New appliances-Catch 22

Environmentalists constantly encourage to us to buy new appliances and save energy. I am firm believer that there is a good and bad to everything and you have to weigh decisions carefully to make sure that the best decision has been made. The appears to be true as far as appliances are concerned. Apparently, new appliances do cut energy consumption but they don't last as long as our older and more durable appliances. Your old washing machine lasted 20 years, mine did but my new one wish is certainly quieter and does not use as much water according to studies will not last as long. Manufactures are driven to have us consume more and to insure that we do they are building obsolesce into their products. Life expectancy is half of the previous products. Another explanation is that we like gadgets in our products and do not demand quality.
I have often commented that you get what you pay, a saying that my mother lived by. She was willing to pay a little more for something that would last. She was not part of the disposable generation, she wanted things to last and to be built well.