How far would you go? That's the question Vanessa, over at the always-entertaining Greenasathistle blog, has us asking ourselves today. Vanessa, who is a reporter at the National Post in Toronto, has embarked on a pretty inspiring (and, often, humorous) foray into the world of serious green living. Every single day for one year she is doing one thing that betters the environment—like switching shampoos and carrying her own tote bag to the grocery store.
For the most part, Vanessa's choices have seemed reasonably easy to emulate. Who isn't capable of buying Seventh Generation dishwashing liquid? But today she did something ... well, she did something extreme. On day 78 of Vanessa's experiment, she unplugged her refrigerator, and she's not plugging it back in until the year is up.
"NO FRIDGE," she writes. "Do I get green-freak status yet or what?"
Well, does she?
She'll be saving a ton of electricity and, as she points out, so many things that we stick in the refrigerator would do just as well in our off-the-grid pantry. But still, could you do it?
What are some of the green lifestyle choices you don't think you'll ever be able to make? (And don't feel too guilty, we're all human!)
Image www.sxc.hu, David Readman
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Fridges and freezers
Fridges and freezers are the most hardworking appliances in our kitchens - they are on the go 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, working right through the night to cool and freeze food. So, if your Frigidaire Parts are behaving badly, it's costing you a lot more to run than a nice energy efficient one will.
My wife and I have used a
My wife and I have used a "dorm" fridge for over three years now. It is just under 2 ft3. It payed for itself the first week we switched. And beside all the greens we have saved, the best part is the new habits we have now. Like eating fresh in the summer and getting to the leftovers right away before they rot. And we have learned to make only what we will eat that meal, less leftovers to start with!
I thought it would be impossible to do this at first. Now when I see other peoples 20+ ft3 fridges full of rotting "stuff", I wonder how I could ever go back.
"We do not possess objects, objects possess us" Budda
Refrigerators needlessly consume a ton!
JohnCommoner
www.futurehousenow.com
Great idea to unplug the fridge. Of all the energy consuming devices in your home this one has to be one of the very worst. My folks just got a new one and saw their electricity bill instantly drop substantially. If your is over ten years old it is probably a hog compared to what you can buy new today.
I don't know why we are so dependent on them in the first place. In the northern states, and probably much of the south too, some kind of cold room could be easily constructed to take advantage of cooler temps outside. Why do we heat our homes all winter and then have a box inside that we spend energy on to cool back down? And in the summer why don't we just eat more fresh, seasonal, locally grown fruits and vegetables?
And why do we need such BIG refrigerators? Why won't one about half the normal size do just fine for storing some milk and lunch meat and a couple of containers of leftovers? I guarantee right now that most refrigerators in America are half full of food that will never get eaten.
I would have to say that the refrigerator is right up there with the car - no, actually I'd say it is really worse - as a symbol of American over-consumption. Good work Vanessa!!!