Actually, it
is true. Handwashing dishes uses more energy and water. Of course, if your water is solar heated then you're reducing some of that energy, so maybe you're breaking even more and you simply lose time.
Additionally, I dislike microwaves because they destroy the nutritional value of the foods. It will often depend on which foods. Meats are mostly fine, but that's about it.
I understand conservation and have used it a good part of my life. But, even conserving, there are many cases when prices will go up and what we consider unfeasible will quickly become feasible. This last year, when oil rose quickly, while the price of oil only doubled, my electric bill almost quadrupled.
Additionally, sometimes you can only conserve so much. It's hot. And humid. At some point, enough is enough and that air conditioner has to come on. Since we've been married, my wife and I have tried to keep the thermostat almost to the extremes. either wear more clothes or shed clothes. Well, in the summer you can only shed so much before your neighbors call the cops. But most importantly, we have a new addition. We can't swing to extremes now. We have to look at what the wisest course is for the safety of the infant.
Granted . . the situation is temporary, but events can conspire to run those prices up where it's no longer hands down cheapest to run off the grid. Studying; preparing ahead of time means that while you're having fun, you're also laying the groundwork for the future.
It's why, like in a post above, I'm thinking, strategizing, learning, and ditching things as I go, constantly modifying my ideas as I find out what others have done. Of course, with everything else that's going on, I just can't afford to do anything major either <wink>.