Trashing the Fridge

FOR the last two years, Rachel Muston, a 32-year-old information-technology worker for the Canadian government in Ottawa, has been taking steps to reduce her carbon footprint. About a year ago, she decided to “go big” in her effort to be more environmentally responsible, decoded tp unplugged her refrigerator. For good. [snip]

As drastic as the move might seem, a small segment of the green movement has come to regard the refrigerator as an unacceptable drain on energy, and is choosing to live without it. In spite of its ubiquity — 99.5 percent of American homes have one — these advocates say the refrigerator is unnecessary, as long as one is careful about shopping choices and food storage.

“It seems wasteful to me to use even an Energy Star-rated fridge,” she said, “because I’m getting along fine without one.”

“I could drop the refrigerator completely if I had a milkman,” ... I might eventually try it again if I ever figure out the milk situation.”


In the end she compromised and bought a minifridge.

[meanwhile, the adults point out;]

“The refrigerator was a smart advance for society,” said Gretchen Willis, 37, a mother of four in Arlington, Tex., who recently read about the practice on a popular eco-themed blog, thecrunchychicken.com, and was astounded.

Ms. Willis said that she would have to buy more food in smaller quantities because of spoilage, prepare exact amounts because she couldn’t refrigerate leftovers, and make daily trips* to the grocery store...

[*she wouldn't be {gasp} driving to the store would she?]

[Q: how stupid are these folks allowed to become before we're not labeled as 'insensitive' for publicly pointing out that they're idiots {to say nothing of hypocrites}?]

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