apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Out of that list... the only things that I actually have are a cell phone, iPod, computer, and internet! The boyfriend has a car and a tv, but we're pretty minimal and quite happy that way!

I'd say I only 'need' 5 of those items - car, landline phone, cell, home computer and internet access. The rest I live without already!

Great list and interesting how most results have dropped by quite a lot in the past few years.

I just read something that said microwaves use less energy than the stove and that we should use them more. I thought i read that on here...I guess not.

Some other source:

http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/cooking.html

Hmm, I have everything on that list except a dryer, but there's one in the laundry room for my apartment complex. iPod is certainly a luxury, but I've invested in ipod docks and systems for my house and car, so it's become a necessity :)

i have everything on that list except a landline and AC.

I have no use for a land line. I really want some AC but my ipod and plasma rate and cable a hell of a lot higher then a land land and clothes dryer.

The only things on the list that I NEED:
Computer
High speed internet
Phone (cell or landline, i don't care)

We don't need a car for personal use, but since my husband is an chauffeur, we sort of have to have one anyway. I don't drive it, haven't driven in years. Fortunately, Lima has lots of public transport.

I don't have a microwave right now, but it would sure make life easier, what with my husband's weird work hours.

Likewise, the clothes dryer - I'd like to get one that runs on propane. Summer is fine, but we have 7 months of cool fog that make drying clothes a 3 day job. I've had to throw things in the oven more than once to quick dry. Or iron.

I could easily live with out the tv - but I think my kids would ardently disagree. :D

And a dishwasher? That's what the kids are for ;)

I hardly have anything on this list. I feel as though I "need" my computer and internet, and I have a cell phone instead of a land line. I have an ipod, but I don't need it. I got it for free. But I do love it. :)

We have a car (just one for the two of us), a clothes dryer, a computer, internet and cell phones (they are also ipods.) However, I don't think that they are absolutely necessary.

Housing, clothing, water and food are needs, not the things on the list above. Everything on this list is a luxury.

I don't feel like I need any of the things I have but they are a matter of convenience so I hang onto them. But if my car broke down and was impossible to repair, I wouldn't get a new one. I have some of the things on that list and I'll just hang onto them until the end of their life. No need to chuck stuff for the sake of not having them.

I don't have a car because public transit is good where I live. I started needing to use ZipCar almost 2 years ago for once a month trips for volunteer work, but I try to carpool when I can.

I don't have a land line at this apartment and don't miss it.

I have a washer and dryer in my apartment. I line dry as much as I can but it gets challenging because I have a small apartment and many pets. It can be frustrating to have clean clothes that are already covered in fur by the time that they dry :-)

I have a window A/C unit in my bedroom that I run for maybe 30 minutes to an hour a day during the summer right when I go to sleep. My electric bill isn't any higher in the summer, so I think that I must balance it out with using the dryer and stove less whenever I need the A/C. I am curious if I will still "need" A/C once I stop working in an office job that is so cold in the summers that I wear 2 sweaters and still freeze. I think that keeps my body from tolerating the heat as much.

I have a TV and cable. My TV was purchased used in 2002 and isn't a flat screen or anything fancy. I don't plan to replace it because the newer TVs actually use more energy. I'll do more research if it ever breaks, but I hope that it lasts many more years. My internet is through my cable company and the cable is only $15. My internet would be $10 more per month if I didn't have cable, so I figure that $5 a month is an okay expense. I did get rid of the TV that was in my bedroom last year because it was finally breaking after 12 years.

I also have a microwave. Since my stove is electric, it can be very inefficient to heat up water using the stovetop. I unplug it whenever I'm not using it though, and I have been surprised how much electricity that seems to save. Again, I might make a different choice should this microwave break. I don't see any need to get rid of something useful that is in fine working condition though.

I don't have a dishwasher but would love one if I lived in a place with the space. Washing dishes is my least favorite chore.

My portable music player isn't an iPod, but I have looked into getting one eventually so that I can have a dock and listen to music instead of always having the TV playing. The constant noise from my neighbors is upsetting if there isn't something to drown it out.

My home computer is a used one that I got from my last job. I am in IT, so I'm good at making computer equipment last a long time.

I wonder what the % change for scotch would be...