recyclable

Assess the Benefits of Green IT with Free Online Tool from Redemtech

jplatt — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 09:00:00 -0500

Would your company benefit from greener IT practices? A free online tool from Redemtech can help you find the answer.

The Sustainable Computing Assessment allows you to discover how your IT lifecycle management and disposal policies stack up against industry best practices. By plugging in information about your company policies and processes, the Assessment tool:

Explores the policy, practice and governance issues essential for establishing a truly sustainable IT asset management program
Scores against industry averages for productivity, reuse, accountability, energy and environmental social responsibility
Findings and recommendations point to areas for improvements

You need to register with Redemtech and receive their news updates to take the assessment, but that sounds like a pretty small price!

While you're on their site, register to receive the white paper they sponsored, Beyond Power: IT’s Roadmap to Sustainable Computing. It will give you all kinds of additional information and tools to help you green your IT department so it doesn't cost you quite so much green.

Ritz Camera Introduces 100% Recyclable Rechargeable Battery

jplatt — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 09:00:00 -0500

Looking for a better rechargeable battery? Ritz Camera has started selling what it calls "the first rechargeable battery that's nearly 100% recyclable and completely non-toxic and non-combustible." It's called the Quantaray Super Z, and it represents a pretty nice step forward in rechargeable technology.

The Quantaray Super Z rechargeable battery, manufactured by PowerGenix, uses a Nickel-Zinc (NiZn) battery chemistry that has already earned certification from both RoHS and Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC). NiZn is only the 5th battery chemistry ever to be certified by the RBRC, allowing it to be recycled at more than 50,000 collection sites across the US and Canada (including, not-so-coincidentally, all Ritz Camera stores).

NiZn also packs more energy than Nickel Cadmium (NiCd) or Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) batteries, and provides a longer shelf life for the batteries that use it.

And finally, and perhaps more importantly, the batteries "contain no toxic heavy metals such as lead, cadmium or mercury and are the most recyclable rechargeable chemistry on the market."

The Super Z's aren't available online yet, but they are for sale at Ritz Camera locations for $14.99 (4-pack) and $49.99 (4-pack plus charger).

Eco-Friendly Batteries?

jplatt — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 09:00:00 -0500

At last week's Consumer Electronics Show, Fuji announced a new line of disposable batteries that the company says are so eco-friendly, they are "landfill safe."

The Fuji EnviroMAX batteries are free of cadmium, mercury and PVC, three of the chemicals that make other disposable batteries so dangerous when they are disposed of improperly. The batteries are also encased in plastic, not steel, making them, theoretically, more recycleable.

Here are all of Fuji's claims about the EnviroMAX:

Most of the resources used in the Fuji EnviroMAX production process are reused and recycled.
The substances of lead, cadmium and mercury are "totally abolished" in all FDK/Fuji Battery Factories - no matter what the usage.
No ozone depleting compounds are used in Fuji EnviroMAX production.
Fuji EnviroMAX batteries are packaged in recycled paper and recyclable P.E.T. plastic - Not hazardous and non-recyclable PVC plastic.
All Fuji Batteries plants comply with the European Union's RoHS Directives.
Fuji Batteries monitors all of its suppliers for environmental responsibility and requires certification that they do not use hazardous chemicals.

Of course, any battery that you still have to throw away is still less green than a rechargeable battery, so there's no way I can actually recommend this battery, but still, at least Fuji is thinking outside of the box.

Fuji EnviroMAX batteries will be initially available at Big Y stores in central Massachusetts and Shop' n Save in the St. Louis/Missouri areas, or through the Fuji EnviroMAX website.

Dell to Cut 20 Million Pounds of Packaging

jplatt — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 09:00:00 -0500

I just ordered a new Dell laptop, and I was pleased to find that it came in a box barely bigger than the computer itself. This seems to tie in nicely with Dell Computers' recent announcement that it will cut its desktop and laptop packaging by 10% over the next four years, a move it says will save both 20 million pounds of packaging materials and more than $8 million.

In addition, Dell says it will increase the amount of "sustainable content" in its cushioning and corrugate packaging by 40%, and "ensure that 75% of packaging components are curbside recyclable by 2012."

Dell says its plan will help to save 150,000 trees over the next four years -- trees that that would otherwise have become cardboard packages -- and in 2009 recycle 33 million milk jugs to to become High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) thermal-formed cushions.

“We’re challenging every technology company to join us in implementing a global green packaging strategy,” said Tod Arbogast, director of Sustainable Business at Dell. “In doing so, we will drive extraordinary environmental and cost savings for our businesses and customers while setting a new efficiency model for other industries to follow.”

Let's hope they do!

Six Simple New Years Resolutions for Greener Electronics

jplatt — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 09:00:36 -0500

Hey, it's a New Year! And with it comes all of those little vows we always make -- lose 5 pounds, call your mom more often, get a promotion ... and live a greener life.

Well, here are five easy (and important) promises you can make to yourself to improve your footprint by greening your electronics and other devices.

1. Ditch the disposable batteries. There's simply no reason to use disposables any more. They only reason they're still for sale everywhere is because so many stores make so much money on them. But every battery that gets thrown out leaches toxic chemicals into the environment. Break the chain. Go completely rechargeable. It's an easy step, and you won't regret it.

2. Go off the grid -- at least a little bit. Rechargeable batteries are great, but they still suck power off the electric grid. Break that chain, too. Buy devices with solar chargers (like flashlights), or pick up a solar charger (such as the fantastic Solio). Leave the solar charger in your window, then use it to power your iPod, cell phone or other portable devices. Instant green karma.

3. Pull the plug. When you're not using your electronic devices, turn them off. Better yet, unplug them or turn off their surge protectors. TVs, DVD players, computers, printers, game consoles and dozens of other devices keep using power even when they're "off." This stand-by mode can account for 10% of your power use. Slash and burn, baby.

4. Be a Star. When buying new electronics or appliances, look for the Energy Star logo. This signifies that you're buying an energy-efficient device, which can save you anywhere from 10-30% on energy usage. A no-brainer.

5. Recycle your old electronics properly. If you're replacing something, or getting rid of something that no longer works, don't just toss it in the trash. Take it to a recycling center where it will be disposed of properly. Electronics contain too many toxic materials for them to be disposed of improperly, so make sure you do the right thing.

6. Finally, fully, break the incandescent chain. I still have two lamps and two outdoor light fixtures that oddly enough won't work with CFL bulbs. It's time to get rid of them. Even though changing the lamps will create some waste, the energy savings from being able to use CFL bulbs will be worth it.

Looking for more specifics on any of the ideas above? Scroll through the Green Tech archives. You'll find plenty of examples and ideas to help you live a greener life.

Happy 2009, my eco-friendly friends!

Now that You've Unwrapped Your Gifts...

jplatt — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 09:00:00 -0500

Ahhh...Christmas day. The gifts are unwrapped, dinner is in the oven, and the credit card bills are in the mail. What next?

Well, if you bought any electronics this holiday season, there are several things you can do to make this Christmas even greener.

1) Properly recycle your old electronics. Too many old devices end up in the garbage, or are improperly recycled. You don't want your old TV to end up as e-waste in some third-world country do you? Click here to find out more about recycling old TVs, and check the Green Tech archives for info on recycling other devices.

2) Buy recyclable batteries -- or try solar powered chargers. Too many toys and gadgets run on disposable batteries. Break that chain by investing in rechargeable batteries and a plug-in charger -- or try a solar-powered charger to power your cell phones, MP3 players and other small devices.

3) When you're not using your new gadgets, unplug them. A lot of electronics (not all, but more than enough) keep sucking juice out of the wall when they're idle. If you're not using something for a while, unplug it -- especially your gaming platforms. Your savings will vary depending on your gadget, but trust me, they'll add up.

There -- just three little steps and your Christmas gifts will be much greener today and in the new year. So enjoy, and keep thinking green!

The Best Christmas Gift of All: Rechargeable Batteries

jplatt — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 09:00:00 -0500

Looking through this week's Rite Aid flyer, I was shocked to see not two, not three, but four different listings for disposable batteries -- including one "mega pack" of 16 AAs.

I know it's Christmas time, which means a lot of new toys that run on batteries, but isn't it time we made the switch to rechargeables?

Even better, how about we use this season to help everyone make the switch?

Rechargeable batteries obviously cost more than regular batteries. You need to buy a charger too, so the initial cost can be quite high (higher than a "mega pack," anyway). But the savings really add up in the long-run. Rechargeable batteries have longer life spans than disposables, so they ultimately cost less than having to buy new batteries every few weeks or months.

Disposable batteries are also a terrible pollutant when they aren't recycled properly -- and you can rest assured that most disposable batteries just end up in the trash, where they leach chemicals into the ground and water tables.

So consider this gift for yourself and your loved ones: a battery charger and a few packs of rechargeable batteries. Try to pick a charger that will handle multiple sizes of batteries, as well as the two main kinds of rechargeables, Ni-MH and Li-Ion. Give multiple types of batteries, too -- sizes and kinds, so your recipient can use them in a wide variety of devices.

If we really commit to this, we can totally phase out disposable batteries in a year or two. That's just as easy as our recent change to CFLs.

So give it a shot. Isn't it about time?

Top 10 Things to Ask When Buying 'Green' Electronics

jplatt — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 09:00:00 -0500

Buying electronics is a chore. Picking the right device takes time, research, and money.

Unfortunately, buying green electronics can require even more time and research, and sometimes a little bit more money. But the rewards for the planet are well worth it, and you just might enjoy your gadgets a bit more knowing you made a right choice for the environment. '

With that in mind, here are 10 ideas to take into consideration when buying electronics to help you make the greenest choice.

10. Is it ENERGY STAR rated? This is one of the easiest ways to make sure your device is eco-friendly. ENERGY STAR devices use less energy than competing products, so look for the ENERGY STAR logo. If it's not there, you might want to keep looking.

9. How easily can it be recycled? The more complex the device, the harder it is to recycle. You also want to look at what chemicals and materials are used; some are more toxic than others.

8. Is it responsibly manufactured? Does the manufacturer have a good eco-record?

7. How long will it last? If your new device won't last a few years, or more, is it worth buying?

6. Are the manufacturers' green claims independently certified? There are dozens of organizations -- too many to list here -- that test and verify products, making sure they are truly green. Certified products will have an official logo on the package, so look for them and ask what they mean.

5. Is the packaging recyclable, made from recycled materials, or at the very least, kept to a minimum amount?

4. Do you need it? Can your old tech's lifespan be extended, or can it be made greener? Let's face it, you don't need every new device. Keeping an old product in use for a longer period of time is almost always the greenest option.

3. How eco-responsible is the retailer? Do they offer take-backs of old devices? Do they take efforts to green their supply chain? Do they use eco-friendly building materials? Look the company up; don't do business with companies that don't support the environment.

2. Is the green value worth the price? In other words, don't spend $1,000 extra to save $500 in energy costs over the life of the product.

1. Is it the greenest option available, or can you do even better? Okay, so there's always just a little bit more research you can do. But trust me, it will be worth it.

Do You Know How to Recycle Your Old TV?

jplatt — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 08:00:00 -0500

A whole bunch of TVs are likely to be replaced over the next few months. Not only will retailers be dropping their prices in a desperate bid to reduce their inventory, many TVs will need to be replaced before February's transition to digital television.

But if you're going to buy a new TV set, do you know how to get rid of your old one? Do you know the rules for disposing of electronics in your community, and will your local recycler take care of your old devices in a responsible manner?

A group called the Electronic TakeBack Coalition has some advice.

First off, if you're worried about your TV working after the DTV transition, you should go to www.DTV.gov to find out if you can just buy a converter box.

If you are going to chuck the old set, find out the local rules for your community, and don't leave your old set outside "hoping someone will take it." According to the ETBC, that just sets up a situation where toxic lead and other substances can leach into the ground if it rains on your old set.

Next, try to make sure your recycler will handle your old set responsibly, and not send it to a third-world recycling center with few eco-friendly regulations. (You can often drop TVs off at retailers like Staples and Best Buy, who charge a small fee.)

Finally, before you buy your new set, check out the ETBC's new TV Recycling Report Card. The organization has ranked 14 major manufacturers and 3 retailers with house brands according to their TV takeback programs. Only Sony earned a grade above a C, and then only making a B- grade because they need more national recycling sites.

For more information, visit http://www.takebackmytv.com/

Apple Introduces Its Greenest MacBook Ever

jplatt — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 09:43:20 -0400

How green is the new MacBook? Apple says the laptop computer uses "one quarter the power of a single lightbulb" when it's running. That's not too shabby.

Of course, Apple doesn't say if they mean a CFL bulb or an incandescent, but even so, the green innovations in this new MacBook are definitely worth celebrating.

Let's look at the 13-inch screen first. The computer is free of dangerous chemicals often used in monitors, like PVC, mercury, arsenic and brominated flame retardants. It also employs an LED backlit display, which uses far less energy than other LCD screens.

On the manufacturing and shipping side, the MacBook is made with fewer parts, making it easier to assemble and recycle. Packaging has been significantly reduced (by 41%!) and uses more recycled materials.

There are also several innovations on the hardware and software side that help the computer use far less electricity.

All of these innovations helped the new MacBook earn both an Energy Star rating for energy efficiency and an EPEAT Gold rating for efficiency, manufacturing processes and recyclability.

The new MacBook starts at just $1,299 -- a bit high, not bad for a pretty tricked out laptop. Worth a look.