Green Your Wired Life

Batteries can't go in the trash!

2010-05-06T07:52:00.004-04:00

Here's a great new piece on why we shouldn't throw batteries out with regular trash from Planet Green.

You put a battery, or any kind of e-waste, into a bag or box and throw it out. It gets dumped on top of the fill, and then the smashers come and do their job. Within a few minutes, that battery and anything it was in has been splintered beyond recognition and is now split open with all it's insides fully exposed. Add a little rain, some rust, and pretty soon you've got everything seeping down to the depths of the fill.

Check out the full article here!

What should I do with all this E-waste?

2010-03-15T11:33:00.002-04:00

Great post with a lot of good info on how and where to safely deal with our electronics after we're finished with them.

The Good Human: What Should I Do With All This E-Waste?

Apple Redeems Itself in the Eyes of Greenpeace?!

2010-01-11T12:37:00.004-05:00

It looks as though it's true! According to Greenpeace, Apple has made great strides in changing the way it's doing business, despite what many inside the industry thought.

"Apple has virtually eliminated toxic PVC and BFRs across entire product line"

I wanted it to be true, to alleviate the guilt I felt about choosing the products I prefer to work with for a variety of reasons, and unless it's all some crazy conspiracy-laden payoff, it looks like it is.

I'm glad, too, because I always felt like the company was missing that crucial piece of its identity. I feel like just because of how they approach the user, and interactions with the computer so thoughtfully, that it should just be something else they focused on. And I guess it is now.

Congrats, Apple. :)

Read the article here.

Some more info about E-Waste.

2009-12-08T13:36:00.003-05:00

Here's a new article from The Good Human with a good link about e-waste.

http://www.thegoodhuman.com/2009/11/16/the-problem-with-e-waste-recycling-is-the-toxic-leftovers/

Apple Mac mini is a very green little machine.

2009-12-08T13:34:00.001-05:00

Here's an interesting post from TUAW about how the Mac mini uses less power than other computers.

http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/27/apples-mac-mini-tops-chart-of-green-computers/

ULTIMATE Recycling Guide

2009-10-28T14:11:00.002-04:00

This post at Engadget details a seriously huge amount of information about how to recycle your gadgets and old computers. It's worth checking out.

http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/27/how-to-recycle-your-old-gadgets/

Recycling Info

2009-10-19T10:29:00.005-04:00

I'm in the process of finding out some recycling options locally for everyone to use in the Florham Park area. When I have some solid info, I'll post it.

UPDATE: looks like we missed a September event, but Goodwill and Dell sponsor a program called Reconnect Partnership for recycling. The closest drop-off point seems to be in Springfield, on Rt. 22. But here is the link - enter your zip and get a Google map with locations.

Reconnect Partnership

2010 Olympic Medals to Use Circuit Boards?

2009-10-19T10:06:00.000-04:00

A very interesting use of recycled e-waste. Check it out!

2010 Medals

Greenpeace Praises Apple

2009-10-18T20:26:00.003-04:00

In an interesting turn from their usual comments, Greenpeace is praising Apple for their environmental choices.

http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/news/bravo-apple

8 Ways Gadgets Have Gone Green

2009-09-30T13:54:00.003-04:00

Here is a new article about how our electronic gadgets have moved toward responsible sustainability over time. Some of the things on this list are pretty common, and some are starting to come into the forefront of manufacturer's ideas.

Gadgets Going Green

Earth 911 - More Illegal E-Waste Trade!

2009-09-16T21:28:00.004-04:00

Here's a new article from Earth 911 about how the EPA is cracking down on one company in particular for sending dangerous trash to China!

Read the story

Coming soon...

2009-09-15T12:58:00.000-04:00

Some great new info on recycling. Hope everyone had a good summer!

E-Waste in Ghana

2009-07-15T21:24:00.003-04:00

PBS' Frontline has a video up detailing the rise of e-waste in Ghana, Africa, as well as a unexpected side effect of the dumping: identity theft.

http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/ghana804/video/video_index.html

Earth 911 iPhone/iPod Touch App

2009-05-28T11:49:00.008-04:00

Hey guys - if you're an iPhone or iPod Touch user, I've got a great app for you! It's a free download from iTunes, and it's called iRecycle. It allows you to select a type of item to recycle, for instance, computers or batteries, and you then put in your location to generate a list of stores or facilities that can accommodate your request. You get phone numbers, store hours, and even directions on a mobile map to the place you need to be. Here are some screenshots:

Check it out!

http://earth911.com/iphone/

Looking Toward The Future.

2009-04-21T14:12:00.002-04:00

Sorry for the delay. Here is the article I wrote for The Good Human last week. It's not specifically about environmental issues, but deals with them. It's more about trusting our knowledge to the people who are ultimately going to need it: our students.

http://ping.fm/dFFIV

The Good Human

2009-04-13T10:06:00.001-04:00

I'm going to be writing a guest post for The Good Human this week, on the topic of teaching responsibility for the future. I will link to it here when it's posted!

Sorry - It's Been A While

2009-03-31T13:05:00.001-04:00

Hi. Remember me? Yeah, I know I've been negligent in my blogging duties. But it's been busy! I know, it's no excuse. A lot of interesting things have been going on, though. Best Buy has a new comprehensive recycling program, more states have passed laws (or are working on doing so, and companies who were dragging their feet on making safer products are starting to feel the heat. Oh yeah, we had an election, too. Did you catch it? It was kind of important. :) Anyway, I'll be back shortly with a list of new links for you to check out, and hopefully be able to post more frequently in the future. See you soon!

The Good Human... and Where Have I Been?

2008-10-24T08:17:00.010-04:00

Sorry it's been so long since I posted... it's been a maddening few weeks at school! So much stuff going on, and I keep telling myself "I'll post tomorrow". Well, it's tomorrow, so here's a quick tip that's very helpful from a great blog I found.

I started reading The Good Human over the summer, and contacted the writer and spoke with him briefly. He's a very down-to-earth guy, with a lot of cool stories on small things we can all do to help out our planet along the way. One of his posts which was of particular interest to me, was on where to recycle e-waste. I made sure I told all my 7th graders about it, as they can use the information in their projects, which happen to be websites that they are building on the topic of - you guessed it - electronic waste.

Click on over here for some places you can go in your area to get rid of this nasty stuff safely!

The Good Human - How And Where To Recycle Household E-Waste.

Back To School!

2008-09-06T22:01:00.001-04:00

It's been a while, but we're back at school! I will begin posting some interesting new stuff about green tech very soon. As soon as things are underway and I can take a breath! How many more days until next summer...? :)

Posted with LifeCast

Reduce Your Carbon Footprint When You Travel

2008-05-25T14:51:00.003-04:00

So I'm going back to Florida to visit my Nana, who is very sick, after school is finished in June, and bought my plane ticket yesterday. After the purchase, I was presented with an interesting option: I could choose to donate a few dollars to help "offset my carbon footprint".

A company called Sustainable Travel International, a "non-profit that supports global climate protection and environmental conservation", is working with Continental (not sure about other airlines) to collect donations from travelers who fly and want to contribute to the environment. You have a choice between a few different options. I foolishly didn't copy all the information for the post, but I can tell you I decided to give $9.51 (suggested based on my carbon emission estimate, below) to the Gold Standard Projects, which are defined as:

Wind power and other renewable energy projects that have audited and meet criteria established by a consortium of 44 international environmental organizations, including the World Wildlife Fund.

There were Silver Standard Projects, and something else I can't remember, but this one blended the almost-ten-dollars between a few things, like re-forestation efforts as well as

My carbon emission estimate (based on my itinerary) was 0.2641 metric tons of CO2. It's strange to think I've been personally responsible for generating a fifth of a metric ton of anything, but I do know that jet fuel is a nasty, toxic substance, and burning it sure isn't helping matters. But we've got to get where we're going, and planes aren't going anywhere, so in the meantime, I feel at least a little better. Maybe someday we'll all fly places on aircraft that doesn't spew horrific amounts of pollutants all the time...

Spring Cleaning

2008-05-06T10:13:00.004-04:00

Here is a website that was brought to my attention by a colleague, highlighting some helpful tips on how you can de-clutter your life this spring by responsibly removing old electronics from your living space - and the waste stream.

Spring Cleaning - Harvard CMCH

Cool Cell Solution

2008-05-05T13:21:00.004-04:00

I came across this post on a blog I read fairly regularly that described a great new way to recycle cell phones. It basically works like your printer ink that you can mail back when the cartridge is used up. I only had time to scan this briefly, but it looks very cool and I'll definitely be investigating more closely...

Cell phone recycling

Green Tech News Roundup

2008-05-01T10:16:00.008-04:00

I promised that I would have a bunch of good info when I returned from vacation, and true to my word, I do. There was a huge push in green news last week, probably to coincide with Earth Day. I marked a bunch of the best ones to re-post here, so let's take a look at some of the more interesting ones, shall we? Ok.

From EcoGeek - Dell unveiled a wooden desktop unit, the case of which is constructed from bamboo. I love love love bamboo. It's an incredible wood - and it looks awesome in just about any place I've ever seen it used. Although I don't know how I feel about the design of this machine - but that doesn't mean it's not a good idea. The PC also uses other recycled materials and less energy.

From PCWorld.com - Green IT Can Be Simple; interesting article about power conservation made simple through some engineering changes in hotels.

Also from PCWorld.com - challenges faced when recycling e-waste; deals with the process of convincing hardware manufacturers to employ take-back policies when building and selling new equipment.

From Lifehacker - Easy Ways To Go Green With Your Computer; lists some very simple strategies for saving power and paper at home, as well as changing some basic system settings to enable maximum use from your PC while also saving energy.

I feel like there were more... oh well. If I come across anything else, I'll throw it right up here. Click on through above for some helpful tips.

Happy Earth Day!

2008-04-22T17:46:00.002-04:00

Well, it's that time of year again, and everyone on the Internets is all over it. Me? I'm in sunny Florida, on a well-deserved vacation. But I'll be keeping track of all the cool tips to go green, specifically with your electronics. When I have time to sit down and sort through everything, I'll post the best ones here.

In the meantime, enjoy your Tuesday, and we'll talk soon.

Green Laptop From Fujitsu

2008-04-20T12:16:00.004-04:00

PC World reports Fujitsu is readying a new laptop based on sustainable materials such as bio-based plastics and wood. I'm not sure how I feel about a laptop shell made of wood, but I like everything else I'm hearing.

The prototype of the WoodShell uses natural materials, such as forest-thinned cedar and bio-based plastics for its housing and parts, according to Fujitsu.

Of course, if my MacBook shell were made of wood, I would have already had several small forest fires on my hands. That thing gets ridiculously hot! Anyway, it's a cool article, and it's nice to see companies starting to really think outside the box, as they say.

Recycle Your Old Electronics Batteries

2008-04-17T20:50:00.003-04:00

While watching a truly awesome special on hammerhead sharks and how totally cool they are, I was reminded of something I meant to post. Call 2 Recycle is a program sponsored by the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation, which is "a non-profit, public service organization created to promote the recycling of portable rechargeable batteries and cellular phones".

Most people don't know what to do with old cell phones/digital cameras and their batteries, and we're constantly replacing these types of consumer electronics more frequently than others. This is a great, easy way to handle this waste and the website has good resources, including ways to find recycling drops close to you.

Check it out at http://www.rbrc.org/call2recycle/.

Human Footprint

2008-04-14T16:10:00.003-04:00

Almost certain to disappoint and disturb me on many levels, I am actually looking forward (in some bizarre way) to watching National Geographic: Human Footprint. Someone was just telling me how amazing it was to see the actual amount of waste we generate in a lifetime laid out in front of you. Visual representation of things always gives a more profound impact, and I'm sure this one will probably make me a bit queasy as I think about all the many ways I've contributed to the trash pile. And then my brain will wobble as I extrapolate that number to the world's population.

Ouch. Better save that one for a day when I'm in a really good mood and can handle that kind of math. I'll be getting it from Netflix (yay! Netflix!), but if you want a copy of your very own, click here.

Earthships Rule!

2008-04-09T15:53:00.002-04:00

I saw this on the Weather Channel a few weeks ago, and thought it was so cool. I love the way materials are re-purposed effectively (tires for insulation).

Surfing And Green Technology

2008-04-09T11:46:00.014-04:00

Surfing is about the greatest thing on the planet. No, seriously, it is. There's nothing like it in the world. The feeling of harnessing the power of an ocean wave, of riding a pulse of energy is so amazing. But enough proselytizing; I start to sound like a zealot after a while. Here's the science.

Traditional surfboards were always hewn from wood, and as time went on and performance needs increased, we moved to foam and resin. Strength and light weights were balanced, although rather ineffectively, as boards are fairly weak, especially for someone like me who likes to throw his weight around in the water. Not to mention that the foam and resins used to glass the boards are loaded with VOCs and other harmful chemicals. So shapers are always looking for better, stronger, greener alternatives. I know that personally, I won't ride regular foam again, because I will snap it far too easily, so I've started buying epoxy boards (Tuflite specifically) because of the high level of durability. Not having to think as much about the chemicals under my feet helps too.

The Green Guide is a fantastic site (and quarterly publication - I just picked it up, actually) with mounds of good information on all things enviro-conscious. I've only just cracked into it, and I'm sure there will be a lot more backlinking from this blog to it. Here's an excerpt from an article about the future of surfing technology I was reading there:

The biggest green contender thus far is the expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam blank, which is free of 2,4-tdi and covered in an epoxy resin that emits much fewer VOCs than conventional polyester does, according to Fletcher Chouinard, head shaper for Fletcher Chouinard Designs, an offshoot of Patagonia. Epoxy is also stronger and lighter than polyester resin, so the boards last an average of five times longer than standard, Chouinard says. Epoxy boards also have greater flex, says Bouslog, whose company makes EPS blanks and finished boards, as well as less-toxic polypropylene foam boards, "but the major benefit is you don't have the VOCs--toluene, styrene, xylene and acetone--in the solvents and polyester."

Yay! Epoxy boards! Yay!

Uh, wait...

Not all EPS boards are created equal, however: Tuflite boards wrap an EPS core in PVC, a plastic which releases carcinogenic dioxins into the environment during production.

[sheepish glances]

Oh well, I'm getting closer. It's a process, people!

Full article here

HGTV Green Home Uses Low Power Solutions

2008-04-09T10:24:00.007-04:00

HGTV is giving away a remarkable house in a contest that is totally green, replete with reclaimed wood furniture, low VOC paints and stains, and appliances that are Energy Star certified. I haven't begun to even describe all the cool stuff you get with it, which includes a hybrid Yukon and a golf cart powered by solar cells (!) to tool around the walk-friendly neighborhood.

Needless to say, I want this house. I would pick up and leave everything behind tomorrow if I won, it's so great. My brain hurts with the greatness of this house.

You can check it out here, and enter the contest - although I shouldn't have told you that, because now my chances of winning are inherently lowered...

We Can Solve It

2008-04-08T18:09:00.004-04:00

I saw this website on TV the other night, and decided to sign up for it. It's free, you don't need to put a mess of info in, and their privacy policy seemed very respectable. While a lot of what I'll focus on here will center around technology specifically, think of it this way:

climate change is caused by (among other things) the burning of fossil fuels

fossil fuels are burned in the course of shipping and trade

shipping that brings goods to consumers

goods like... (wait for it) gadgets and technology.

So it's all connected. It's like playing Six Degrees Of Kevin Bacon, only with scarily apocalyptic climatic and environmental results instead of funny 80s movies.

Check out the site: wecansolveit.org

Slideshow Of Chinese E-Waste

2008-04-08T13:05:00.007-04:00

China's all over the news lately, with trouble surrounding the upcoming Olympics being at the forefront, and issues in Tibet not far behind. A big problem that is almost certainly (although possibly not) going to be overshadowed by all of this is the fact that it is one of the biggest dumping grounds for electronic waste in the world. Here is a link to a slideshow by photographer Chien-Min Chung that depicts just how massive the problem is in Guiyu, showing piles of waste building up, and putting a face on the hordes of people who are working with the chemicals, getting sicker every day from the toxics we get rid of. Which is, of course, not to mention the absolute horrorshow we've thrust on the planet itself.

I'm the first person to salivate over new shiny electronic toys, and I readily admit that. But becoming aware of the impact our fast-paced planned obsolescence lifestyle has on the rest of the world has changed me. It's a message I try to impart to my students, and friends as well, because every single one of us is a part of that supply chain in one way or another. It's the cost of living today.

China-Pix via Crunchgear via Gizmodo

Power Saving For Your Computer

2008-04-08T12:10:00.003-04:00

One of the things I think about constantly is how much my computers (plural) actually run, and what I'm sucking up as far as power is concerned. I always have something on, although I try to keep things off or in low-power standby whenever possible. Here's a program I came across by way of Download Squad which is a very cool blog about software with a lot of great tips and links to free stuff. It's called LocalCooling and can reduce the amount of power your PC actually draws by scaling back certain features when you don't need all that raw horsepower.

Of course, if you're like me, you want all the performance your rig can provide, but it's still a good idea. Perhaps I'll check it out...

Read about LocalCooling on Download Squad

How Much Do You Really Know?

2008-04-08T12:01:00.005-04:00

Take a quiz on National Geographic's website and learn more about electronic waste. I know a lot about this, and I still missed one or two.

Updated Greenpeace Company Rankings

2008-04-08T10:18:00.001-04:00

Greenpeace has again rated hardware manufacturers based on criteria for toxic clean-up. You can view the latest results here and read about what's in the products you might have in your home...

Every Little Bit...

2008-04-08T09:56:00.000-04:00

Hi - I’m a computer teacher at a middle school in New Jersey and web design production executive for a small business. Since I absolutely surround myself with technology, it was only fitting that I take responsibility for its impact on our planet as well. This blog’s purpose is to educate, inform, and just provide a running commentary on any and all environmental issues we come across, with a specific focus on electronic waste. I hope it gives everyone a little insight on a very big issue that affects all of us…

The goal is try to stay on top of current issues and aggregate posts from other parts of the Internet as I come across them. Environmental responsibility is something I am very passionate about, and feel that even in small ways, we can make a difference every day. Please do what you can to help out - it’s everyone’s problem.

I know that I can't live my life without technology. I can, however, do whatever I can to minimize my own impact on what's left of our planet. I get sick thinking about where we're headed sometimes, and I want to not feel that way. I think by doing a little each day, we can all feel better about where we are, and where we'll be...