Every time I go down to the department store (which isn't very often, admittedly), there seems to be another great gadget for doing this or that household chore. And most of them are run by electricity. If we want to cut down on our power consumption - either because we want to reduce the carbon emissions of a petrol-fuelled power station, because we want to have fewer electromagnetic fields in our immediate environment, because we live in an alternative energy household and the wind tower/solar panels aren't doing much on a foggy day, or because we want to save money - then it pays to know which gadgets are worth getting and which aren't.
Nail dryer - With today's quick-dry nail polishes, do you really need one for home use? Use a hair dryer if you're really in a hurry.Blender - Reasonably worth it, as it can be used to make healthy juices and milkshakes as well as pureeing soups, chopping nuts, making mayonnaise, whipping cream, etc.Cake mixer - A hand-held beater does just as good a job - or even a plain old spoon.Bread maker - these only make one loaf at a time, which gets eaten very rapidly in a family. Having tried both methods, I can say that making bread by hand (kneading it in a bowl, then forgetting it on the bench for half an afternoon before knocking it down and kneading again, followed by popping it in a tin to bake alongside a casserole) uses much less power and makes more bread. If you really want fresh bread and haven't time to bake it yourself, then find a good bakery... preferably one that uses organic ingredients and puts the loaves in paper bags (they do exist - don't despair).Last year, between 11 million and 12 million coffeemakers were sold, he said, the majority of which, 70 percent to 80 percent--"a big chunk"--were sold through discount stores and mass merchandisers.After RevereWare, Eikenberg spent a year, 1985, at Cuisinarts, where he served as the company's chief operating officer.CLEVELAND--After 24 years of making coffee with his four-cup RevereWare percolator, John "Jack" Eikenberg switched to a four-cup Mr. Coffee Jr.Although he has also taken control of the daily operations at Mr. Coffee, Eikenberg affirmed that the company's existing management will remain intact and that no particular employee additions are planned.Hair trimmer - If the members of your household just want a quick trim, they're easier and quicker and do a better job than scissors. Sure, you won't turn into Vidal Sassoon, but a hair trimmer can give the resident males (and others who want it) a short-back-and-sides, a crew cut or a Number Four.Electric toothbrush - Plenty of people stay cavity free and with sweet breath without these. Save your money.Beyond that, he said it was just too early to talk about any other future plans, but told DSN that putting the Mr. Coffee name on other products and exploring new markets "are within the realm of possibility. Clearly, every avenue of new markets and new items will be pursued."Juicer - I, personally, would not have a juicer and a blender. The blender gets good enough fruit and vegetable juices, especially if you add a little water, and is more versatile. It's better to buy one gadget rather than two. But if you drink a lot of juice and you want fresh juice at your office, then maybe.In fact, Eikenberg's first undertaking in his new position was to change the name of the company that manufactures the popular coffeemaker from North American Systems, to Mr. Coffee Inc., effective July 15.
Hair dryer - This is a chemical-free way of killing nits, so if you have school aged children, it's worth having and using regularly. But remember to air-dry your hair from time to time - it's good for your hair as well as a power saver.
Author: Nick Vassilev
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