TV & Internet

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/

A Real TV Star: New ENERGY STAR Rules for TV Efficiency

jplatt — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 06:00:00 -0500

How many hours a day do you use your TV? One? Two? Five? More?

Okay, let's ask a more important question: is your TV energy efficent?

Don't know the answer? That's okay, because until now it was hard to know if your television was a power hog or not. But now new rules from the EPA's ENERGY STAR will make it easier to buy an energy-efficient model -- just in time for the holidays!

Old ENERGY STAR rules only rated TVs according to how much power they used while off or in "standby" mode. The new rules go several steps further, requiring energy efficiency when TVs are on, and also guiding the use of external power supplies when necessary. "This new specification is important," says the EPA, "since televisions being sold now are larger, in use more hours a day, and offer more vibrant pictures, which can impact the amount of electricity they use. In fact, some of the largest, high resolution televisions can use as much as 500 kWh per year."

TVs with an ENERGY STAR rating will use an estimated 30% less juice than other TVs, so this will really make a difference as people replace their old models with new, higher-tech screens.

So far, 229 TVs conform to the new rules. They include 19 plasma models, 199 LCD models, and 11 "others".

Check 'em out!

Amazon.com Introduces Greener Packaging for Electronics, Toys

jplatt — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 09:34:36 -0500

Tired of buying products that take a chainsaw to unwrap? Amazon.com feels your pain. They've introduced a new initiative to sell products with "Frustration-Free Packaging" -- all designed to be easily opened and create less waste.

Amazon says the products -- less than two dozen so far -- use "recyclable boxes that are easy to open and free of excess materials such as hard plastic clamshell cases, plastic bindings, and wire ties. The product itself is exactly the same—we’ve just streamlined the packaging."

Early products in this line include several toys -- both for kids and computer users.

One toy -- Fisher Price's Imaginext Adventures Pirate Ship -- really shows off how this initiative greens the products by eliminating "36 inches of wire ties, 1,576.5 square inches of package inserts, and 36.1 square inches of printed carton materials. Also eliminated are 175.25 square inches of PVC blisters, 3.5 square inches of ABS molded styrene, and two plastic fasteners." Wow!

Other items don't save quite as much packaging, but they do make a difference. A Microsoft Wireless Notebook Mouse "ships in an easy-to-open recyclable box, eliminating the heavy plastic "clamshell" found in traditional packaging."

Amazon's really thinking like an Internet retailer here. Most of the packaging they're eliminating is designed to protect products in a physical retail setting, either to keep them from breaking on the shelf or to prevent them from being shoplifted. Amazon doesn't need to worry about either situtation. As a result, you -- and the planet -- get the benefit.

CherryPal's 'Green' Computer Finally Ships Next Week

jplatt — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 10:07:48 -0400

Months after it was first announced, I'm sure many people had given up waiting for the CherryPal, a desktop PC with no moving parts that promised to use just 2 watts of power.

Well guess what? The CherryPal SSD C114 ships next week -- at a bargain-basement price of just $249.

It will take some time for reviews to come in, but until then, let's look at the innovations that are expected with this tiny-but-powerful machine:

It uses just 2 watts of power -- 98% less than the 114 watts used by the average desktop computer.
It has no moving parts, so the company says it will last for up to ten years.
It uses 80% fewer parts, so less waste is created in its manufacture.

The CherryPal has a few other features of note. It boots up in just 20 seconds (no more wasted time and energy during the start-up phase). Most of the software isn't located on the hard drive; it's on the Internet, so you have fewer worries about upgrades and downloads (good luck using the PC if your Internet is out, though). It comes with a wide range of open-source programs, so it's ready for use right out of the box. And it doesn't make any sound, which is something I wish could be said of all computers.

Obviously, with a price of just $249, the CherryPal doesn't come with a monitor, and you can't seem to buy one directly from CherryPal, so that's one more item that needs to be packaged and shipped, but if you're buying a green computer, you probably have a green monitor in mind, too.

Worth a look!

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.

See How One Family Raises 6,000 pounds of Food and 350 Veggie Varieties on One-Tenth of an Acre

scleaver — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

If you want to look at your garden and feel like an underachiever, check out the upcoming documentary, HomeGrown about the Dervaes family in Pasadena, CA. The Dervaeses run an organic farm and are able to produce 6,000 pounds of food, more than 350 different types of veggies, herbs, berries, and fruits on just 3,900 square feet, or less than one-tenth of an acre. This year they're hoping to increase that yield to 10,000 pounds.

As The Ethicurean reported, HomeGrown is screening at Lincoln Center in New York City on November 3 as part of the Green Screens series. Or, if you’re in St. Louis, check out the film at the St. Louis International Film Festival on November 16.

Learn more about the Dervaes family and their farm at their web site: Path to Freedom

Photo from The Ethicurean.

Support Green Charities by Recycling Your Empty Toner Cartridges

jplatt — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 10:47:53 -0400

ARGH! Another toner cartridge just went dry in my printer. Time to buy a new one -- and time to recycle the old one.

You definitely don't want to dump your old inkjet cartridges in the garbage. Even when they're out of ink, they're still full of toxic chemicals which can leach into the ground and pollute our land and water.

But how do you recycle an inkjet or laser-printer cartridge?

First step, check with your local retailer. Stores like Staples and Best Buy collect toner cartridges for free.

Next step, check with your local charities or community groups. Many collect cartridges, which they then turn in for cash, which helps fund their local efforts.

Next, go online, and see if you can donate your cartridges to support a cause. Recycle4Charity.com will take your used cartridges and cell phones and make a donation to groups like Habitat for Humanity or Helen Keller Worldwide. Empties4Cash.com lets you select from charities like Big Cat Rescue and The Wildcat Sanctuary.

Finally, go online and sell your used cartridges for cash. Recycle4Dollars.com is just one of the sites that will pay you a few dollars for every cartridge you send in.

So don't let those used-up inkjet and toner cartridges sit around in your house or in a landfill. Recycle them, and do some good in the process!

Toshiba Offers Free Electronics Recycling

jplatt — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 10:08:01 -0400

Looking for a way to get rid of your old electronics in an environmentally responsible way? Toshiba has a solution for you.

Toshiba's Digital Products Division this week expanded its free recycling program, which previously only accepted Toshiba products, to include devices from any manufacturer. They'll accept PCs, laptops, MP3 players, digital cameras, mobile phones, and a whole lot more.

What makes this program a bit different is that you have the option of turning in your old devices for cash. For example, I have an old Palm Z22 PDA lying around. According to the site, the Palm has not trade-in value, so I wouldn't get any money, but they would send me a $25 Starbucks gift card for recycling it through them. (Too bad I don't drink coffee...)

Once you decide to send a device to Toshiba, you can print out a postage-paid label to send it to their warehouse. They'll check it out, then send you a check or whatever other bonus you earned.

Of course, it's always good to know what happens to a device once you send it in for recycling. Are they taking care of it responsibly? But Toshiba at least has a solid "green" initiative, so you can feel pretty good about giving this program a try.

Can You Write a Cell-Phone Program That Will Save the World?

jplatt — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 08:00:00 -0400

Every generation of cell phones gets smarter, more powerful, and capable of connecting us in new and different ways. In fact, some mobile phones are so powerful they aren't even called "cell phones" anymore -- they're "smart phones."

And as Stan Lee famously said, "with great power comes great responsibility."

Nokia and inventor Dean Kamen (creator of the Segway) have teamed up to fund a contest to find the next big thing in mobile programs (called applications), with one of the categories specifically calling for eco-related apps. Winners get a $25,000 prize for the creating best new mobile applications “that enhance the use of mobile devices in real-world scenarios.”

Here are the three categories:

Eco-Challenge - "Make a Difference": Developers who submit for this category will be building tools to help people take care of the environment - from charger reminders to mobile learning applications, from navigation info to recycling tips.

Emerging Markets - "IMAGINE the Possibilities": The mission of the Emerging Markets Challenge is to open up new opportunities for developers to pioneer & monetize services impacting the daily lives of millions in developing nations. Examples include applications providing health information and data access, apps offering low-cost infotainment, SMS-driven apps that inform rural agricultural workers of the best time and place to bring products to market, as well as literacy and general education solutions.

Technology Showcase - "Developer Showdown": Open to all technologies, if it runs on S60 or Series 40, then we want to see it! Regardless if it has just been created or you have been selling it for a while, casual or commercial, we want to showcase the best of the best. Be it on Flash Lite, Java, Python, or open source. If it’s a game, enterprise solution, Web-based widget, or just a cool application that will enhance the mobile user experience, then this is the category to enter.

What do you think mobile applications can do to help make the world a better place? And can you write the next great mobile app? If so, Nokia and Dean Kamen are waiting to hear from you.

Entries are due December 15th.

Calculate Your 'Water Footprint'

jplatt — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:09:44 -0400

Do you or any of your family members spend too much time in the shower? Are your toilets designed to save water? How about your faucets, are they installed with conservation in mind? How about your lawn...

Okay, let's just get to the real questions: How much water do you use on a daily basis? And how much can you conserve?

A group called H2O Conserve wants to help you answer those questions. Their new online water calculator not takes you through your direct water usage, but the water used to produce your food and other goods, to come up with what they call your Water Footprint.

It's this later side that many people don't think about. Says H2O Conserve: "Your water footprint includes other factors such as water utilized to cool power plants that provide your electricity, and water saved when you recycle. You may not drink, feel or see this water, but it makes up the great majority of your water footprint."

The water calculator is great fun, and takes about 5 minutes or less. When you're done, the site will present not only your water footprint (mine came up at over 1,000 gallons per day!), but what you can do to reduce it. The site contains dozens of great tips, any one of which can save you tens of gallons every single day.

Give it a try. You might be shocked by what you come up with.