Planned obsolescence is a business strategy in which items are designed to be obsolete, unfashionable, unusable, or defective in a short period of time. This results in us throwing away things that are basically new, purchasing replacements at a higher price point with new features. It also results in higher profit margins for manufacturers and an economy driven by rabid consumerism.

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Chapters
0:00 Introduction
1:34 Contrived Durability
2:55 Prevention of Repairs
3:58 Systemic Strategy
4:53 Programming/Design
5:59 Legal Intervention
6:34 Perceived obsolescence
7:29 Layers of Change
8:18 Conclusion

CONTRIVED DURABILITY Manufacturers purposely reduce the lifetime of a product so that it deteriorates quickly, usually right after the warranty ends. Homes are designed to meet the minimum Building Code requirements. Builders use nails to secure walls to roof rafters instead of more durable metal straps. They also use nails to anchor walls to a foundation rather than more expensive bolts. All these decisions can collectively reduce the lifetime of a building.

PREVENTION OF REPAIRS Unibody designs or soldered parts prevent owners from repairing products. Replacement parts are also expensive and difficult to find. This has turned traditionally durable goods into single-use, disposable items. Panasonic’s infrared toaster oven has an on/off switch that is soldered to the circuit board. Frontloading washing machines have a drum bearing that is prone to wear and tear. Finally, spray foam. When applied correctly, it can create an air-tight building but electrical wiring and plumbing is embedded in the insulation, which will make home repairs and remodels a nightmare.

SYSTEMIC STRATEGY deliberately ensures that the current version of a product will become outdated and incompatible with newer versions. In January 2020, the EPA banned the production of R-22 refrigerant or freon, which was widely used in air conditioners. This is a good thing for the environment but the ban has made repairs ridiculously expensive. Another example of systemic strategy is changing floor designs.

PROGRAMMING/DESIGN can also lower the life expectancy of materials. In many cities, it is illegal to shut off water supply at the curb without permission from the utility company but not every house has a valve inside. Foundation repair is a HUGE business in the Dallas Fort Worth area. Homes have either had foundation repairs or will need it in the future. Despite knowing this, most homes have a slab-on-grade foundation instead of a pier and beam one.

LEGAL INTERVENTION I made a video a while back on all-electric homes. In the 1960s, coal burning furnaces were banned. New homes that only used electricity were given a “Gold Medallion”. Ironically, these medallion homes were powered by coal burning power plants, so they were not “clean” in any way.

PERCEIVED OBSOLESCENCE We are guilty of buying into marketing campaigns and changing trends. We are guilty of becoming shopping addicts and indulging in retail therapy. We recently bought a 1970s home that has a 40 year old HotPoint stove top and GE microwave that still work. Sure, they’re not trendy, but they’re functional. There is nothing I can buy to replace them that will work for the next 40 years.

LAYERS OF CHANGE Site remains forever barring any natural disasters, structure lasts 50-100 years, skin lasts 20-50 years, services 10-30 years, space plan 5-10 years and stuff, furniture lasts 1-5 years. Homes are designed such that a longer-lasting component is dependent on a shorter lived one.

Both manufacturers and consumers are to blame for the current state of affairs. The dopamine and serotonin release from buying new gadgets is very addictive. But that feeling is being weaponized by manufacturers through planned obsolescence.
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#diy #plannedobsolescence #remodel #renovation

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