What would you give up on to save the environment?

22Apr2008 Filed under: Air Conditioner Author: admin

jenny asked:

Let´s assume the worst has come to the worst, electricity is limited and you MUST cut down drastically.
Would you give up on:
-computer?
-tumble dryer?
-iron?
-dishwasher?
-air conditioner?
-TV?
-microwave?
What are you really willing to sacrifice?

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25 Responses to “What would you give up on to save the environment?”

jjjjjjjjj
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:04 am

I’ve already given up the washer and dryer and do the laundry by hand.
percilla
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:25 am

I would sacrifice all of those things, because there are so many ways to get along without them, and besides I dont have or at least use over half of them
my_alias_id
April 25th, 2008 at 9:01 am

I like to camp so I can give up all those things. However, I do like my A/C.
Garys1266
April 26th, 2008 at 3:55 pm

Jenny this a a great thought provoking question. I would say I these would be easy to give up, an iron, tumble dryer, dishwasher and a microwave.

Harder to give up? TV although there is never anything on anyway.

Hardest to give up? I live in Washington DC and AC would be tough to live without. Also I telecommute so a computer would make it hard for me to earn a living.

Again, thanks for the thought provoking debate.
dixie_til_i_die
April 29th, 2008 at 11:08 pm

I would give up all except AC…I mean I live in S Central Texas for pity’s sake. I already gave up the dishwasher & line dry many of my clothes. Although, line drying them calls for alot of ironing! Maybe I couldn’t give that up either.
Bama
May 1st, 2008 at 8:13 pm

Here is what I have given up to date:
Air Conditioning (until it over 95 degrees)
Heat (until it is under 50 degrees)

I Refuse to Iron!!!!
TV/VCR, etc…
Tumble Dry
DishWasher
Microwave
Automobile (yes I walk or ride public transit even though the transit in Birmingham AL is not even good or sufficient.. imaging planning 3 hours round-trip just to go somewhere it would’ve taken you 15 minutes to drive to)

my income relies on my internet & my phone… so computer isn’t an option

I also gave up any kind of cleaner that is bad for the environment.
No commercial laundry detergent (I make my own & it is not harmful)
I do not use Bleach (there are natural methods)

The ONLY things I use to clean EVERYTHING are:
Vinegar
Fels Naptha Soap
Octagon Soap
Baking Soda
Borax
Salt
Cedar Oil
Lemon Oil
Olive Oil
Corn Oil (mixed with Lemon Oil & water for wood floors)
Ascorbic Acid (vitamin C powder)
Simple Green or Purple Power (bio-degradable, enviro friendly)

We Organic Garden our own Veggies & Herbs

Next step is to purchase a Hig-Effiecency Clothes Washing Machine to cut down on both water & electricity.. I save the money until I can buy.. I do not go into debt
Michele M
May 2nd, 2008 at 11:09 am

REALLY, I’m ready to sacrifice it all, who really NEEDS those things you listed. The key to life is Water, if we don’t have clean pure drinking water there won’t be any life left. It is of pure laziness and arrogance that people think they can’t live without these things you listed. Native Americans managed to live in balance with mother earth for thousands of years without harming her before those Euros came spreading their lies of Christianity and progression.
fish3cats
May 4th, 2008 at 3:55 pm

i would give up the microwave but as far as the dishwasher sorry we need our mexicans.
jennnerzzzzzzzz
May 6th, 2008 at 7:28 am

I could give up everything for a short amount of time. There’s a lot of things that you can limit your use of. Especially, the most important thing is your electrical appliances…if you unplug your television or computer or anything if it is not in use, it will not consume any energy. When you leave those things plugged in even when they’re off, they’re using up energy! It’s so easy, do it!
tennisacerg
May 8th, 2008 at 6:39 am

LET’S ALL GO AMISH!!!!!!!

just kidding!

i’m not giving up any of those things
rabble rouser
May 8th, 2008 at 10:37 am

Tumble dryer and TV would be the first to go…

One thing that I have not been able to let go of in order to save the environment is cigarette smoking…
It’s bad for me and the environment but I am so shamefully addicted…

Electronics are very hard to live without (at first)… when we have hurricane season down here in Florida, people totally FREAK OUT… they all run to the grociery store and buy everything they see… as though it is some kind of PANIC crisis… it’s really weird… and so much wasted food…

Everyone also buys lots of GAS before a hurricane… even though they have no plans to go anywhere… they just know that the pumps will be closed if the electricity is off for awhile…
But they get ridiculous about it - they fill their car and then 5 big tanks in the back of their truck…

Crisis scares are very good for consumerism.
Imagine what terrorism does for the economy.
Alfie333
May 10th, 2008 at 8:52 pm

I am 84 years old and grew up in an era where we had none of the above. I would miss the Computer because it is my only window on the world,but I could cheerfully give up the whole lot if I had to.
eriehaha
May 14th, 2008 at 4:06 am

I would sacrifice a dishwasher, air conditiner, ad a tumble dryer
chuck n toss
May 17th, 2008 at 3:31 pm

I would have Juanita stop putting so many ice cubes in my drinks that she brings to me while I lounge at my pool.
campbelp2002
May 19th, 2008 at 1:05 am

Professional sports.

No chartered jets taking spoiled millionaire players all over the place. No gazillion cars clogging the roads on the way to the stadium and spewing out CO2. And billions of dollars saved that could be used to develop alternative energy sources.
soccermom
May 19th, 2008 at 11:53 pm

iron
microwave permanantly.
and tv watching during
the day time hours.
Lui
May 21st, 2008 at 11:04 am

Sure I’d give those all up to have a future.

In the meantime though I’ll just reduce my use and buy greener appliances when possible, oh and I’ve already switched my lightbulbs.
ARod
May 22nd, 2008 at 12:47 pm

Everything baby! I am a survivor!
JAN
May 24th, 2008 at 4:33 pm

The iron is almost a relic here so that wouldn’t be a real sacrifice. Good bye iron. I would get rid of the dryer, dishwasher, TV and air conditioner too.
The microwave actually helps conserve energy. The computer is need for work so those two stay.
Amy
May 25th, 2008 at 6:08 pm

Computers have a genuine use as an awesome comunication tool, so I’d keep it. The other appliances I could do without. By the way, it is doubtful that we’d have to give up electricity-money isn’t going to save big oil/coal from dying when their supplies run out. New, innovative technologies will evolve and beat them to the ground, which they deserve. We already have wind farms, waves, solar power, and hydroelecric power (about 20% of all electric power).
Sriram V
May 26th, 2008 at 11:39 am

Anything, including myself.
Breeza
May 27th, 2008 at 1:54 pm

I need my computer for work and it saves my paper usage.
I don’t own a tumble dryer, I use a clothes horse or a clothes line depending on weather.
I hate ironing…..don’t use it unless I really have to anyway. I buy clothes that don’t require ironing instead.
The dishwasher uses less water than washing up if used correctly.
A fan, a water spray bottle, shade and an iceblock could easily substitute for an air conditioner.
TV is for lazy people and stifles the family…would happily give this up….I never turn it on anyway.
The microwave is a rediculous luxury and not everything requires cooking if you are creative enough.
cams
May 30th, 2008 at 8:27 pm

You know, I think we don’t have to give up something IF we just know how to take care of our environment. But in order to answer you, I think I will give up electricity also.
nomadic
May 30th, 2008 at 8:47 pm

Tumble dryers are stupid, I’ve never had one. I don’t have an iron, dishwasher, air conditioner, or microwave either.

So, since it comes down to TV and computer, I suppose the TV would be first to go. Good riddance, actually.
pharaoh_102
May 31st, 2008 at 5:11 pm

..anything that can be done manually.
..about the climate..wear warmer clothings during cold season, shade the areas with trees as possible well from sunlight or heat sources, wider windows in summer.
..microwaves are said to use less energy compared with others as a whole, but yucky about the radiation thing, unexplained illnesses are yet to be discovered.
..computer would be my last option