LOOKING FOR A NEW COMPUTER?
If you are looking for a new computer this year in pursuit for more speed, memory or features the ever-changing industry has to offer, you are most likely not alone. It is estimated that about 70 million computers were bought last year in the US alone. Taking into consideration the fact that computers use about 394 kilowatt hours of electricity in a year, the 70 million PCs amount to over 18 million more tons of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere!
So if you are environmentally conscious and trying to go for something that is least harmful, here are a few tips that hopefully will shed some light on the process of finding a “green” computer and using it in a “green” way:
• Look for energy star rated electronics—the Environmental Protection Agency’s latest rating requires computers and monitors to use 20-50 % less energy. Laptops, however, must use at most 22 watts while idle, 1.7 watts in sleep mode and 1.0 watts in standby.
• Check the computer’s energy consumption in idle mode—by doing this, you’ll get the best estimation of the device’s overall energy use since the computers use varying amounts of energy depending on what actions they perform.
• Look for EPEAT ranking—it’s a system (created by Environmental Protection Agency and Greener Electronic Council) awarding computers from bronze to gold and rating them against a number of criteria and categories ,e.g. toxics reduction, recycled content, energy efficiency, ease of recycling, product longevity, company environmental performance, product takeback and recycling programs, and packaging. Moreover, all computers awarded EPEAT comply to Restriction of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (ROHs)—a decree created by the European Union in 2006 in order to reduce the use of cadmium, lead, mercury, hexavalent chromium and certain brominated flame retardants in electronics, including computers.
• Ask about the takeback programs—With an increasing number of electronic waste, manufacturers are beginning to implement the takeback policy. Look for companies that offer most convenient options of returning your old computer. Some companies, for instance Dell or Apple, take back any old computers, even if not manufactured by them when you buy a new computer. However, other companies may charge you for shipping the old electronic back.
• Make sure you properly dispose of an old computer—even if the takeback program is not available anywhere near you, you can still dispose of the device without putting hazardous materials in the landfills. Here are just a couple of things you can do:
1. donate it to a local school, center, charity or nonprofit group for reuse,
2. find a trustworthy recycler who will safely disable your computer in the US (instead shipping it off to one of the third world countries)
Shopping tips:
• Try upgrading an old machine first—consider this step before you buy a new machine to get the performance you want. Desktops are usually easier to upgrade than laptops.
• Buy an easily upgradable computer.
• Resist flashy video and audio components if you don’t need them— a lot of add-ons will cause a computer to use more energy.
• Look for less inefficient packaging—look for companies that use recycled materials for their packaging or ones that are reusable, recyclable or can be sent back to the manufacturer to be reused.
And finally, one of the most important things you can do to help the earth breath a bit easier—turn your computer off when not in use! It is estimated that 20% of computers are left turned on at night and on the weekends. Set your computer to enter standby or sleep mode after 30 to 60 minutes of inactivity. To save even more, set your monitors to enter sleep mode after 5 to 20 minutes of inactivity. The lower the setting, the more energy you’ll save. Besides having “green” benefits, it will also prolong your machine’s life by reducing waste heat. So go to your home office and check if all your electronic devices are turned off and if not… well, you know what to do…
WHAT IS AIR POLLUTION?
Have you ever thought what (other than the smog hanging over the cities of the world) constitutes air pollution? And what exactly does it mean in terms of global warming?
Well, simply speaking, the air pollution is basically any substance people emit into the atmosphere that has damaging effects on the environment.
That said, there are various kinds of pollution; some visible, like smog, others not. The most commonly known pollutant is carbon dioxide, which is also considered the main greenhouse gas contributing to global warming. CO2 is emitted every time any living creature breathes however most people associate it with cars, planes and other human activities involving burning fossil fuels. Over the last two centuries the steady growth of CO2 emissions combined with deforestation on increasingly larger scales resulted in raising the carbon dioxide levels higher than they have been for thousands of years previously. And that, of course, causes the warming of the earth’s climate.
Methane and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are another type of greenhouse gasses. The former one comes from livestock and swamps, while the latter were used in refrigerants and aerosols until, luckily, they were banned when scientists discover their damaging effects on the ozone layer.
Sulfur dioxide is an element of smog (yet another air pollutant) and known mainly as a cause of acid rains. However, sulfur dioxide and similar chemicals in the atmosphere reflect light which, in turn, keeps the sun out and helps the planet cool. Volcanic eruptions used to be the main source of sulfur dioxide present in the atmosphere and sometimes cooled the Earth for years. With the industrial revolution, however, human activities took over the sulfur dioxide emissions.
Since this particular chemical is part of smog along with smoke and other constituents, many cities have worked to reduce its levels. Ironically, lower sulfur dioxide levels may aggravate global warming. How? Whether it comes from the volcanoes or humans, sulfur dioxide has been proven to cool the planet by blocking the sun rays. And with other greenhouse gasses trapping the heat, perhaps it is what we need to at least slow down the warming of the planet’s climate?
NATURAL EGG DYES
Easter is just around a corner and you have probably made most of the planning and shopping for the holiday. And if you have kids, a big eggstravaganza is most likely number one on your list. So you’ve bought the organic or at least locally produced eggs and now you’re getting ready to dye them and make them pretty and fun… But did you know that most of the dyes on the market are made with potentially harmful coloring agents (FD&C Red 40 or FD&C Yellow 6) and petroleum derived ingredients? Once you think about, it isn’t something you would want to expose you kids to, if it could be avoided. Fortunately, it can. There are many ways in which colorful dyes can be made from plant-based ingredients, for example pomegranate, spinach or beets. They are not only save for you and your children but inexpensive and environment friendly as well.
The subsequent items provide a wide range of colors and textures to create an exceptional Easter basket:
• yellow—orange or lemon peels, carrot tops or shredded carrots, celery seeds, ground cumin, ground turmeric
• red/pink—beets or beet peels, juice from the pickled beets, red onion skins, pickled red cabbage juice, cranberries or cranberry juice, chopped rhubarb chalks, raspberries, red grape juice
• orange—yellow onion skins, paprika
• dark orange—chili powder
• green—spinach
• blue—red cabbage, blueberries or blueberry juice, blackberries, purple grape juice
• lavender—violet blossoms with two tablespoons of lemon juice, small amount of purple grape juice, small quantity of red onion skins
• brown/tan—dill seeds, black walnut shells, strong or instant coffee, tea
You can substitute canned vegetables for frozen or fresh ones, however the colors will not be as bright. Herbal or black tea will provide varying shades of greens, reds and browns.
In order to make 4 cups of dye, combine the following ingredients in a pot: 1 Tblsp of a spice or 4 cups of a chopped fruit or vegetable, 4 cups of water, 2 Tblsps of white vinegar (helps the dye stick to the eggs). Bring to a boil and let simmer for 15-30 minutes. The longer the mixture will simmer, the darker the color will become. Also, adding more of a particular component will result in a darker hue.
There are two methods of making a dye—hot and cold. If you choose the hot method, you can cook the eggs right in the mixture while it’s being prepared. With the cold method, however, you need to let the mixture cool and strain it. Dip the hard-boiled eggs in the dye for about 15 minutes (longer if you want a darker color).
So happy coloring and happy Easter!
ORGANIC DRY CLEANING. DOES IT EXIST?
With all the ecological happenings, you have probably heard a term “organic dry cleaning”. But is there such a thing as organic dry cleaning? It almost seems like a perfect oxymoron—how can dry cleaning even be organic? Doesn’t it contradict one another? Everyone knows that dry cleaning in itself entails using chemicals (which are everything but organic). Or does it? Are there natural products that could be used to substitute the harsh chemicals in use nowadays?
Unfortunately, there aren’t any regulations of the term “organic” when it comes to dry cleaning. Most dry cleaners identify themselves as “organic” or “natural” mainly because they stopped using a hazardous chemical called perchloroethylene (or perc), which is considered an air pollutant and a probable human carcinogen. Additionally, it contaminates water and soil. The Environmental Protection Agency passed a law in 2006 requiring all dry cleaners in residential buildings to fade out perc by 2020. Many dry cleaners replaced perc with other supposedly safe chemicals, e.g. DF-2000 or quite popular siloxane D5. Some organizations claim that the use of these chemicals is safe for consumers, workers and the environment however, there are others that disagree. In fact, Greenpeace declared that the production of siloxane requires heat and chlorine, which can form the cancer-causing substance dioxin, and the chemical itself has been found in the human fat.
Wet cleaning and carbon dioxide cleaning are the greenest options available, and wet cleaning is actually considered the most environmentally safe and is recommended by Greenpeace. It uses computer-controlled washers and dryers to wash and dry garments before ironing or steam pressing. The process replaces harsh solvents with less-toxic detergents, which are milder than traditional home laundry detergents. Moreover, it doesn’t pollute air or water and has no harmful health affects. CO2 cleaning uses food-based grade carbon dioxide (the same stuff used in carbonated drinks), which, when exposed to a lot pressure, changes from gas to liquid which, in turn, is used to clean fabrics and such with significantly less health and environmental risks. This method, however, tends to be more expensive than your traditional dry cleaning because of the necessary equipment involved in the process.
But the greenest and most environmentally friendly method of cleaning some of your more delicate garments is simply hand washing with a very mild detergent and line drying them (weather permitting). So there you go…
GREEN KIND OF PAINT
There are increasingly more green products on the market these days, which makes being eco-friendly that much easier… One of such products is natural paint, so changing colors on the walls of your house does not have to be a health risk. The most important thing to look for in any type of paint is a reduced level of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and, of course, low odor.
There are a number of natural paints available on the market. The oldest type seems to be milk paint, which has been around for about 6000 years! This kind of paint does not contain any chemical solvents and is made of a milk protein and lime mixed with earth pigments. It usually comes in a form of powder and has to be mix with water immediately before use. Unfortunately, for those of us used to the nice sheen of the latex paint, the milk paint does not deliver. Its finish is matte and quite dull, although the colors are rich and it goes on easily. Furthermore, it requires sealing with a water-based acrylic clear finish, which contains ammonia, to prevent water spotting.
Similar to milk paints are clay ones, which are also solvent-free and use, besides clay, naturally derived raw materials, for instance tree resins. The main ingredients are water, clay, chalk, alcohol ester, cellulose, and a preservative, creating a paint that is incredibly easy to clean up and easy on the lungs. The clay paints come in a variety of colors and they give a warm, subtle finish.
Then, there are VOC-free paints that use pigments based on the East Indian healing system. Although they have a slight odor, these are easily cleaned and offer the least toxic ingredients (without formaldehyde, solvents, heavy metals or other hazardous components), as well as a nice semi-gloss finish. This type of paint will also be easier to find in your neighborhood store than the clay and milk ones.
However, if you need something widely available, consider interior latex zero-VOC and low-odor alternatives. Like their conventional counterparts, they offer a number of colors to choose form. So, find your own green paint that suits the personality of you and your house and happy painting!