Comments on: Look for the Star http://www.theearthconnection.org/blog/2009/05/look-for-the-star/ Nourishment and inspiration for those who love the Earth Fri, 18 May 2012 22:59:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: Judy http://www.theearthconnection.org/blog/2009/05/look-for-the-star/comment-page-1/#comment-913 Judy Fri, 29 May 2009 17:39:34 +0000 http://www.theearthconnection.org/blog/?p=848#comment-913 A front-loading washing machine uses a fraction of the water and detergent of a top loader, and is much gentler on your clothes. I didn't know they used less electricity, and think maybe they don't, as the length of cycle is much longer. But they are definitely a move in the right direction. Have come down a little in price but still a lot more expensive than top loaders. Hope mine will last a long time. A front-loading washing machine uses a fraction of the water and detergent of a top loader, and is much gentler on your clothes. I didn’t know they used less electricity, and think maybe they don’t, as the length of cycle is much longer. But they are definitely a move in the right direction. Have come down a little in price but still a lot more expensive than top loaders. Hope mine will last a long time.

]]> By: Joan Brundage http://www.theearthconnection.org/blog/2009/05/look-for-the-star/comment-page-1/#comment-886 Joan Brundage Mon, 18 May 2009 22:52:51 +0000 http://www.theearthconnection.org/blog/?p=848#comment-886 April, Thanks for this valuable info. We may be replacing our dishwasher soon. April,
Thanks for this valuable info. We may be replacing our dishwasher soon.

]]> By: Barb http://www.theearthconnection.org/blog/2009/05/look-for-the-star/comment-page-1/#comment-885 Barb Sun, 17 May 2009 21:12:03 +0000 http://www.theearthconnection.org/blog/?p=848#comment-885 Those energy star ratings give a lot of information. As our kitchen appliances wore out -- the oven first, then the dishwasher -- we didn't have one for almost two years. Then when the refrigerator went, we bought all new stuff. I couldn't believe the differences between designs within the same brand. Same for the washer -- If only there were ratings for other dynamics to save energy -- consolidated design, reusable/brown water, features that could be separated out. It seems that all refrigerators have mandatory ice makers. We didn't want an ice maker. etc. Glad you continue to educate us! Thanks! Those energy star ratings give a lot of information. As our kitchen appliances wore out — the oven first, then the dishwasher — we didn’t have one for almost two years. Then when the refrigerator went, we bought all new stuff. I couldn’t believe the differences between designs within the same brand. Same for the washer — If only there were ratings for other dynamics to save energy — consolidated design, reusable/brown water, features that could be separated out. It seems that all refrigerators have mandatory ice makers. We didn’t want an ice maker. etc. Glad you continue to educate us! Thanks!

]]> By: April http://www.theearthconnection.org/blog/2009/05/look-for-the-star/comment-page-1/#comment-884 April Sun, 17 May 2009 15:39:37 +0000 http://www.theearthconnection.org/blog/?p=848#comment-884 Interesting. I hadn't realized that a front-loading washing machine uses less detergent and is easier on the clothes. Thanks. Interesting. I hadn’t realized that a front-loading washing machine uses less detergent and is easier on the clothes. Thanks.

]]> By: Jim Z. http://www.theearthconnection.org/blog/2009/05/look-for-the-star/comment-page-1/#comment-883 Jim Z. Sun, 17 May 2009 01:55:51 +0000 http://www.theearthconnection.org/blog/?p=848#comment-883 Our time to replace the appliances (the old ones had been here for 20 years) was 2008. All four units (fridge, stove, dishwasher & microwave) went kaput all within the space of a couple of months (how's that for planned obsolescence?). For the new ones it was Energy Star all the way. We saw utility bill benefits immediately. At first we thought that it was maybe a fluke, but after a year and a half, the savings are real. Multiply this across the population and we're talking real money.... Some years ago we replaced the laundry with a front loader. The water and electricity savings have been significant, you use much less detergent, and the clothes survive better (less twisting, etc.) than with a spindle machine. Our time to replace the appliances (the old ones had been here for 20 years) was 2008. All four units (fridge, stove, dishwasher & microwave) went kaput all within the space of a couple of months (how’s that for planned obsolescence?). For the new ones it was Energy Star all the way. We saw utility bill benefits immediately. At first we thought that it was maybe a fluke, but after a year and a half, the savings are real. Multiply this across the population and we’re talking real money….

Some years ago we replaced the laundry with a front loader. The water and electricity savings have been significant, you use much less detergent, and the clothes survive better (less twisting, etc.) than with a spindle machine.

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