Journée de la terre

[jbailey]

I hadn't even thought of Earth Day when I was talking to my dad last night, and we got onto the subject of Electric bills bills. His is apparently ~$15/month. I think ours is just over 5 times that. *ouch* We moved here in December, and the previous owner hadn't lived here for several months, so I don't think much was done in the way of winterisation. Add daily diaper washes, drying, etc., and it's understandable (if not actually excusable).

But now we've got a nice target to aim for! =) Kyoto FTW

Comments

[northernflights.livejournal.com]

Spending time up at my cabin in Alaska made me think a lot about this sort of thing: nothing promotes conservation like being off-the-grid. When I cut willow trees for heat and haul your water on a sled behind cross-country skis, I can bathe and do all your laundry in a total of 2 gallons of water, with electricity consumption of zero. Never would happen in the city.

[northernflights.livejournal.com]

Er, I can bathe and do all of my laundry in 2 gallons. I'm certain that your laundry is a bit more ambitious, probably would take more like 5 gallons in the bush: 3 gallons in the bucket and a touch of Dr. Bronner's, first wash shirts, then pants/underwear, then socks, then diapers -- wringing the water back into the bucket after each -- then toss the water outside and replace with 2 gallons of fresh water, repeat without soap, and hang all to dry around the wood stove.

Incidentally, I learned that the best way to make this process fun is to heat up the sauna and do my bush laundry in the buff. Added benefit: when I'm done, all of my clothes are clean!

Miles