Anybody have any ideas about what actually should constitute the basics of a good "green" vacuum cleaner?

I was checking out the Eureka Envirovac's ad claims and specs -- plus some not so favorable customer reviews today. They got me thinking.

Eureka claims that it's Envirovac's 800-watt motor uses less power than the 1200-watt vacuums now quite common on the market. We've had a long run of vacuum cleaners that have served us well using well under 800 watts for many years. So what's the difference?

Is it possible that an efficient 1200-watt vacuum may help get my work finished faster and even out the power consumption question by way of shorter use time? Also keep in mind that the whole issue of a vacuum cleaner's power consumption is highly debatable. Over a year, power used for vacuuming no where near matches the amount of draw by refrigerators, electric ranges and high heat producing appliances within the same span of time.

Better bagged and bagless vacuums do use final filtering medium that may prove a noticeable hit on the wallet if not our ecology. Dumping a dirt bin or water-pan in some ways may lend to saving on what you'd pay for bags although the variable there may hang upon size and price. We use far more paper and plastic by way of other household disposables like diapers and personal paper goods.

The few matters mentioned are just the tip of the iceberg when considering the total question. Maybe an ecologically beneficial vacuum cleaner, or any other appliance for that matter, can be more "green" by way of potential longevity and easy repairability. Biodegradable, recyclable, whatever -- brands and models we've seen endure and provide useful service over long periods of time may be the greenest cleaning machines we'll know by reason of less need for replacement. How do we keep that in the mix while moving ahead?

Venson

Thanks for the article Carmine. I'm glad to learn of something beneficial that the broader public can benefit from. Not meaning to play favorites but Whirlpool, for one, has always been a favorite of mine by way of its production of not necessarily the fanciest but quite solid, efficient and better-priced home appliances. (If you think I have problems about 1500-buck vacuums you ought to see me when it comes to dishwashers.)

I'll be curious to see how much new ground is broken in regard to energy efficient appliances in the near future.

Venson

Hi Venson:

HOOVER/TTA has already started to display the energy star for its products on its Web Site.

Carmine D.

Platinum Cordless System with LiNX Technology

LiNX cordless products from the Hoover Platinum Collection are the first cordless cleaning tools that utilize 18 volt, interchangeable Lithium-Ion batteries. The Platinum Collection Stick Vacuum uses Hoover's Patented WindTunnel™ Technology combined with bagless, cyclonic filtration to provide the performance of an upright on hard floors with cordless convenience.* The Platinum Collection Hand Vacuum enjoys a 2X longer runtime.** Lithium Ion technology provides fade-free power and a battery fuel gauge shows remaining battery life. With a quick, three hour charge time and an environmentally-friendly Energy Star rating, the LiNX Cordless System is truly the future of cordless cleaning!

* on hard floors Per ASTM F2607

* * as tested per ELTP-002 against a leading competitive lithium-ion cordless hand vac

  What is Energy Star?

The Europeans are way beyond us in recycling old appliances.   Although this refers to Dyson, it apparently applies to all European manufacturers:  http://www.dyson.co.uk/support/weee.asp

What is WEEE?

The WEEE Directive is a European law, which came into force in the UK on 1st July 2007. It's designed to reduce the amount of WEEE going into landfill. This means that all manufacturers like Dyson will be responsible for the disposal of old electrical goods in an environment friendly way.

Dyson and WEEE

To emphasise our commitment to recycling and the WEEE initiative, Dyson are offering you the chance to recycle your old vacuum cleaner when you buy a new Dyson upright or cylinder from our web shop at www.dyson.co.uk. When placing an order for your new Dyson vacuum cleaner, all you need to do is let us know that you would like us to collect your old vacuum cleaner no matter what the make. Dyson can collect (from UK mainland only) your old cleaner free of charge and dispose of it in an environmentally friendly way. It really is that simple.

---

WEEE Directive FAQ

What does the WEEE directive mean?

The WEEE directive is a European law to minimise the impact of electrical and electronic goods on the environment by requiring the re-use and recycling of waste, so that the amount of WEEE going into landfill is reduced dramatically.

How will the WEEE directive work?

All producers, like Dyson, will be responsible for the disposal of end of life electrical goods in an environmentally friendly way.

When does it come into effect?

It comes into effect on 1st July 2007. It has been phased into other European countries over the last 2 years or so.

Why is this happening?

Over our lifetime each one of us throws away on average 3.3 tonnes of electrical goods. To preserve our environment we need to look at ways of becoming more sustainable.

What is Dyson doing towards this?

We are part of the largest alliance scheme called REPIC (Recycling Electrical Producers Industry Consortium). REPIC is helping us and most other major electrical manufacturers to achieve the WEEE objectives, and if you purchase a Dyson directly from us we can collect your old one and recycle this for you.

What do I have to do?

Nothing at the moment. It just means that when the time comes to renew your vacuum cleaner you can take your old one to a designated collection facility in your area for recycling, or if you purchase a Dyson directly from us we will collect your old one and recycle it for you.

What do I do with my old Dyson?

You can take it to your nearest designated collection facility, or if you purchase a new machine directly from Dyson we can make arrangements to collect your old one when we deliver your new machine.

Hi Severus,

We'll be hard-pressed to find the same in many places here.

Just about to praise my local PC Richards & Sons which makes a practice of removing old large appliances from your home when delivering new ones. I just checked in with that department at my local store. It turns out that your old, range, fridge, whatever, merely ends up in a dump in New Jersey. So much for progress.

Best,

Venson

Hence the reason the rest of the peoples of the world called Americans wasteful!

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:
I find that issue very important. I'm told that if the rest of the world were to consume on the same level as we, we'd need five more planets to accommodate the waste and pollution. This may make some shrug, but other parts of the world live way less large than many of our lesser funded citizens here. The expansion of industry all round the world makes me wonder how long it will be before mandatory recycling rules will have to be put in place worldwide.

PC Richards' pick-up policy is good for sales I'm sure. Being an apartment dweller and having not the slightest idea as to how to easily dispose of a dead refrigerator, the store's offer clinched the sale. However, I never once thought to ask where my old fridge was going.

Venson

Venson wrote:

Hello Venson:

Perhaps some of these issues will find their own solution.  Hardcopy newspapers, once thought to be the products that would eventually deplete the country's entire supply of forests, are no longer as relied upon by daily readers as TV and on-line news.  So at least for now the forests are safe. 

Carmine D.

The next major breakthrough in vacuum cleaners will be their composition.  The plastic housings and components will be replaced by a material that is just as strong, durable and more eco friendly.  Probably a material already in use for some time in the NASA space program. 

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:

And we all know that the government is not wasteful.  Always looking for ways to save.  

Absolutely HS.  'Green' as in dollars.  Medicaid has bankrupt the states, Medicare will be bankrupt in 8 years, and Social Security soon thereafter according to current predictions.  The cash for clunkers funded with $3 BILLION in taxpayer money will end on Monday at 8 PM and only $143 MILLION has been paid out to the dealers who rebated cash under the program.  Over 50 percent of the applications have been returned to the car dealers by the Transportation Department, which hired 1000 new Federal employees to process the paperwork 24/7.   And Obama Care is headed for a cliff if both Democrats and Republicans who are listening to their constituents [with an eye on the 2010 elections] have their way.  No wonder we say 'In God we trust' not in Government we trust.

Carmine D.