|
|
The U.S. is "going green" and trying to become "energy independent", but recently a lot of things have been failing. The blender less than a year old, the portable vacuum cleaner, a two-year-old radio, the coffee maker, among others. The DVD player was recalled because it might catch fire. When I look for replacements, it seems like 3/4 of the products out there have countless reviews saying that they are dangerous, poorly designed, or fail soon after being purchased. What does this have to do with "going green" or energy efficiency? Everything. Many of these trash-like products are manufactured in Asia or Central America, then transported by ship and truck to stores across the United States - consuming countless barrels of oil. Except for the few who live close enough to walk there, people use more fuel to drive to the stores and buy these products, all to have such items end up in a landfill after only a few weeks or months of use. Not only is a great deal of energy used to transport the products, but to manufacture them in the first place. So many are made out of plastic, which is produced using oil. All of these factories, ships, and trucks make plenty of pollution as well. If a vacuum cleaner or a DVD player cost somewhat more but was made to last ten, twenty, perhaps thirty years (as many of their predecessors did), there would be much less energy wasted and less pollution generated. What would be even better is if things like computers, TVs, coffee makers, and blenders were still manufactured domestically, as they once were. Then no one would have to transport these products overseas, they wouldn't be exposed to as much damage in shipping, and they would be of better quality. More people could have jobs and be able to afford quality products. There would be a lot less coming into landfills and out of exhaust pipes. That would truly be "Going Green".
|