Can a Green Kitchen Make-over Send the Wrong Message?
I’ve just watched a video on YouTube showing a family getting an eco friendly kitchen make-over.
It should be great.
We want to be green and eco friendly, and the kitchen’s a great place to start because we have so many energy-hungry appliances there.
But I find the video a little disturbing, and I’d love to know what you think.
What the eco friendly kitchen makeover video is about
The video opens with a woman saying her kitchen has basic appliances which are probably contributing to high electricity bills.
A company helps and her fridge, dishwasher and stove are replaced with new energy-efficient ones, and she’s also given new cookware, bamboo towels and cutting board, and CFL light bulbs.
The video ends with the woman talking about how much she’s going to save, and how she can definitely use the extra money.
What’s good about the video
- There is advice on the correct temperature setting for the fridge, how most energy for the dishwasher is used in heating the water, and that better-insulated ovens save energy because the food cooks quicker.
- There’s also another green tip about bringing your own re-usable shopping bags with you each time you buy food.
- The homeowners are advised to call a company to recycle their old appliances.
- The video is raising awareness that you can save money by saving energy.
Why I am uncomfortable with the video
1. I don’t want to give any more money than I have to, to utility companies. But it doesn’t make financial sense to spend money to buy brand new appliances in order to save a much smaller amount of money on energy.
2. There isn’t a word about why it’s good for the environment and good for our health to reduce energy consumption. And the homeowners had no idea what their current appliances cost them in terms of energy bills, so highlighting the savings seemed a little pointless.
3. All of the original appliances were in good working order. But they weren’t “shiny” and “new”, nor did they “look good” as the video emphasised. They were replaced.
And that’s my biggest issue with the video.
By continually buying new “stuff” we keep on using more and more non-renewable resources and creating more pollution.
When it’s time to replace an appliance, definitely buy an energy-efficient model.
But throwing out working appliances – even if they do get recycled – and spending lots of money on new ones in order to save a little on energy bills is not logical, not financially sound, and it’s definitely not green.
What do you think?
Is it wrong that a green video promotes “buy new and be green”? Or should we be glad that companies are actively raising awareness of green living and reducing energy consumption, because anything promoting saving is good?
Let me know in the Comments below.
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I agree with you. There is no reason to toss out something that still works. If the main complaint was that the appliances didn’t look good there are ways to paint and change the appearance that would have saved them from being dumped. If they could afford to upgrade to more energy efficient, then the old appliances should have been donated. When you are looking at the footprint of a home there are bigger places to start. Insulation in the attic and walls, sealing up windows etc. This is where most of our energy wastes are from, not the appliances. If we learn to use things more efficiently they won’t be as wasteful. Keep the fridge and freezer full, do less laundry, hang it to dry. You would see a bigger savings there as well to replacing kitchen appliances.
Hi Lois, you’re absolutely right – and that’s one of the nice things about being green, there’s always something else to do to improve how we live (and not by buying new!). I know you espouse simple living in your blog and I enjoy your articles. Thanks for commenting!
Agreed. Throwing out working items for new, makes no sense in and of itself. I also noted that you said they used bamboo towels. Besides replacing perfectly good towels, bamboo fabric often using very harsh chemicals to make it soft. My understanding is that is great for things like flooring, but fabrics have more issues. It certainly does grow fast.
Is there a link to the video that I missed?
Hi Paul, thanks for stopping by and I’m glad you agree about replacing working equipment!
Yes, bamboo uses harsh chemicals to soften the bamboo and make it malleable enough to make into fabric. Cotton and many other “natural” materials do too. It’s an issue. Also, sometimes forest is cleared to make way for bamboo crops. Bamboo isn’t perfect, and the video didn’t mention is the bamboo towels were certified organic (I suspect not). Very few materials are perfectly eco friendly, unfortunately! But as you say, at least bamboo grows quickly and can easily be grown without pesticides and fertilizers.
No, I didn’t like to link to the video, but it’s easy enough to find with keywords in YouTube, you didn’t miss anything!
I’m like you … I have a problem with tossing out usable items to replace them with new ones, even when the new ones are energy-efficient. The truth is that even the shiny new “green” appliances take resources to build … and not all the materials are Eco-friendly. The energy-savings are a part of the decision to buy “new” but one must also consider other things. I found it interesting that they replaced cookware, towels, etc. Again, it seems wasteful to replace usable items when it isn’t necessary. Here’s another consideration … focusing on the money that a homeowner can save might entice people to take the greener option but, it moves us away from going green because it’s the right thing to do. In the end, I view the commercial for exactly what it is … a companies effort to increase their sales by capitalizing on our societies current interest in Eco-friendly ideas. I’d be so much happier if they focused their efforts on helping us live green as a lifestyle … and not just to sell this year’s model!
Thanks Small, I appreciate your comments. I try to be fair and see the opposing points of view, but throwing out working appliances just doesn’t make any sense from any perspective and definitely not from the green point of view. I know companies are in business to make a profit, but sometimes I find it hard to see their ethics. The trouble is, a “buy, buy, buy” message is so much more appealing to many, than to live green because it’s the right thing to do. Which I suppose is why so many people don’t want do what’s best for the planet – and for all of us.
But we’ll keep on spreading the word!