From amergina@dementia.org Tue Nov 28 14:00:55 2000 Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2000 12:09:13 -0500 (EST) From: Ann Laurel Kopchik Subject: Re: DOE to outlaw our washing machines?? (clipped to: list to only send this to people I know.) Actually, front loading washing machines do use less energy, water, and clean clothes better... A quick browse over to sears.com shows that you can buy a front-loader for between 650 and 800 dollars. Granted, top-loaders can be less expensive (they run between 230 and 1250), but there is currently more demand for top-loaders, so more selection, better competition, and lower prices... but 700 *more* for a front loader than a top-loader? bah! the woman in the article must have been looking at the super-high-end model. Kinda like bitching that a BMW is more expensive than a Honda... Also, I tend to trust Ms. Schlafly as far as I can throw her. This is the woman who once claimed that the metric system was less accurate than the english system. I'm not fond of looney right-wingers any more than I'm fond of looney left-wingers. The press release says nothing about removing top-loaders, just making washing machines more energy efficient. The actual proposed standards can be found at: http://frwbgate4.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/waisgate.cgi?WAISdocID=28678744+4+0+0&WAISaction=retrieve From that document: "We are currently establishing a new energy efficiency standard for clothes washers that will amend the standards set in 1994. When today's proposed standards go into effect, they will essentially require more efficient Standard class clothes washers. The efficiency levels can be met by either top or front loading machines." It goes on to explain that the proposed efficiency standards are not expected to cause consumers to loose features they value in washing machines and that consumers will sill be able to buy top loaders (as well as front loaders). Sorry about ranting back, but I have "fiscally conservative, but otherwise moderate democrat" as a background option, and I rolled open-ended down today on "resist responding to blown-out-of-proportion right-wing-hysteria" -Ann