Comments:

Teaspout - 2007-10-19 10:53:40
Ypsi-Dixit, Is candlelight friendlier for the environment? I am asking this question seriously. I really don't know. Thanks for any "light" you can shed on this matter.
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Teaspout - 2007-10-19 14:08:18
I see that it depends on the type of candles. For "green" candles you need those locally made from local beeswax, as they use renewable materials and incur little transport cost. Do you know where such candles could be obtained?
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maryd - 2007-10-20 09:52:17
Ypsi Food Coop sells excellent beeswax candles
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Ypsidixit - 2007-10-21 00:07:56
I apologize, Teaspout: I was really busy at work during a hand-off time this weekend and I didn't see your question till today.

Your question prompted me to do a bit of research. I found that beeswax candles from a Michigan maker are pricey: $87 per 24. They burn more slowly than traditional candles, but it seems to me they'd still add up to more than my usual $40-$50 monthly electric bill.

I also thought that anything in the environment is fair game. That environment includes my beloved Value World. They have candles. Lots and lots of them, priced usually at something like a buck for 6 or so. I buy candles there every time I go (about once a month). I scored some awesome twirly gold candles there last time. And we ate dinner tonight by the light of two red candles from VW. If you factor in VW candles, you might be getting close to beating the electric bill, for evening illumination.
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Teaspout - 2007-10-21 19:37:03
YpsiDixit, Thanks for the help. I will indeed pick up some candles from the Co-Op and Value World. I'll also try Recycle Ann Arbor when I'm there next and A2 PTO Thrift. I love the idea of candlelit evenings. They always make me think of a young Abe Lincoln reading into the night by candlelight. I also have one of those hand crank radios and so will even be able to listen to the BBC World Service without as high of a carbon footprint.
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Lisele - 2007-10-23 09:55:56
Ahhh, my sustainable friends. I am harvesting beeswax with my solar melter with the very project of making some lovely candles. My solar melter works very poorly, however. Maybe one of you would like to make me a better one, for which I'll pay you in candles! Get to work!!!! Lash, lash, lash! Must include a strainer to weed out dead bees, pollen & junk. I understand burlap works well for this purpose.
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Lisele - 2007-10-23 09:59:24
Of course, I understand some of my sustainable friends are very busy on this day. I believe it will turn out to be a very beautiful and memorable day, tho with a rainy start. We had a day like that, almost 20 years ago -- rainy, but turned out LOVELY. I wish you the same luck with the project that we've had: a joyful and mutual project that I've never regretted undertaking!
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Ypsidixit - 2007-10-24 08:33:10
Lisele: Thank you for your kindest of wishes. 20 years--how wonderful. It was indeed a memorable day. I especially like your use of the word "joyful." :)

As for candles, well, hmm--are you opposed to using electricity at all? Because I have the heating part and the glass lid part (though not the ceramic insert part) of a crock pot that has "Low" and "High" settings. It works great--I just managed to break the ceramic part. Would you have any use for that? You could likely find another ceramic or metal insert to put in there to melt things. Caveat: this is an off-label use for this product and could be wildly dangerous.
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Ypsidixit - 2007-10-24 08:35:17
Teaspout, that sounds like a lovely evening. Candles do add so much atmosphere and peace to a room, don't they? I have some lovely wall sconces from an estate sale that look so pretty with candles burning in them. And provides lots of light during outages--so much I'm really not inconvenienced at all.
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