The art of refrigerator magnets

I love refrigerator magnets. 

I’m not one to accumulate things, but I am fond of these humble collectibles.  These souvenirs are daily reminders of wonderful places I’ve been, take little space, and stay put where I place them!  They are also great for holding up notes and to-do lists.  Just because it is an inexpensive hobby doesn’t mean the magnets must look tacky.  Over the years, I have come to acquire a respectable collection of decorative magnets that graces the entire front of my refrigerator.  I still have some room on the sides…

My refrigerator has served me well in other ways, however, after years of faithful service, it is time to replace it with another one.  I will use many tools for buying a refrigerator.  In case you are also in need of a new unit, I would like to share this information with you.

Consumers Union is a nonprofit organization dedicated to consumer protection and information.  Its excellent monthly publication Consumer Reports is available at every branch of The Seattle Public Library.  With my Library card number and PIN, I can view it also as an online database via the Library’s Web site.  Current models have been tested and rated for features such as energy efficiency, ease of use, and noise.

Seattle City Light is offering rebates to its customers.  If I recycle my old refrigerator in accordance with Washington State disposal laws and also purchase a qualified ENERGY STAR model, I will receive a $50 rebate (until the end of the year).   The federal ENERGY STAR program promotes products by identifying refrigerators that are at least 20% more energy-efficient than other models.  You can read about the rebate and see the list of qualified refrigerators here.   In addition, Seattle City Light will pick up and recycle an old, but working, non-primary refrigerator or freezer for a $30 rebate.  The $50 and $30 rebates cannot be combined.  Rebates for other appliances are also available.

I will look forward to saving money on my electric bill as modern refrigerators are three to four times more efficient than older ones.  Did you know that Seattle City Light makes available an electricity use meter called Kill A Watt™ at The Seattle Public Library?  It measures the electrical consumption of small to medium appliances, including refrigerators and other appliances that cycle on and off.  Shelved just like a book, you can read more about it here. 

An important consideration for me is that I will want the front surface of the new refrigerator to be magnetic.  It will probably not be a stainless steel one as most stainless steel is non-magnetic (due to the presence of the element nickel).  To test for this feature, I intend to take one of my magnets to the appliance store!