Per Bolund would be proud of me. I managed to keep our last washing machine going for more than 15 years, with the help of a friendly neighbourhood repairman who charged ridiculously low prices. This is exactly the kind of thing that Bolund, Sweden鈥檚 minister for consumer affairs, .
This week Bolund, of Sweden鈥檚 Green Party, unveiled proposals for changing the tax system to reduce the cost of repairs, with the aim of boosting sustainability and creating jobs locally. So is this a great idea that other countries should copy?
Possibly not. Much to my surprise, it turns out I might well have hurt the environment 鈥� and possibly my wallet too 鈥� by keeping that washing machine running for so long.
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How so? Because not all machines are worth repairing when it comes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Replacing them can actually be the greener option.
In general, if running a machine uses a lot more energy over the years than it takes to manufacture it, replacing it regularly may reduce energy consumption. Fridges, air conditioners, televisions and, yes, washing machines typically take far more energy to run than to make.
Replace or repair
Why is it better to replace these machines rather than repair them? Two reasons. Firstly, stricter regulations and improving technology mean newer appliances are usually more energy efficient than older ones.
The second, less appreciated reason is that as components wear out, energy consumption can rise by 50 per cent or more. That means even replacing a fridge, say, with an identical but brand new model can be better than continuing to use the old one.
In other words, after a certain number of years replacing a machine will mean lower emissions than continuing to use it. How long is too long? A concluded that the 鈥渙ptimum replacement cycle鈥� for a fridge ranged from 11 years to as little as two years. Two years!
Of course, much depends on the make of machine, how you use it and what you replace it with. Clearly, replacing a 20-inch television with a 40-inch one is not going reduce emissions even if the new one is far more efficient. To complicate matters further, .
People are also inclined to replace non-powered tools such as rakes and hand saws with leaf blowers and power saws. That鈥檚 obviously going to increase emissions. I鈥檝e tried to go in the opposite direction, swapping an electric lawnmower for a muscle-powered push mower, and found it far more convenient 鈥� plus I get a free workout.
It should also be stressed that many machines, from bicycles to kitchen mixers and power drills, are indeed worth repairing, because it takes far more energy to make them than to run them. So if Sweden does manage to boost repair rates, it鈥檚 hard to say what the overall impact on emissions would be.
What is clear is that instead of the proposed blanket reduction on taxes on repairs, it would be better exclude certain appliances like fridges. Yes, this would make the legislation more complex and harder to explain to the public. But that鈥檚 just the way it is.
