America’s Obsession With Ice
Maybe it’s because it is the end of summer … but I have been thinking about the obsession American’s have with ice, and the amount of energy it requires to make all that ice. We pay lip-service to conservation in the U.S. but we don’t do anything about it … really, we don’t.
Have you ever thought about the enormous amount of constant energy needed to keep all of the ice machines operating in supermarkets, homes, hotels, public buildings and 7-11s so we can pile our glasses high with ice for cold drinks? Good grief … it must take thousands of tons of clean-burning dirty coal.
My wife and I drink water … not sodas, iced tea or anything else. Just pure water. We filter Washington’s tap water in hopes of removing the swampy taste but we like just water at room temperature. It’s the perfect drink with good food.
It’s another story when we dine out at a restaurant. Servers (is that what they’re called today?) fill glasses with ice water and loads of ice cubes. It’s a compulsive gesture at eating places only in America. (Even in the dead of winter, restaurants gotta pile drinks with lots of ice.) Then, they always ask if we’ll be having anything to drink. When we respond that we would like room temperature water with no ice … and maybe a slice of lemon, they look at us like we are a couple of troglodytes.
I don’t know why but drinking icy cold beverages detracts and smothers the taste of food. Ice messes with your taste buds, I guess. That could be a blessing in many (most?) restaurants where food quality is marginal. But, the fact is that really good food tastes better with room temperature water. Besides, drinking room temperature might conserve a lump of coal.
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It’s so interesting that you bring this up. I recently had the pleasure of vacationing in Costa Rica. I found it so odd that restaurants used ice so sparingly … even watching as bartenders made frozen drinks with water and very little ice.
Sadly, it didn’t occur to me while there that using only a small amount of ice makes perfect sense for a country known for its green practices.
I grew up with ice. My parents are “over icers,” and I have fond memories of my uncle going the extra mile and asking for extra ice. Maybe it’s time to rethink this ice obsession!
Kim,
Interesting point. Same thing in Europe and most other places in the world – ice is used sparingly or not at all. Emphasis on good-tasting food, instead.
Maybe we should launch a movement to get America out of the ice age … or something?
David
So true! It is said that drinking beverages close to your body temp with meals is better for digestion. I had not thought about the energy required to manufacture ice. Great post. We all need to think about the true cost of things.
While I agree with you about the room temperature water, which is a European tradition, I think water in its purest form does not need lemon or anything else. If you drink a glass of truly purified water (i.e. water that has gone through a process called reverse osmosis) it will taste the way nature intended it to be.
My friend has a system installed at her home from PureOFlow. The system itself uses no electricity (to your point about heavy consumption). I also noticed that the ice machine runs better because it doesn’t get clogged up anymore by hardness and salts that she used before with a water softener. In fact, her electricity bill is lower. I am in the process of getting one too after seeing her results. The whole house water purification system is sold at http://www.pureoflow.com by a Las Vegas based company but they have dealers throughout the U.S.
Gotta remain cool for the summer with some good fresh new ice drinks. These points are great and I just hope everybody stays nicely hydrated with good clean clean ice in their favorite drink and celebrate how great life is! To good health!