency primarily on the results of consumer surveys representative of the Society for Consumer Research. Based on the interim results still did not find evidence that manufacturers internals “selective” vulnerabilities in their products. The Erstnutzungsdauer not take into account possible future continued use of equipment by other consumers who buy used this for example.

“When using electrical and electronic equipment is a very complex picture. That gives devices are used shorter, has different causes, “said UBA President Maria Krautzberger. “The extent to which a scheduled wear is responsible clarify we are now in the second half of the study.” In any case, both manufacturers and consumers should consider strategies to prolong the useful life of equipment.