Thrift, a source of renewable energy

I just listened to the most recent podcast from INside Renewable energy. Stephen Lacey talks to Shopping GoLightly over at The Thrifty Chicks Blog. Mr Lacey refers to reusing products as a source of renewable energy because it draws more use out of the embodied energy of the product. I really like that idea. It is similar to Amory Lovins concept of negaWatts, the energy that becomes available simply through efficiency improvements.

I still believe we should try to do without first but when you do have a genuine need for something try a thrift store first. I've long been enamored of thrift stores and try to shop there first when I'm in need of some consumer good. Quite often I will wait to buy a product until I can buy it used.

At The Thrifty Chicks you can join the movement for a National Thrift Store Month or learn how to convert from the retail mindset to the Zen of thrift. Check em out.

Here is an excerpt from the The Thrifty Chicks post on the podcast;

"Lacey spoke with Golightly about the energy savings in thrift shopping and the lack of US regulation on what defines a product as “Green,” similar to the situation in a few years back when faced with the need to formally define what is Organic.

We are honored Lacey picked up our message that thrift shopping has a significant energy savings and hope this is integrated into the national dialog on energy conservation. We also hope that there will be more education brought to light on how consumers can reduce their carbon footprints through daily shopping behavior.

In Golightly’s dream world, just as the FDA regulates food, there would be a carbon cost value assigned to durable goods to help consumers make educated choices. Given the knowledge and the choice, would you, as a consumer buy a pair of jeans that had a high carbon cost or a low carbon cost? We are purchasing products today without that knowledge. Isn’t this something consumers should know?

We need sum honest edge-yoo-muh-kay-shun! Cuz we sure ain't got none now!"