Archive for the ‘Technology’ Category
Jul
28
Greening Your Home OfficeIf you get a lot of use out of your home office, chances are it uses up a lot of energy. Here are a few tips and tricks to make your home office more sustainable and eco-friendly.
Use Dropbox to share files and projects. Download the application for free onto your computer and/or smart phone and access your documents and their most recent changes. This is a great way to eliminate unnecessary paper waste! Trade in your planner for a computer or phone organizer. Some great alternatives to paper planners: Google calendar, iCal, Outlook, the Organizer iPhone app, Action Complete for Android. Utilize natural sunlight as much as possible. When you need to turn on a light, screw in an LED lightbulb, which last longer and are much more energy efficient than regular light bulbs. Definitely worth the investment!
If you depend on sticky notes, try the recycled kind. Use biodegradable pens to write on them! Recycle your printer cartridges. Many cartridges come with instructions for recycling on the box. For more information about recycling office supplies, visit Laser-Tone.com. Instead of buying new office furniture, check out used options at cubicledepot.com.
Reduce your energy and your carbon footprint by cutting down on the electricity you use. Keep appliances and electronics that you don’t use often unplugged and only plug them in when you need to use them. When you turn things off, make sure they’re really “off” and not on “standby”–this setting still sucks up energy. Plug your computer and other often-used electronics into a Smart Strip, which monitors energy consumption and cuts off the power supply when your electronics aren’t in use. It’s simple, but effective: keep a receptacle for recyclables in your office. Use Skype or another video-calling service to conduct meetings instead of burning gas to drive to them. Last but not least, eco-friendly and sustainable furniture and accents will complete your space. Don’t forget! There are only a few more days to use the Verde Lifestyles summer coupon code! Use summer2k10 to get 15% off of orders of $100 or more until August 1! This website provides a ton of resources for making just about every aspect of daily life greener.
This website is a great resource for finding recycling programs in your area, as well as news and information on recycling.
Stop by this site if you’re interested in greening real estate! Connect with professionals in multiple related industries, learn about energy-efficient architecture, building materials, appliances, green financing, products, and more!
Use their online map to locate local and organic farmers and farmers’ markets around the country.
Treehugger.com offers you all kinds of options for eco-friendly living and green information.
Jul
10
Green On The GoIt seems like almost everyone owns a smart phone these days. Check out these great (Free!) apps for Apple and Android devices. Greening travel, shopping, and staying up-to-date on green news and trends is now easier and more convenient than ever. Don’t own one of these devices? Keep your eyes open for a post coming soon about green Internet services and applications.
Dropbox: (for both iPhone and Android phones) eliminate the need for printing several versions of a document or making copies by syncing files between multiple computers and devices with this file sharing service. Edit a document on your laptop, save it in your Dropbox folder, and review it on your iPhone or Android phone with the Dropbox app. Use shared folders to collaborate on projects with multiple users or share resources. You can also access your files by signing into your account on the internet. Ecorio: track your carbon footprint with your Android phone as you travel! The app uses GPS to measure your carbon footprint, and can calculate what it would be annually. It even suggests alternatives for making your footprint smaller! Carbon Tracker: similar to Ecorio, and for the iPhone. Track your carbon footprint as you travel and commute, and set goals for maximum carbon emissions each month.
Get Green: another iPhone app, Get Green simply offers you one green tip a day. This is great for people who are just beginning to explore how to green their lifestyle! Juice Defender: allows you to monitor wi-fi connection and power usage on your Android phone, so that your phone takes up less unnecessary energy to operate. Eco Buzz Widget: provides news on the go to your Android phone about green products, trends, and current affairs. AnyStop: this Android app utilizes Google Maps and any GPS information available from public transportation vehicles in most any city. See real-time arrival times for bus stops, bus and train schedules, and more.
GoodGuide: download this app for your iPhone to help you make green, sustainable, and ethical choices while you shop! This app has a database of over 50,000 products and their social/environmental impact so that you can make educated choices about the groceries, clothing, and leisure items that you buy. Have an old cell phone (or three) that you don’t need and don’t know what to do with? Here are some safe, environmentally friendly ways to put your old phone to good use and keep it out of a landfill: -Donate it. Mail your old phone to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. This organization uses the proceeds from selling refurbished cell phones to fund its programs, which include providing cell phones to victims of abuse so that they can call 911 in emergencies. If you mail your phone to Greenphone (the shipping is free, they provide a shipping label), they will repurpose it, or, if they must recycle it, will plant one tree for every phone recycled. Cell Phones For Soldiers sells the phones you donate to Recellular and uses the money to buy calling cards for soldiers overseas. Check in with Call2Recycle to see what programs they offer for you—and your workplace—to keep old batteries and cell phones out of landfills. -Recycle/Repurpose it through the manufacturer or service provider. Most service providers and phone manufacturers how have programs for recycling and/or refurbishing and selling old cell phones. Check with your carrier or the company that made your phone to see what they can do for you. Some are teamed up with charities and nonprofit organizations. -Sell it. If your phone is still functional, sell it to someone who can put it to use. The benefits here are obvious—your gets reused, you get paid, and if you sell it locally you probably won’t have to worry about shipping materials or costs.
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, E-waste is increasing at a rate higher than any other category of municipal waste. Greenversations, the EPA’s official blog, states that the average cell phone is used for only about 1.5 years before it’s replaced. With companies competing to produce smarter, sleeker, more versatile cell phones and cell phone upgrades offered every couple of years upon contract renewal, many of us find ourselves replacing our phones more and more frequently. Add to this the fact that cell phones themselves are often not built to last longer than two years, and it’s no wonder that e-waste is on the rise. A startling statistic from Greenversations: “150 million cell phones are taken out of service each year, if Americans recycled just 2/3 of those cell phones, we could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 630,667 tons of CO2 and save enough energy to power more than 194,000 U.S. homes for a year.” In an attempt to make air, land, and sea green, PlanetSolar is taking environmentally friendly travel to a whole new level. The solar-powered boat will attempt to sail around the globe and expand on energy efficiency to benefit all of civilization. Below is the inspiration and thought behind the project, as well as some details on the world’s first solar-powered boat.
PlanetSolar is a boat covered in multiple photovoltaic solar panels. It will “of impressive proportions, and yet… both silent and clean.” The size and shape are still being determined, but are based on a multitude of factors: “propulsion, solar panel design, energy storage, materials, and the external environment.” Make sure to follow this production, as it is sure to change the green world as we know it!
Have you ever thought about the potential of kinetic energy? Any corner on a busy street could have 50,000 steps a day, imagine if you could use that foot traffic for energy! One such company has taken advantage of our foot traffic, Pavegen Systems Ltd. They install “slabs” on the sidewalk that absorb the kinetic energy created by every footstep and five “slabs” on a busy sidewalk can generate enough energy to illuminate a bus stop throughout the night. But there are so many other applications for kinetic energy! There are dual purpose bikes that can be used for transportation and energy production, rocking chairs that harness energy, even gyms that are powered by exercise equipment, and countless other products that are on the market or soon to be. Here is a sampling of cool products we’ve found that use kinetic energy:
Corky Mouse Generates Kinetic Energy With Every Click
Power Your Music Player With Your Running Pants
Energy Generating Soccer Ball Brings Clean Power to Off-Grid AreasContinuing the theme of home improvement and solar technology, I thought I would focus on solar home improvements! Solar Fountains
They also come in unique styles outside of the standard pedestal style. Some are meant to float in ponds or pools. You can have a solar fountain which doubles as a bird bath or lantern! I wonder if a fountain would fit on our apartment patio? Lighting The obvious benefit is reducing your energy costs – “According to the U.S. Department of Energy, lighting consumption is estimated to be 22% of the total electricity generated in the US. Traditional lighting contributes to heat generation, increasing air-conditioning costs and energy expenditure. The most efficient lights are LEDs which reduce energy consumption and costs.” So how do they work? Solar LED lights use photovoltaic cells to convert streaming daylight into stored electricity for powering energy-efficient light fixtures. The daylight energy is stored in high capacity batteries and released at night or during a power outage. Another cool benefit is that because solar lights generate their own power separate from the grid, they can operate in remote areas of your home where there’s no plugs.
Other solar products you wouldn’t necessarily think of include solar attic fans, water heaters, and pool heaters. Solar water heaters are actually the most cost-effective way to transition into solar technology. The two parts, the solar collector, which is typically mounted on the roof, and the storage tank. As far as cost savings, solar water heaters can reduce water heating costs on average by 60%. Not necessarily related to home improvement, but still cool are portable solar showers and ovens for those into wilderness adventure. I was most intrigued by the solar shower that uses the sun to heat water for showers and washing dishes. Its really pretty basic though, a five gallon bag with a flexible shower hose and an on/off spigot. All you do is hang the bag in a tree in the sun and three hours later you have heated water! I know, I’m easily entertained lol! What other solar home improvement products have you found cost effective or unusual? Are you a fan of Verde Lifestyles? Follow Verde Lifestyles on Twitter. Resources Total Read Time: 2.5 Minutes Outside of being obsessed with green home decor, I love green gadgets! Especially solar gadgets! Below are my favorite solar technologies for people on the go that are currently on the market or soon to be. While some are more expensive than others, you definitely get some bang for you buck. This is just a small sampling so if you have a favorite solar gadget or gizmo please share in the comments! Universal Hybrid Charger Enter Solio, a universal hybrid charger. What makes this charger hybrid is that it can accept power from the sun or the wind and stores energy in it’s rechargeable battery. The battery itself can actually hold its charge for up to a year! What else is great about Solio is that you can charge your cell phone, iPod, camera, GPS, or gaming devices all in one device. Long gone are the days of carrying around wire after wire and searching for the nearest outlet. With only an hour of sunshine you can listen to 50 minutes of music or talk for 20 minutes on your phone. There are also a couple of different models to choose from so you can find the best match for your ‘green’ lifestyles.
Voltaic Solar Bags All bags include standard adaptors for common cell phones and other handheld devices. Even without an adaptor, you can charge most devices with a standard car charger or USB charger. This one is definitely on my wish-list!
Solar Clothing
Solar iPod/iPhone Charger The integrated solar panel on the back of the case allows you to charge your iPhone or iPod soley from sunpower without the need for any other energy source. Plus there is an additional USB cable for charging your device if you don’t have access to sunlight. How it works…four LED indicators let you know whether you have sufficient light source for solar charging and approximately how much charge level remains in your case. And when your device is not in the case, the Solar Surge stores power in an internal battery. These chargers are the first to be licensed by Apple and only work on the newer devices unfortunately.
Become a fan of Verde Lifestyles here! Following us on Twitter? Resources: First Ever Apple-Licensed iPod Solar Charger Case Unveiled Solar Powered Clothing on the Rack Soon Voltaic Solar Bags & Solar Chargers |
but we’ve all felt the impulse to buy the latest and greatest tech items from time to time. For people who are always on the go you never know when your iPod or iPhone will die.
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