Our Greener Life

Ever thought of ways to make your computing more environmentally friendly? Since computers, monitors, printers and other miscellaneous peripherals use electricity, you can do so by reducing the amount of energy they consume. This will also save money on energy bills which is always a great thing. Here are some tips to help you do so:

Use an LCD monitor
If you are still using an older CRT model (i.e. the kind that takes up half your desk space), consider replacing it with a new flat panel display. LCD monitors use one third less energy than CRT monitors.

Look for Energy Star peripherals
The same program which is popular for home appliances is available for products such as printers, scanners and fax machines. Energy Star is a program by the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy which sets standards for energy-efficient products. By using an Energy Star compliant scanner or printer, you can use as much as 50-60% percent less energy.

Put your computer to sleep
Both PCs and Macs have power saving features built into the system. Basically, this will put your computer into “sleep” mode when not in use. This results in big drop in energy use.

Turn everything off at night
As long as you don’t use your computer as a server, or need to access it remotely, you can simply turn it off at night, or when you’re done for the day.

Stop residual power waste
Did you know that chargers for cell phones, iPods and other gadgets will suck power from the wall even when a device is not plugged in? I had no idea that idle chargers still used power. It is a pain to unplug devices, let alone a monitor or computer (which may be hidden behind your desk). One option is to use a SmartStrip. These devices monitor power use and can tell when items are turned off, or not charging. It then stops sending residual power to the device.

Recycle or donate
Since technology is always changing, you may find yourself with older products lying around after you upgrade to the latest and greatest. Computers and electronics contain many toxic materials, such as lead and mercury, which can leech into groundwater if dumped into a landfill. So, instead of trashing your old computers and electronics, looks for recycling programs in your area, or donate to local schools or charities. Earth 911 has an excellent directory of recycling programs, so do a search for your area.

Summer is just around the corner, and it is already heating up in many parts of the country. If you use an AC system to cool your home, set your thermostat to 78 to reduce your energy use. You can also purchase a programmable thermostat which will allow you to turn on the AC only when you need it. Most support multiple programs, so you can have seperate programs for the week (when you may be away at work) and for the weekend.

Another great way to reduce your AC usage, is to utilize ceiling fans in your home. They are relatively inexpensive and not too difficult to install. It’s a great way to lower the temperature and increase the air circulation in your home.

Since our move to Albuquerque a month ago, we have been making it a habit to walk more, rather than driving our car. We were lucky enough to find a house in a great section of the city, which is very central and close to Nob Hill (a great area with shopping and restaurants) and UNM. I will be starting graduate school at the university in the Fall and will be able to walk or bike to school, which will be great. In the past, I’ve had commute times of an hour each way, which gets old after a while and definitely does not help reduce my carbon footprint.

It is really quite a different world when on foot, rather than in the car. You can really take in more of your surroundings. Neighborhoods and buildings look completely different when you can take the time to really notice them. Though I have enjoyed our reduced dependence on driving, I’ve become more aware of just how much our society is vehicle based. For example, the sidewalks on our street are narrow – you can only walk single file. It’s a very busy road as well, so you feel close to the traffic. Plus, you have to be extra careful at intersections, as not all drivers are on the lookout for pedestrians.

Wouldn’t it be great if we can design more neighborhoods with wide, mixed use paths? Rather than focusing on cars – design around pedestrians and bicyclers. That is actually the idea around New Urbanism – a more sustainable method of development.

Today, while walking up to the grocery store, I only saw one other pedestrian during my trip. It was a really nice day – sunny, not too hot, however I found it interesting that I was basically the only person on foot. Cars, on the other hand, were plentiful. I’m sure hundreds, if not more, passed by on my way there and back.

If you have the chance, I whole-heartedly recommend taking more trips by foot. If you have a restaurant nearby, take the time to walk and enjoy the sights along the way. You may be surprised by how different the world looks outside the doors of your car.

Can you count how many times you’ve been asked this question at the grocery store? No doubt, more times than you can remember. What was your answer, and why did you make that particular choice?

In the past, I typically would choose the plastic bags. What was my rationale for that choice? Well, less chance the bag would rip and send our groceries rolling around on the pavement, and plastic tends to be easier to carry. There was no ecological rational for my decision.

Paper bags are typically thought of as the environmentally friendly choice, but actually consume 40% more energy in the production process than plastic bags. They also generate 80% more solid waste than plastic bags. However, plastic bags take at least 1,000 years to decompose (whereas paper may take as little as a month) and are made from polyethylene, which is created from crude oil and natural gas – both nonrenewable resources. Both require a considerable amount of energy and resources to be produced.

There are better choices today which can let you answer the “paper or plastic” question with an easy answer – “neither, please”. Why not pick up a few reusable bags, which can be used for groceries and other things?

It does take some time to get in the habit of bringing your bags with you into the store. We keep a few in the car, and a few by the back door (for shopping trips when not using our car). But, it can be easy to forget until you’re already in line. The great thing is that some stores, such as Whole Foods, will give you a 5-cent refund for using your own bags.

Aside from traditional shopping bags, there are also ways to reduce your use of other bags. Rather than using sandwich bags for lunch, you could bring your sandwich wrapped in a Wrap-N-Mat. It’s a reusable wrap which doubles as a placemat. I think that’s a very cool idea. See what other products you can use to green your sack lunch.

The thinking – reduce, reuse, recycle is a great way to live a greener life. We’ve become more aware of what we send to the landfill and what we reuse. Shopping bags are a great place to start.

Your carbon footprint is a measure of the impact your activities have on the environment in terms of the amount of green house gases produced. It is measured in units of carbon dioxide. The Carbon Footprint Calculator will determine your current footprint, based on a number of factors including fuel usage and travel.

There are several things you can do to reduce your carbon footprint:

1. Purchase renewable energy if offered in your area, or install your own electricity generators, such as solar systems to lower your grid usage. Here in Albuquerque, PNM offers the Sky Blue program. This allows customers to purchase New Mexico wind energy.
2. Turn off lights and electrical devices when not in use.
3. Turn down the air conditioning a few degrees.
4. Lower the water heater temperate.
5. Wash clothes in cold water.
6. Hang your clothes outside to dry, rather than use a clothes dryer.

Along with reducing your carbon footprint, you can offset your carbon footprint in a number of ways:

1. Plant a tree. Trees reduce CO₂ by a process known as carbon sequestration. Basically, tress breathe in CO₂ and release oxygen into the air.
2. Purchase carbon offsets from a company such as TerraPass. Your money is used to fund renewable energy projects such as wind farms.

Using these methods, you can reduce your carbon footprint to zero and know that you are doing your part to stop global warming and protect the environment.