Refrigerators need much better insulation — report

Press, 25 August 1983, Page 16

Refrigerators need much better insulation — report

Refrigerators have been improved on the inside with the addition of gadgets such as butter softeners and ice dispensers. Little regard however, has been given to improving insulation. The average household refrigerator is so poorly insulated that it gains 56 per cent of its heat through the walls, according to an energy report from Massey University. The rest of the heat gain occurs when the door is opened and when unchilled foods are put in. Better insulation, resulting in power savings of at least 50 per cent, could be achieved by increasing the thickness of insulation or by switching to materials that have lower thermal conductivities, says the report.

In the United States, researchers found that such design changes would mean an increase of 19 per cent in purchase price. The payback for increasing insulation to 7.6 cm thickness was six months, while the payback from switching from fibreglass to polyurethane was four years.

Fish prices

In its annual report just released to. Parliament, the Consumer Council quoted high retail markups for fish. Consumer surveyed fish prices between January 1980 and January 1982 and found mark-ups ranging from 127 per cent to 464 per cent. These higher mark-ups are extreme cases according to the Trade and Industry department, who say that retail prices for fish are reasonable over all.

The department closely monitors fish prices. It says the apparently high mark-ups are due to the high degree of wastage. The retailer buys the fish, in whole form, but after removing head, tail, gut and bones, he is left with less than half the original weight to sell.

Mark-ups work out at about 50 per cent on saleable amounts of fish, according to Mr D. Gasson, director of commerce at the Trade and Industry department.

consumer life

Anne Ingram

Pesticides on fruit

The use of pesticides is rigidly controlled in this country. Growers must use pesticides in accordance with guidelines laid down by the Pesticides Board.

For example, growers have to comply with a required withholding period — the interval between the last spray and harvest. The' longer the produce is left after spraying, the lower the level of pesticide drops. The level of pesticide found in fruit and vegetables must not exceed the maximum residue limit permitted by law.

This amount per kilogram of food is infinitesimal and can perhaps be visualised by comparing one inch in 17 miles, according to David Lunn, pesticide scientist with the Agricultural Chemicals Board. Those who wish to minimise the consumption of even small amounts of pesticide, will be pleased td know that three-quar-ters of the residue can be washed off under the cold tap. Better news still is that the pesticide used on kiwifruit does not penetrate the skin, so peeled, this fruit is pesticide-free. Clothing mark-ups

“More” magazine recently did a survey on New Zealand fashion clothing prices and discovered that mark-ups of 70 to 90 per cent are common on the wholesale price of the garment. A ■ basic cotton/linen blouse with a $49.95 price tag was found to have the following cost breakdown.

The manufacturerer costed the fabric at $7.75, the labels at 30c, interfacing 45c, buttons 50c, cutting 60c, factory making $9, pressing 60c, and packing at 60c. To this $19.80 he added 50 per cent to cover his overheads and make his profit, which brought the total to $29.95.

The retailer than added 70 per cent ($2O) to bring the price of the garment to $49.95.

To justify such a markup, one retailer listed somg; of her expenses: rental $lOOO a week, five shop assistants on at least $2OO a week, clip hangers

at $25 a dozen, security tags at $3 each, and $lO,OOO for a new computerised till. Kauri Too much New Zealand kauri timber and furniture is being taken out of the country, according to “Villa.” Mr Ken Hickson, editor of the New Zealand home and garden magazine, is also concerned that Fijian kauri is being brought in and passed off as the rare New Zealand timber. Woodcrafters today have to be content with what kauri they can locate in demolition yards, he says. Mr Hickson considers we should place more value on this timber which our parents and grandparents often covered with layers of paint, hardboard, scrim, and wallpaper. We should uncover it and highlight it. In the latest issue of “Villa" two home renovators tell how they discovered kauri panelling and joinery in their homes, and how they went about restoring it.