Products vs Services

"We need to stop using machines to do what we can do as people."

This is so true.  Most of us consume 1500 to 2000 calories per day in order to operate a machine that uses even more energy.

The man with a leaf blower (resource intensive) can accomplish more faster than a man with a broom (labor intensive) but when you factor in the cost and associated pollution though the entire life cycle of the leaf blower: design, prototypes, production, shipping (from China), fuel, disposal, etc, vs what it takes to make a broom is it really saving anyone anything?  That man with the leaf blower is still going to consume roughly the same number of calories as the man with the broom.  (Sorry but pushing a broom dosent make a big difference in metabolism).  The leaf blower is going to consume more energy in the long run and should in a balanced system that reflects actual costs be the more expensive option. 

Its going to take someone with more "fu" then I to explain where the disconnect happened.

ReThink This.

The next time you have something thats busted, say a pair of shoes, consider how much it costs to get a new pair of shoes (the resource intensive choice) vs how much it costs to have your shoes fixed (the labor intensive choice)?  Dont forget to add in the time you are going to spend driving to the shoe store, trying on different shoes vs. the time it takes to drop off your shoes at a repair shop.  In the current economy with unemployment so very very high, how far are you willing to go to save resources and put people to work?  Is it worth equal amounts?  Would you pay $20 to have a pair of shoes fixed that would cost you $20 to replace?  If social good and environmental preservation are a priority, it might even be worth more to have the shoes fixed rather than buy a new pair of shoes.  Would you pay $30 to have a $20 pair of shoes fixed just to keep food on a neighbor's table and to keep those shoes out of the land fill and avert the toxins created when new shoes are made?

Today's challenge is to come up with a personal bench mark.  Decide what you are willing to spend: 75%, 100% or even 125%  to know when to you should choose the labor intensive choice over the resources intensive choice.  You need to factor in your commitment, personal ethics and financial situation.  Even once you have made your choice, always do a reality check.  If the new item is going to represent an energy savings or pollution reduction, like a new fridge or more efficient car, you might want to buck your bench mark and invest in the more efficient choice.