What does YOUR environmental footprint look like?

Three Canadian families have just begun taking part in the Great Green Challenge, a month-long promotional program launched by Whirlpool Canada that will be chronicled on a new website. The goal is for each family to reduce the environmental footprint of their household – with the help of Energy Star products from Whirlpool, natch. BTW, Whirlpool Canada owns Whirlpool, Maytag and KitchenAid. The website also offers regular tips on saving energy from Warrington Ellacott, energy efficiency expert for Whirlpool, and blog entries from each family. There’s also a contest for visitors to the site; enter it and you may win an energy efficient Whirlpool Duet laundry pair, which has a speedy 30-minute wash and dry cycle option and an energy-pinching dry cycle that shaves about 40 per cent off the energy used in a conventional dryer cycle. And it comes in a sexy, sexy red (see below!) Eco-function and form – what more could you ask for? PS - While I love the idea of a quick dry feature - never forget that the most energy efficient way to dry clothes is to hang them on a line - indoors or out.

Comments

[Jim M]

Those 'prize' machines are energy gluttons. They make a colossal carbon footprint compared to this superior technology: http://www.lehmans.com/store/Home_Goods___Laundry___Washing___Lehman__x27_s__xAE__Hand_Washer___32823315?Args=

[Vicky Sanderson]

Well, I too often prefer old school technology to new fangled gadgets. But I do wonder how many folks will have the time to use a wringer washer. Anybody out there using one? I'd love to get your feedback.

[Jim M]

I guess Whirlpool, Maytag and KitchenAid would not be much interested in sponsoring a more rigorous, non-electric (Lehman's-like) environmental challenge, but publicly owned utilities would have an interest, maybe. Unfortunately, the hand washer/wringer is not ideal for people who live in small apartments, but here is a customer review of the same machine seen above, behind door number one.

Hi Y'all;
I haven't posted much lately because its spring and i have been soooo busy. A few days back I ordered one of those James Hand Washers, (now called Lehman's best hand washer), anyway we were all so excited when the DHL truck pulled up and delivered it. Now, I had wanted one for ten years and finally had enough money for it. My dh and I assembled it and I thought it one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. Well, I put in a bit of laundry soap added some water a few clothes, more water and then began pulling the lever back and forth. I was delighted!! After a few minutes my neighbor dropped by wanting to know what had been delivered. I pointed down to my washing machine while I happily went on washing the clothes and explained what it was i was doing. Instead of joinging in our happiness over the new machine my lovely, jewel of a neighbor angrily says:

"Just look at you washing clothes with that thing. When I want to wash clothes I just plug in the machine and turn it on. You slavin' over that thing has set the women's back at LEAST a hundred years!"

You know it is amazing just how clean that Lehman's Hand Washer gets clothes, especially when anger makes the already easy to operate machine oh so powerful!

tamilee

P.S. I also LOVE wringing the clothes out with the wringer.
http://www.homesteadingtoday.com/archive/index.php/t-249005.html