Comments on: Asko not http://www.knitsisters.com/2007/07/25/being_green/ Watch out. We've got sharp sticks. Fri, 29 Aug 2008 07:01:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.3 by: Jennifer http://www.knitsisters.com/2007/07/25/being_green/#comment-15320 Tue, 31 Jul 2007 06:27:47 +0000 http://www.knitsisters.com/2007/07/25/being_green/#comment-15320 Oh! I forgot to ask - have you read the 7th Harry Potter? Oh! I forgot to ask - have you read the 7th Harry Potter?

]]> by: Jennifer http://www.knitsisters.com/2007/07/25/being_green/#comment-15319 Tue, 31 Jul 2007 06:26:21 +0000 http://www.knitsisters.com/2007/07/25/being_green/#comment-15319 I have a front load washer which is a bit slower than my old top load, but not THAT slow. The "whitest whites" cycle takes about 90 minutes, but a regular cycle takes just about an hour. The whites cycle takes longer becuase it does a second rinse. It still uses MUCH less energy and water however. One "fillup" of a front load takes about 5 gallons of water, in contrast to the 25-30 gallons used per fill up in a top loader. The reason it's so slow is that it cleans the clothes by flopping them around over and over and over instead of beating them with an agitator. I'm confused about how the dryer could be that slow. One of the other benefits of a front loader is that it spins the clothes at about 8 bazillion RPMs, thus expelling almost all the water and shortening the dryer time considerably. Does your dryer actually heat up? Perhaps you need a slightly more aggressive cycle on the dryer? As for the transportation issue - I have tried valiantly to use the bus system, but it's hard to justify an extra 2 hours out of the day when I already feel time crunched. And, as you know, cycling on the road has not been working out so well for me. Also, even if I weren't afraid of cars, it's hard to bike commute in a hilly area unless there are shower facilities and time to change at the destination. So . . . my solution is that I'm going to buy a motor scooter as a car alternative. I'll still have my car and will use it when I need either the cargo space or the protection of the car body (for highway trips) but I'm going to use the scooter as much as I can. I have a front load washer which is a bit slower than my old top load, but not THAT slow. The “whitest whites” cycle takes about 90 minutes, but a regular cycle takes just about an hour. The whites cycle takes longer becuase it does a second rinse. It still uses MUCH less energy and water however. One “fillup” of a front load takes about 5 gallons of water, in contrast to the 25-30 gallons used per fill up in a top loader. The reason it’s so slow is that it cleans the clothes by flopping them around over and over and over instead of beating them with an agitator.

I’m confused about how the dryer could be that slow. One of the other benefits of a front loader is that it spins the clothes at about 8 bazillion RPMs, thus expelling almost all the water and shortening the dryer time considerably. Does your dryer actually heat up? Perhaps you need a slightly more aggressive cycle on the dryer?

As for the transportation issue - I have tried valiantly to use the bus system, but it’s hard to justify an extra 2 hours out of the day when I already feel time crunched. And, as you know, cycling on the road has not been working out so well for me. Also, even if I weren’t afraid of cars, it’s hard to bike commute in a hilly area unless there are shower facilities and time to change at the destination. So . . . my solution is that I’m going to buy a motor scooter as a car alternative. I’ll still have my car and will use it when I need either the cargo space or the protection of the car body (for highway trips) but I’m going to use the scooter as much as I can.

]]> by: N. Santos http://www.knitsisters.com/2007/07/25/being_green/#comment-15287 Mon, 30 Jul 2007 18:14:38 +0000 http://www.knitsisters.com/2007/07/25/being_green/#comment-15287 I have heard about these environmental appliances. They say they are environmentally conscious, but it uses about the same amount of resources if not more to do the job of a "regular" machine. Some analysts also said they break down quicker than the "regular" machines, which is not feasible for someone with limited income. As for your car, I am so happy that you don't own a car. I live in Southern CA and it is impossible to not have one. I wish I don't need one, but it can't be done here. I tried taking the bus to visit my aunt when I was younger who lives 1/2 hour from our house by car. But it took us 3+ hours on the bus to get to her house. I have heard about these environmental appliances. They say they are environmentally conscious, but it uses about the same amount of resources if not more to do the job of a “regular” machine. Some analysts also said they break down quicker than the “regular” machines, which is not feasible for someone with limited income.

As for your car, I am so happy that you don’t own a car. I live in Southern CA and it is impossible to not have one. I wish I don’t need one, but it can’t be done here. I tried taking the bus to visit my aunt when I was younger who lives 1/2 hour from our house by car. But it took us 3+ hours on the bus to get to her house.

]]> by: lorinda http://www.knitsisters.com/2007/07/25/being_green/#comment-15205 Sun, 29 Jul 2007 01:26:00 +0000 http://www.knitsisters.com/2007/07/25/being_green/#comment-15205 And the greenest idea of all. Just don't wash your clothes. Use perfume and lots of it. I truly believe in the theory of green-ness, but the practice of it is sometimes so overwhelming. Congrats to your and your handsome husband on all the nuptials and festivities. I thought of you as my cousin got married on the rocky coast of Maine and on my quick day-trip to Boston. Next time I'll have to plan to stay in Beantown longer so I can actually see you and swap knitting stories! And the greenest idea of all. Just don’t wash your clothes. Use perfume and lots of it.

I truly believe in the theory of green-ness, but the practice of it is sometimes so overwhelming.

Congrats to your and your handsome husband on all the nuptials and festivities. I thought of you as my cousin got married on the rocky coast of Maine and on my quick day-trip to Boston. Next time I’ll have to plan to stay in Beantown longer so I can actually see you and swap knitting stories!

]]> by: Kate http://www.knitsisters.com/2007/07/25/being_green/#comment-15180 Sat, 28 Jul 2007 18:57:46 +0000 http://www.knitsisters.com/2007/07/25/being_green/#comment-15180 Hahaha, sorry, didn't mean to cause consternation! I shouldn't have been so critical of my Frenchie washing machine. There is an upside, actually, especially to airdrying things, because once you discover that you can actually function without the convenience of dry clothes on command, you can save your wardrobe the unnecessary beating it takes in the dryer. This is very green, of course, saving electricity and reducing consumption by needing to replace things less often - but more self-interestedly, it also staves off the huge bummer of one's favorite shirt starting to look prematurely worn. Hahaha, sorry, didn’t mean to cause consternation! I shouldn’t have been so critical of my Frenchie washing machine. There is an upside, actually, especially to airdrying things, because once you discover that you can actually function without the convenience of dry clothes on command, you can save your wardrobe the unnecessary beating it takes in the dryer. This is very green, of course, saving electricity and reducing consumption by needing to replace things less often - but more self-interestedly, it also staves off the huge bummer of one’s favorite shirt starting to look prematurely worn.

]]> by: Ellen http://www.knitsisters.com/2007/07/25/being_green/#comment-15133 Sat, 28 Jul 2007 00:32:02 +0000 http://www.knitsisters.com/2007/07/25/being_green/#comment-15133 Oh, Kate. You and Jenn are not making me feel any better about this... Oh, Kate. You and Jenn are not making me feel any better about this…

]]> by: Kate http://www.knitsisters.com/2007/07/25/being_green/#comment-15130 Fri, 27 Jul 2007 23:11:10 +0000 http://www.knitsisters.com/2007/07/25/being_green/#comment-15130 Your great-uncle Alex was probably kidding, but when I had a "green" washer/dryer in France I did in fact find myself doing a significant portion of my laundry by hand. (If you're waiting three hours for the lights to finish, you might as well do something about the darks...) Of course, this approach sometimes necessitates emergency use of a hair-dryer (clean underwear is a good start, but really you'd also like it to be dry), so it's questionable just how much energy I really saved... Your great-uncle Alex was probably kidding, but when I had a “green” washer/dryer in France I did in fact find myself doing a significant portion of my laundry by hand. (If you’re waiting three hours for the lights to finish, you might as well do something about the darks…) Of course, this approach sometimes necessitates emergency use of a hair-dryer (clean underwear is a good start, but really you’d also like it to be dry), so it’s questionable just how much energy I really saved…

]]> by: Diane http://www.knitsisters.com/2007/07/25/being_green/#comment-15119 Fri, 27 Jul 2007 20:15:57 +0000 http://www.knitsisters.com/2007/07/25/being_green/#comment-15119 Whatever my washer/dryer are (whirlpool/frigidaire), the cycle times are pretty speedy (and it's a front load). I haven't timed it at all, but I'm so often doing other stuff, that I just don't notice. The dishwasher, however, leaves much to be desired. Ladies, never, ever, let your husband pick out a dishwasher. He meant well, and Consumer Reports says it's wonderful, but it has some serious design flaws as far as I'm concerned. Whatever my washer/dryer are (whirlpool/frigidaire), the cycle times are pretty speedy (and it’s a front load). I haven’t timed it at all, but I’m so often doing other stuff, that I just don’t notice. The dishwasher, however, leaves much to be desired. Ladies, never, ever, let your husband pick out a dishwasher. He meant well, and Consumer Reports says it’s wonderful, but it has some serious design flaws as far as I’m concerned.

]]> by: Marsha http://www.knitsisters.com/2007/07/25/being_green/#comment-15109 Fri, 27 Jul 2007 15:14:07 +0000 http://www.knitsisters.com/2007/07/25/being_green/#comment-15109 You know what really gripes me? The packaging that everything comes in. Apparently to discourage or slow down the shoplifter, everything we buy comes packaged in much too much plastic and paper and wires and stuff that all gets thrown away. Last time I bought my grandson a toy it took me half an hour to pry off all the plastic and wire that held the thing into its packaging. And I feel for the you folks who have to carry everything home from the store, because it adds needless weight and bulk. Why can't we, as consumers, stop this wastefullness? And re the washer/dryer, I think your HUSBAND Alex might be on to something! What better way to spend Saturday morning and afternoon than scrubbing up the week's laundry? Shoot, it could even double as your meditation and reflection time! You know what really gripes me? The packaging that everything comes in. Apparently to discourage or slow down the shoplifter, everything we buy comes packaged in much too much plastic and paper and wires and stuff that all gets thrown away. Last time I bought my grandson a toy it took me half an hour to pry off all the plastic and wire that held the thing into its packaging. And I feel for the you folks who have to carry everything home from the store, because it adds needless weight and bulk. Why can’t we, as consumers, stop this wastefullness?

And re the washer/dryer, I think your HUSBAND Alex might be on to something! What better way to spend Saturday morning and afternoon than scrubbing up the week’s laundry? Shoot, it could even double as your meditation and reflection time!

]]> by: Jenn http://www.knitsisters.com/2007/07/25/being_green/#comment-15086 Fri, 27 Jul 2007 05:55:29 +0000 http://www.knitsisters.com/2007/07/25/being_green/#comment-15086 I can commiserate with your washer anguish. I am currently living in Malmo, Sweden. My first laundry experience ended in heartbreak and tears (and my husband having to come home early from work.) I am jealous that 1- you have an instruction manual for your washer and 2- that instruction manual is in english. Oh yeah, and the dryers over here take even longer to run than the washers. It's faster to hang them on the line to dry (Your son is right - it's faster to just do everything by hand.) All whining aside, Malmo is a great little town. Most everybody over here has a bicycle, only maybe half (if that many) have a car. There are definitely more bikes than cars. And the buses are very reliable. (And nobody bats an eye when you get on the bus with a giant box/bag from Ikea.) I can commiserate with your washer anguish. I am currently living in Malmo, Sweden. My first laundry experience ended in heartbreak and tears (and my husband having to come home early from work.) I am jealous that 1- you have an instruction manual for your washer and 2- that instruction manual is in english. Oh yeah, and the dryers over here take even longer to run than the washers. It’s faster to hang them on the line to dry (Your son is right - it’s faster to just do everything by hand.)

All whining aside, Malmo is a great little town. Most everybody over here has a bicycle, only maybe half (if that many) have a car. There are definitely more bikes than cars. And the buses are very reliable. (And nobody bats an eye when you get on the bus with a giant box/bag from Ikea.)

]]>