Let Go of the Machine

We know there must be a few of you left who still have those old-fashioned answering machines -- you know, the ones with the tape? It turns out that if all answering machines were replaced with voice mail services, the annual energy savings would total nearly two billion kilowatt-hours.¹ There are a myriad of voice-mail choices online, even ones that will deliver your voice message to you in an email.

¹ 50 Ways to Help Save the Planet

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Comments

[Barbara Mathieson]

I don't know why anyone still needs a landline phone. Get a cell phone. Use cable or DSL for internet.

[Becky]

shouldn't a person continue to use their tape machine until it no longer works? if everyone just throws out their machine, doesn't that contribute to landfills?

[Dan]

Cost is a big issue here (including Barbara's comment above). We pay about $21 per month for landline phone services, and we use an answering machine so we don't have to pay extra for voice mail. That's for three people.

[Joan Porter]

I will continue to use my old fashion answering machine and have chosen instead to have only a landline phone, no cell stuff for me. The cell phones are more of a problem for disposal than any answering machine could ever be.

[Diane]

I don't understand this tip. Why do answering machines use a lot of energy? Are you talking about all answering machines, or just the old kind?

[Pamela]

If we could get mandatory recycling all over the US, it would help so much--in HI you can be fined if you put recycle in the trash. The problem is that having the money to be wasteful is still seen as affluence rather than waste. The tips I already knew but it's helpful to see the data of how much is saved when I do each thing--an encouragement that keeps us committed. With proper care, cell phones do not need replaced so often --all of mine have lasted more than 4 years. Everyone, remember, each small effort you make, pays off--thank you.

[Casey McCarty]

My first response was: "What total malarkey!" "Two Billion kilowatts a year." Do you realize if everyone on the planet, 6.5 billion, had one of these machines that this would result in the machines using 300 watts a year?" And then I checked by machine which read .5 watts or 12 watts a day or 43 kilo watts. HOLY MOLY! Of course this is for a phone system and answering machine but then my all IC. And then I realized how few tape based answering machines are left and they only draw while operating and I had to repeat loudly "Malarkey", Malarkey, MALARKEY!

[Bridget]

This tip does not acknowledge the minimal cost of electricity versus the much higher cost of voice messaging services, which is a big reason why many people have answering machines that use tape or are digital - to save money.
And there are still good reasons to use a landline - not to mention avoiding any possible risks from long-term cell phone use (besides the annoyance of their existence in the first place) - in case of an emergency, the emergency services can locate you quicker and with more accuracy than if you were to call from a cell phone because your landline is hooked directly into the "Grid."

[Dee]

I have only a cell now but have had many problems with reception and when the contract expires on 5/12/09, I will get a landline and an answering machine as well as a limited cell. I've seen news stories about people who have only voicemail. They were targets for criminals who tapped into their lines to make tons of international calls at the owner's expense. D

[carol]

If the electricity is out and you cell is dead, a corded phone (ooooo OLD) on those old land lines still works. I like knowing I can call emergency services without worrying about recharging my cell. Besides, those old corded land line phones last FOREVER. I could probably will them to my heirs and not feel guilty. Plus it's much harder for someone to use your account without your permission.

Yes, I've got a cell. But it pretty much stays in the car, where I can use it when I'm not home.

[Sara]

I love the 50 Ways to Help. I'll be sending one tip each day to my company's staff e-mail grouping!

[sam]

Are the newer digital answering machines more energy efficient? I actually have both a digital answering machine and a mailbox because I work from home.