[Greenbuilding] Debunking Energy Efficency + Thots on Microwave Ovens

[Mary Bull - Greenwood Earth Alliance]

Maize
Greetings, Greenbuilders,

Thank you all for the valuable input--it will help inform our decision re
woodburning cookstoves, etc. I am in the process of carefully re-reading
every email--and if people have more to add, I welcome it!

A quick thought on energy efficiency for your consideration:

I question the whole Energy Efficiency as God thing. Not wasting energy is
an appealing notion, but does it really come close to solving the problem?
Monbiot shows that energy efficiency historically leads to the generation
and consumption of more energy. There's actually a "law" named after the
researchers who proved this. So then, why should energy efficiency be our
primary (often stand-alone) criteria--? So what if a thing is not the most
energy efficient, if it does not destroy resources, generate CO2 and other
harmful bi-products, nor have other attendant detrimental effects, AND you
are left with enough renewable energy to cover your needs???

Microwaves

In the course of this thread, Lawrence mentioned that microwave oven would
be a more energy-efficient back-up than an electric hot plate....
I know that microwaves are supposedly the most energy efficient way to
heat/cook food, but the way they heat is by tearing apart molecules, whereas
conventional heating simply animates molecules. This tearing apart of
molecules supposedly detrimentally affects nutrition and possibly generates
other health issues; a lot of people are extremely wary of it. I am not sure
if there have actually been tests/studies one way or the other (there are
deadly chemicals in use that have never been tested--so
no-conclusive-testing is not a criterion that we should use to assume
something is safe), but I have read some convincing articles on the Internet
that have turned me off to them, and have met a lot of people whom I
respect--like our designer/builder--who recommend NOT using them. I have
never owned one. Thoughts?

Cheers and Thanks,

Mary

Mary Bull, Co-director
Greenwood Earth Alliance, Save the Redwoods - Boycott the Gap Campaign
252 Frederick, San Francisco, CA 94117 http://www.gapsucks.org
Chalice Farm and Sustainable Living Center, 748 Montgomery Rd, Sebastopol CA
95472
415-731-7924 - 415-509-1188 chalicenew at earthlink.net