Off Peak
April 15, 2003
Spotlight Shines Again on 'Cool Losers'
Noting that "American Idol" may have "met its match," the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) recently revealed the winner of its "Coolest Loser" contest. The award is given to the most energy-inefficient refrigerator, based on appearance and condition.
The winner? A 1940s Servel model, which topped more than 100 competitors as the "ugliest, most energy-guzzling refrigerator in the city." The refrigerator "is so frozen over in the freezer compartment that the [owners] have no idea what is in the freezer," the LADWP says.
"A model such as the winner uses at least four times the energy than today's efficient refrigerators," the department adds.
Not surprisingly, third place went to another 1940s refrigerator, this one manufactured by General Electric.
But, in a sign that some companies were slow to manufacture more energy-efficient refrigerators, second runner-up went to a Kenmore model from the 1970s.
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Utilities Fortnightly & Spark
