So I’m at a different location today for work, and I’m out in the kitchenette warming up my lunch in the radioactive detonator. I wander over to the soda machine (not owned by my employer) and see a sign on it that is telling me that the lighting & cooling on the machine is turned off in order to save energy and help save the environment; but don’t worry, this doesn’t affect the quality of the product, and you’ll get used to it over time.
Eh, I can appreciate wanting to save energy and all that. Then I look at the price.
$1.40!?!?!
Now I know part of the price premium we willingly pay to a vending machine is the convenience of being able to get a drink without having to carry it around (thus we are paying extra for the transport, loading, and maintenance of the product & machine). Sure, a bottle of soda from the store is cheaper (or it used to be), but it’s a hassle to carry around all the soda you might drink in a day. But another part of the cost is the fact that I want a cold soda!  If the machine is not lit or running the reefer, then its operating and maintenance costs are lower, I should get a discount!
Nope, I get to pay the same. For the privilege of drinking a soda from an Eco-Friendly machine?
It’s possible that this machine, unplugged as it is, and offering warm sodas, is being used in violation of your bosses’ agreement with the machine supplier. Get the supplier info off of it and drop a dime.
Diet soda needs to be refrigerated if it sits for a long time, as aspartame will degrade into formaldehyde at room temperature.
Not a safe practice.
Mmmmm formaldehyde…