There’s no shortage of energy to be saved in the world of computers. Today almost 90 million U.S. homes have at least one computer, and about 65 million new ones are shipped to homes and businesses every year. Computers and their attachments (“peripherals”) vary widely in their hunger for electricity. An efficient laptop, for instance, uses only 20 percent as much energy as some desktops. Big potential savings are also available to those who know how to set their computer “preferences” and make liberal use of the on/off switch.

Top Tips

At home

• Consider an upgrade. Perhaps you don’t need to lay out the cash for a new computer just yet. Maybe refurbishing your old machine would give you the performance boost you need.

• Turn on sleep or standby. Depending on the type of computer and peripherals and the cost of electricity, it’s possible to save up to $200 a year simply by setting your computer to go into “sleep” or “standby” mode when you aren’t using it. If there is more than one computer left on at full power in a household, even greater savings are possible.
• Use the on/off switch. It is not true that turning computers off damages them, but it is true that turning off computers saves a lot of money.
• Power down the peripherals. Turn off the printer and other peripherals when you are not using them as well, and if they have a standby or sleep feature, use it. If you plug everything into a surge protector, or “power strip,” you can use it to turn everything off at once. Remember that many peripherals, printers especially, can be big energy hogs.

When shopping, look for

• Energy efficiency. If you decide that you need a new computer, printer, scanner, or all-in-one device, have a look at the government’s Energy Star site, which identifies the most energy-efficient models and allows you to compare their energy usage.

Other Considerations

Think about how much speed you need. In the case of printers, the faster they are, the more energy they use. The slowest printers may use only 15% as much energy on standby power as the fastest. If you really don’t need a printer that spews out 45 pages a minute, settle for a slower, but less energy-demanding model.

Benefits…

…to your wallet
Buying an efficient computer and running it wisely can save you money year after year. Start with the up to $200 a year you can save by using “sleep” or “standby,” and know you’re adding a coin or two each time you turn the machine completely off.

…to the Earth
Wonderful as they are, computers are not clean, post-industrial products. In fact their manufacture and use puts out as much greenhouse gas as all the world’s airplanes. The simple act of recycling your old computer keeps not only the lead and mercury out of our air and water, but (in older computers) cadmium and brominated flame retardants. An excellent guide to recycling is provided by a national source of recycling information, Earth911. Comprehensive listings and advice for electronics recycling are also available at an EPA site.

Common Mistakes

• Thinking a screen saver saves energy. It doesn’t. It saves the screen from having an image burned onto its surface–which is no longer a problem for modern computers.
• Forgetting about the old computer. More than 1.5 million tons of computers and peripherals are being sent to the dump each year, and only 15% to 20% of this material is being recycled. Plus, a lot of the recycled material is being sent to countries with poor safety standards, which expose recycling workers to the serious hazards mentioned above.

Getting Started

• If you are not using your computer’s sleep or standby option yet, go to the “preferences” menu and enable it. That move tells the computer to power down after a certain number of minutes of inaction at the keyboard or mouse. (You decide exactly how many minutes when you set the preference.) Don’t worry–the computer will quickly wake up again when you hit a key.
• If you are buying a new computer, remember to recycle your old one. Fortunately, it’s easy to learn how to either recycle electronic equipment safely or donate it to organizations that will make good use of it. For information on places closest to you, an excellent guide is provided by a national source of recycling information, Earth911. Comprehensive listings and advice for electronics recycling are also available at an EPA site.

It is now possible to green your audio system. The world’s first environmentally-friendly speaker systems are now available for purchase. You can jam to your favorite digital songs through these green music systems, and help the environment as well.

Speakers

For those who love both music and the environment, we recommend the cardboard Eco-Speakers which are foldable and portable. These speakers are made from 100% recycled materials and you will not even need batteries for them, as they are powered by your MP3 player or favorite audio source.

The Fremont Speakers, made by Escalante Designs, are free-standing cabinet speakers, which also happen to be made of 100% recycled wood board. The product contains no formaldehyde and is finished with a AFM-Safecoat non-toxic paint. The speaker grills incorporate organic cotton and recycled polyesters.

The Pioneer S-LX70W Speaker is the only Energy Star rated subwoofer on the market. The is energy efficient as it runs on 90 watts and only 1 watt when in standby mode. This piece of equipment is for true music lovers as it also has a built-in digital amplifier.

MP3 Players

The Baylis Eco Media Player is a wind-up MP3 player that features video playback, a FM radio, voice recorder, text reader, expandable memory, a flashlight, and even a cell phone charger. It is estimated that you can get 15-20 minutes of play after roughly 1 minute of winding.

Many people prefer to download and listen to their music on the go with a do-it-all product, like a cell phone. The Motorola Renew is more than just a solar-powered cell phone. It is made out of recycled plastic and it comes with a prepaid envelope for having the phone recycled once you are done with it. The Samsung Reclaim, another new sustainable design, is made from 80 percent recyclable materials.

Learn More

50 Green Gadgets

E-Cycling

15 Ways to Save a Buck and a Watt

Sierra Club Recycling Center

Is your music green?

Browsing the record store for your favorite new CDs might be fun, but direct music downloading is a lot faster and sustainable. Why? Before downloads, you drove in your gas guzzler to the local music store, and then purchased CDs in those hard plastic cases which are definitely not sustainable. But all this can be avoided with digital downloads.

Oldies but Goodies

Recycling and reusing CDs is the responsible thing to do, but millions end up in landfills. This is partly due to people not knowing what to do with their old Britney Spears CD and partly due to the complicated nature of recycling discs. Thankfully, there are more eco-friendly alternatives.

• Recycle
CDs can be recycled for use in new products such as auto parts and office equipment. However, because CDs are made from many different materials such as aluminum, nickel, glass, and even gold, many recycling centers will not accept them as they are difficult to break down. Fortunately, the CD Recycling Center of America accepts old CDs from individuals, companies, schools and libraries. All you need to do is send your CDs to their recycling center and they’ll do the rest. Also, you can use SCGH’s recycling database to find a center near you that accepts CDs and records.

• Reuse as Decoration
There are many simple ways to transform your old CDs and vinyls into objects d’arte such as coasters, chandeliers, wind chimes, vinyl record wall decorations, even bird feeders. Search online for step-by-step instructions on how to turn your plain CDs and vinyls into extraordinary pieces.

• Donate
Some people collect “vintage” CDs and vinyls as a hobby. Your old CDs and vinyls can be other peoples’ treasures. Have a garage sale or donate your old music to thrift stores, vintage music stores, and even schools.

Whatever alternative way you choose to go with your old Cds, remember, throwing them away in a garbage can is never the way to go.

Benefits of digital music

…to your health
Music, in general, relaxes the mind and the soul.

…to your wallet
Music downloads often costs less than an actual CD because of the lack of all that paper and plastic. Plus, no trip to the music store required.

…to the earth
A CD itself is comprised of several layers of plastic and metal which harm the environment before and after it is made. Throughout a lifetime, a person can accumulate tens to even hundreds of CDs, all of which will sit in a landfill for years, whereas a music download might only take up a couple of minutes, perhaps, even seconds of energy on your computer.

Common Mistake
Any form of music piracy, be it illegal downloads, sharing files or making copies of CDs, can cost you thousands of dollars in fines or up to five years in prison.

Learn More

E-Cycling

15 Ways to Save a Buck and a Watt

Sierra Club Recycling Center

More efficient TVs could save a lot of energy. According to the EPA, Americans’ 275 million TVs consume over 50 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity each year. That’s 4% of U.S. households’ total electrical consumption–enough to power all the homes in the state of New York for an entire year.

So when you buy a TV you might want to see what you can do about shrinking that number. First, think about the size and type of screen. Smaller screens use less energy than big ones, so it’s smart to consider how big a screen you actually need. For example, a 52-inch TV with an LCD screen might require 400 watts or more when it is turned on, whereas a 19-inch LCD might use only 40 or 45 watts. In general LCD and CRT screens use a lot less energy than DLPs or plasmas. Even within these categories, though, are energy misers and energy hogs. Fifty-inch plasma models can vary by almost 180 watts.

To compare models, look at wattage ratings. That can be difficult, given the huge variety of TVs, but it will soon become easier. Starting in November 2008, the EPA will give an Energy Star label to the most efficient TVs. A preview of models that have already qualified, some of which are 30% more efficient than non-qualified models, is available on the Energy Star website.

Top Tips

At home

• Turn off the TV. It sounds like a no-brainer, but vast amounts of power are wasted by televisions that are on when nobody’s watching them.
• Turn off the power strip. When the TV is off, it’s a good idea to switch off the power strip, too, or unplug the TV. While today’s televisions use comparatively little power in the standby mode, it does add up.

When shopping, look for

• Energy savings. Buy an Energy Star model–and look at wattage ratings. The energy use of TVs varies widely, even within the Energy Star group.

Other Considerations

Manufacturing a TV requires heavy metals and other dangerous substances. Check out Greenpeace’s list of the manufacturers that are most responsible in handling these substances.

Benefits

…to you
If you buy and operate your TV with efficiency in mind, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing you’re not wasting energy.

…to your wallet
You can save as much as $100 a year in energy costs by buying an efficient TV.

…to the Earth
Energy-smart TVs will reduce pollution from power plants and cut emissions of global warming gases. A TV that needs 400 watts can cause the release over 6 tons of carbon dioxide each year, while some smaller or more efficient models can cut those emissions by 90 percent.

Common Mistakes

Trashing the old TV. Dumping a TV or handing it over to a company that doesn’t recycle its parts safely can sully the environment with all kinds of poisonous substances. If the TV still works well, give it to someone who can use it. Or find a responsible recycler.

Getting Started

To find recyclers in your area, go to Earth 911. Once you locate one, ask where the recyclable components will be sent and how they will be handled.

Related Products & Services

Computers

The Automower Solar Hybrid is being advertised as the “the world’s first solar electric hybrid lawn mower.” It claims to be able to mow you lawn for around 45 minutes before running low on power, at which point it heads back to it recharging station. Both the recharging station and the “automower” run off of solar power, allowing you to sit back and let the Sun mow your lawn.

The Solar Power Tent comes with its own solar panel and interior LED lights, allowing you to generate light from the Sun. You will need 4-6 hours of direct light to yield 2-4 hours of tent light. You can even use the solar panels to charge your batteries.

Helios is a grill with the energy-efficiency of a solar oven. Helios utilizes a reflective parabolic dish to focus sunlight onto a solar receptor, transforming it into usable energy. The energy travels from the parabolic dish to the grilling platform and heats a coil in order to cook food.

There are numerous manufacturers that now have picked up on the Solar Christmas Lights. Most of the manufacturers claim that you will not know the difference between their solar lights and the typical Christmas lights. These lights use the popular LED bulb and come in a variety of string lengths and bulbs. The package includes the solar panel, so all you need to do is put the panel in direct sunlight and the lights should come on at night.

The Water Watch Spray Nozzle will help those who spend a lot of time in the garden and want to be conscious of how much water they are using. This Nozzle has all the adjustable spray attachments that you are used to from a nozzle, but it is also accompanied by a water meter that will help you to not waste water.

Electronics

The Water Powered Alarm Clock creates a constant supply of energy, using a electrochemical reaction between the electrodes and the water. The best part is that you only have to fill it with water once every three months. In addition to telling time, the clock will also give you a temperature reading.

For those who love both music and the environment, we recommend the Eco-Speakers. These speakers are made from 100% recycled materials and you will not even need batteries for them, as they are powered by your MP3 player or favorite audio source.

The Motorola Renew is more than just a solar-powered cell phone. From beginning to end, this phone is Eco-friendly. It was made out of recycled plastic and it comes with a prepaid envelope for having the phone recycled once you are done with it.

Sony introduces a new LCD TV that comes in the sizes of 40 and 46 inch. The Sony Bravia WE5 Eco TV offers full HD 1080p images, retaining picture quality while cutting energy costs. This new television includes the first microtubular HCFL backlight that will lower power consumption by more than 50%. With its Smart Presence Sensor, it will actually switch off the power when the TV is not being watched.

The Amazon Kindle 2 is a paper saving invention that will allow you to order books in under 60 seconds. It is extremely slim, at just over 1/3 of an inch, and lightweight, weighing in at only 10.2 ounces. It actually holds over 1,500 books that you will be able to order through the 3G wireless network anyplace, anytime.

Orange has come out with the world’s first solar powered Bluetooth headset, the Iqua BHS-603 SUN. This headset is completely wireless and allows for 9 straight hours of talk time and up to 200 hours of standby. The Iqua BHS-603 SUN is also completely compatible with the iPhone.

The Baylis Eco Media Player is a wind-up MP3 player that features video playback, FM radio, voice recorder, text reader, expandable memory and a flashlight. In addition, you can even use it to charge your cell phone. Although there are many Eco Media Players to choose from, the Baylis seems to get the best reviews.

The Sharp BDHP21H Blu-ray Disc Player is offering all the features that most Blu-ray players are including: HDMI support, Dolby True HD, and quick start. However, it is the first one to claim to be low energy. It consumes 27 Watts of power during operation, and 0.5 Watts on standby mode.

Now kids can go play outside without leaving their video games. The entire setup is just over $1400.00, so you might have to get a part-time job to get it. But the system should be well worth the sacrifice, as you will never have to stop playing your video games again (and you will help the environment).

This incredible fan generates its own electricity using the heat of your stove. It contains a thermo-electric module that acts as a generator. When it detects heat, it will produce electricity. This fan puts out 100 CFM to help circulate warm air though your room.

Computers

Dell’s new 24-inch G Series LCD is said to be one of the greenest LCDs, as it proudly sports an EPEAT Gold rating and utilizes halogen-free laminates in circuit boards along with chassis plastics that contains 25 percent post-consumers recycled plastics. Other specs include a 1,920 x 1,080 resolution panel, 1,000:1 contrast ratio, 250 nits of brightness, VGA / DVI connectors and a 5 millisecond response time.

Marvell’s SheevaPlug PC can handle almost every basic tasks that a modern day notebook could. The computer plugs right into an AC outlet, and is basically a headless PC containing a 1.2GHz processor, 512MB of flash storage, 512MB of DDR2 RAM, USB 2.0 and Gigabit Ethernet. The most amazing benefits are that the power draw is extremely low and that it is build on a Linux operating system.

Keeping with the current fads of computing technology the Dell Studio Hybrid offers low power and it is small in size. The Hybrid even comes with a “recycling kit” that allows you to ship you old system back to Dell to be recycled.

DigitalTrends.com equated the HP’s Firebird as the computer equivalent of getting the performance of a Ferrari with the gas mileage of a Festiva. The HP Firebird is a high-powered machine that runs only a small 350-watt power supply, which is a large contract to the gaming computers that require 1,000 watts.

Many have called the Asus Bamboo Laptop the Holy Grail in laptop computing. This notebook features Core 2 Duo processor, 12.1 in screen, full-sized keyboard and Vista Home Premium. Furthermore, they decided to make the laptop as green as possible, no more noticeably than by encasing the entire machine in bamboo.

The Hand-Powered RITI Printer is one of the most innovative green gadgets available. It actually uses coffee instead of ink. In addition to recycling your grounds, the printer also uses good old-fashioned elbow grease to move the grounds cartridge back and forth, saving power with each piece of paper printed.

The HP LaserJet CM2320n is the first color laser engineered from the start to be a power saver with redesigned motors, power supply and fuser. The scanner is illuminated with low-power LEDs. Together, these components cut the printer’s power draw by half when it’s churning out pages. The printer only uses 5 Watts when it is idle, which is a third of the average printer.

D-Link Corp.’s DGS-2208 8-port gigabit switch hardly wastes a watt, shutting down LAN connections as they stop being needed. For most home networks, the network will only be used for about half the day so it can make more of a difference that you might imagine.

Energy Meters, Detectors, and Monitors

The Black & Decker Thermal Leak Detector helps take the guesswork out of finding energy leaks in your home. This small device makes it easy to identify hidden leaks coming from windows, doors, floors, electrical outlets, walls, pipes – virtually anywhere that energy loss occurs. Not bad when you consider that plugging leaks and drafts in your home can save up to 20% off your heating and cooling energy costs.

The first step to cutting back on your energy usage is to know how much you are using. The Energy Detective offers real-time monitoring, on a screen, of the wattage your house consumes at any given moment. You can even view your monthly utility bill as you rack it up.

According to NewScientist.com, Energy Vampires are electronic devices that use power even in standby mode. The solution is to put a pair of sticky-backed lenses over the standby light and turn them into a pair of glowing, sinister eyes.

The Wattson unit, is a box that displays a color based on your current energy usage. If you are not using much electricity, it will glow a calming blue color. But if you start wasting energy by running numerous appliances at once, the Wattson will turn red.

This is one gadget that you will need if you have children. Having children can cost you extra money each month on your electricity bill because of their electronic devices that stay turned on all day. The Power Hog allows parents to monitor exactly how much time their kids are spending watching television or playing video games. The best part about Power Hog is that it works as a easy-to-use piggy bank to help children visualize and understand that using electricity costs money. In order for the device to run, you must drop a coin into the top of the pig. At that point, each deposit will provide 30 minutes of electricity to power the device. This a fun and educational way to learn about electricity and the cost of it.

The Belkin Conserve Energy-Saving Surge Protector can help you turn off all the electronics that are using phantom power. On top of two outlets that are always powered, it has six outlets that are controlled by a hand-held wireless remote control. Flip the switch, and the power is turned off, period — no more phantom power.

The Kiwi Fuel-Saving Device will allow you to drive green and save gas! The device plugs into your car’s on-board diagnostic II port to collect driving data. It’s compatible with all 1996 vehicles and up giving you a detailed sensor information about your vehicles speed, RPM, engine load, and oxygen sensor readings. The goal is to obtain the highest possible “Kiwi Score”. By doing so your Kiwi will show you how much money on gas you will save compared to the last trip you took with Kiwi installed. On average, most people notice a 20% improvement in MPG in just a few days.

It’s amazing just how much energy is being sucked out by our appliances. The Kill-A-Watt is a get way of helping you to calculate and cut unnecessary costs. It’s so easy. All you do is connect the Kill-A-Watt to your appliances and it will assess how efficient they are. On a LCD display, it will count consumption by the Kilowatt-hour, much like what a utility company does. What is nice about this gadget is that you can then figure out how much your are spending on your electrical expenses by the hour, day, week, month, and even an entire year.

Alternative Energy

The Solio Mg has been claimed by its manufacturer to be, “the most powerful and versatile hybrid charger ever made”. Solio is an unfolding solar panel that can charge your gadgets, cellphones, iPods, cameras, and other portable devices. One of its amazing features is that the energy it stocks in one hour of sunlight exposure can provide you with 20-25 minutes of phone talking. It has the most efficient technology for solar panels and the highest capacity battery to store power, being able to hold its charge for up to one year.

The Eco Charger not only looks like a standard charger, but it works just like one too. However, instead of continuing to drain energy when its services are no longer needed, a simple press of a button will ensure this charger cuts off all power when your phone has acquired all the juice it needs. This is a huge benefit because most phone chargers waste 95% of the energy used when they are still plugged in after the charging is complete.

The Voltaic Generator Solar Laptop Charger has solar chargers designed to charge virtually all hand held electronics. Powerful enough to fully charge a laptop from a day of direct sunlight and also charge cell phones, this device will completely amaze you. All Voltaic bags come with a custom battery pack which stores any surplus power generated, so it is available when you need it – not just when the sun is up.

The Mini Kin Personal Wind Turbine Charger is a mini wind turbine that you can use to charge your many electronic devices. There are a number of holders this turbine comes with so that you can wind while you are performing many activities. The charger is compatible with a variety of devices that accept standard or mini USB plugs.

The nPower PEG is a small, lightweight device that allows you to create renewable energy while you walk or run. Just place the PEG in your backpack, briefcase, or handbag, and plug it into your iPod, cell phone, or GPS. As you walk, the PEG harvests the kinetic energy that you’re already generating and converts it into usable power for recharging your handheld electronic devices.

This PowerFilm AA Foldable Solar Charger is lightweight, thin, and recharges AA batteries in a very effective manner. The main feature of this charges is that is works in varying sunlight conditions and the charging circuit does not get confused from the varying conditions.

We have all hit the point where our cell phone is running low on battery. Now all you will have to do is take the reel-like hand crank and give it a few minutes of turning and you will be able to talk on your phone again for another 25-30 minutes. This charger also has a built in flashlight so you can find what you need in a power outage.

The Wind-Helmet has a windmill in your helmet. Wind flows over the helmet, through the propeller in the rear, and stores energy in a set of rechargeable batteries for later use. Although there are a lot of power chargers out there, the Wind-Helmet allows for you generate power with something you will already be using.

The Solio Hybrid 1000 is a charger that lets you power your gadgets on the go. A fully charged device should power your iPod for 10 hours of playback. One hour of sunshine should provide about 15 minutes of cellphone talk time or 40 minutes of MP3 playback on a portable media player.

Appliances

The Eco Kettle looks like any stylish Kettle you might find, except for the fact that it is very Eco-friendly. You are able to fill this kettle all the way up to 8 cups of water, however, you are given the option of how many cups you would like to boil. This way you do not waste energy boiling water that you are not going to use right now.

A hair greener than other styling tools, the ceramic ECO Dryer is equipped with a low EMF heating output, negating radiation while drying you hair as any other blow dryer would.

The Spin-X Spindryer energy saving capabilities are supposed to save you an estimated $1,100 in three years. In addition, the Spin-X can remove one quart of water from clothes taken out of your machine. The extracted water goes into a storage container. It also removes soap, detergents, perfumes and chemicals into the container.

This Eco-friendly refrigerator offers different compartments that can be switched off if they are not in use. The idea is that at certain points your refrigerator may not be full of food and you can turn off the parts that you are not using. In addition, the bottom section is actually cooled by a water reservoir which is ideal for storing fruit and vegetables.

The GreenCore 10200 is a solar-powered air conditioner that can actually use the sun that is heating up your home to cool it off. Although it comes equipped with a 170-watt panel, the Green Core can switch to battery power if the sun is not shining.

Just imagine if cutting back on all the wasted water from toilet flushing. The PropelAir only uses 1.5 liters of water to flush the bowl, in comparison to the 9.5 liter average. This toilet actually uses air to displace the waste, and just a little bit of water to wash the bowl.

Lighting

Litroenergy is a light source material that can actually emit light for 12 plus years without electricity or sun exposure. Furthermore, the light source is inexpensive, non-toxic, and does not need a power source. If we produce it on a mass scale it could potentially save billions of dollars.

Blight Blinds were named from combining the words “blind” and “light.” The Blight Blinds are a brilliant invention that turn you blinds into a solar panel. During the day your blinds will absorb the Sun’s rays and at night you will be able to light up your house.

The SolarMature is a solar-powered desktop or bedside lamp. The lamp is completely stand alone and uses internal rechargeable batteries, which are charged via the solar panels. Put the lamp outside during the day, and on your desk in the night.

Purely Anion’s energy efficient light builds are both energy-saving and air-cleaning. Our homes are filled with positive ions emitted from electrical devices. This light bulb will remove the positive ions in your home, leaving the air clean and fresh.