GE, getting answers it like pulling teeth

I have sent several e-mails to GE now asking them about how much energy it takes to manufacture one cooler, saying that I was a customer concerned with the total environmental impact of the products I buy, the answers have not been forthcoming. Apparently customer service representatives are not able to gain access to that information, and any details would be considered trade secrets. After 4 e-mails I got them to give me the address of the consumer relations, I am waiting to hear if this has a phone number I can call or an e-mail address. I'll try calling the general number and playing the corporate phone game, questioning them until they at least give me a rough approximation. You think in this energy-conscious age they would be more helpful? So if any one out there has any idea of how much energy it takes to make a freezer please let me know?

My first acquisition

Got my first used item since taking my pledge not to buy anything new for a whole year a chest freezer. Got if off craigslist under free section, might need a little work to get it up and going again but nothing to major. So the savings here should be around $250, not a bad start. I can't find any information online about how much energy and water it takes to make a chest freezer so I'm planning on calling the manufacturer and asking if they have that information publicly available.

Franken-Cycle

*

Have been wanting a zero admissions vehicle for some time now. The idea of not having to be use petrol to zip around town on short trips, which most of mine are, has a great appeal to me. But the cost vs practicality or a new electric scooter I just haven't been able to justify. The Idea of building one myself from junk parts however has great appeal to me. This is how the concept of the Franken-cycle was born. I'm going to try to scrounge up all the parts I need to make one from scratch. If you have any good advice or know were I can get any of the components I need please feel free to comment.

* This is not the actual scooter being converted, I am still working on finding that.

To see what diffrence one person can make

Much to my girlfriends disapproval I am trying out a little experiment I'm going to see if I can go a whole year without purchasing anything new and then seeing how much of an environmental and financial impact it would make. I got the idea after hearing about some people who pledged not to buy anything new for a year. Then I kinda started to think this might actually be doable after seeing several sights such as freecycle.org and craigslist.org were I have already gotten several great things free of charge. The buyers digest and seven day are a couple of free classified publications.
Being the scientist that I am want to calculate the environmental impact I can make. So for each used item I get I will do my best to report how much energy and natural resources it would take to make a new one. Also being the frugal Vermonter that I am I will compeer how much I paid for the item vs how much it cost new. There are going to make be a couple of exceptions to this rule. I will buy anything new that might be gross used, such as used toilet paper, toothbrushes and food. I will however choose to buy bulk and minimal packaging products when economically feasible. I won't by anything used when safety might be concerned such as helmets and safety gear.
I invite you post your comments, join me for a week month year, offer suggestions or just see how much a difference in your life the REUSE of the three r's (reduce, reuse, recycle) makes.

Cheers,
Jordan Couture