Technology

September 9, 2009

Geek-Ready Style: Eco-Friendly Bamboo Computer Accessories

Given the heat that always seems to be emanating from my HP DV2 laptop, I’ve been hunting for an eco-friendly cooling pad, or at least some sort of laptop stand. I had resigned myself to buying a used option until I came across this beautiful set at Viva Terra.

The laptop stand is made of bamboo, and it includes a large air vent, which is supposed to keep the computer cool. I’m not sure how cool my computer would be, but at least it would no longer burn me as it sat in my lap. It also has two built-in cradles for charging other devices. For me, this is ideal, since I’m almost always charging my computer and iPhone at the same time.

What I love even more though, is something I wasn’t even looking for. Also available is a unique, quirky mouse, also made of bamboo. Who says computer peripherals have to be made of cheap plastic?

Why It’s Green:

Both made of bamboo

Price: $39-69 (aff)

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August 12, 2009

HP’s DV2 Laptop is Energy Star Rated, but is it Green?

Whenever I’m researching a product that I need, I always try to consider whether an eco-friendly option is available. In the world of technology, “green” usually translates as “energy efficient.” I won’t discount that as an important feature, because devices like computers and televisions tend to be energy hogs, and efficiency is essential. But because so many gadgets out there are energy efficient, my next criteria is to find out what else is green about it.

In my preparation for BlogHer, I was seeking a sponsor for a laptop so that could blog and tweet the event in real time. HP came to my aid and offered me an opportunity to evaluate their DV2 laptop. I was thrilled, of course, but my first question was “Is it green?” They told me that it was ENERGY STAR qualified. So my reponse was, “Great. What else?”

Turns out that “what else” has to do with the computer’s packaging, which has been greatly reduced from previous HP laptops. The DV2 came in a small box, as you might expect from a laptop. However, unlike many machines that come packaged in styrofoam, the DV2′s packaging is 100% recyclable. It is composed of cardboard, corrugated paper and #4 plastic wrapping. I received the laptop after I had arrived in Chicago for BlogHer, and I was able to recycle every single piece of packaging via the business center at the Sheraton Chicago.

As computers go, I’d say this puts the DV2 in the light/medium green category. I do wish that the focus on sustainability went deeper, though, perhaps in the form of a case made of recycled plastic or a reduction in the amount of chemicals used. That said, here are my pros and cons for the DV2.

What I like:

It has a sleek, glossy case: I absolutely love the look of the DV2. It screams great design, and I can literally see my reflection in the case.
At just 12 inches, it fits comfortably in my purse, making it a great traveling companion.
It has 4 GB of RAM, which is quite a bit more than many laptops at this price point will offer. In fact, that’s quite a bit more than many desktops offer too. This has resulted in pretty speedy performance.
Typing on the keyboard is very quiet, which is a relief after tapping away at a noisy desktop all day.
It comes with an external Blu-ray drive. I don’t have any movies to watch on it yet, but this is a huge bonus, and I can’t wait to see the difference in quality between Blu-ray and traditional DVDs.
It comes with a built-in 5-in-1 memory card reader. I’m so used to plugging in my camera via USB that it was a welcome surprise to be able to slip my SD card directly into the card reader with no hassle. Since I take tons and tons of photos with my new Nikon D40, this is a really big plus for me.

What I don’t like:

As much as I love that glossy finish, it’s a magnet for fingerprints and smudges. In HP’s defense, the DV2 does come with a microfiber cleaning cloth. But is there any way to make the case both glossy AND fingerprint resistant? I know that may be asking a lot, but I hate having to wipe it down before and after every use.
The DV2 gets very hot, very fast. I have to put it on a table or a pillow rather than directly on my lap. But I guess that’s why someone invented cooling pads for laptops, right?
The speakers are on the bottom of the computer. This is especially annoying when I’m using it on top of a pillow, because the sound gets muffled.

Overall, I’m really enjoying the DV2, and I can’t wait to watch some Blu-ray movies! And while I wish that it had some greener features, I’ll try to maximize the already great energy efficiency of the DV2 by actually turning it off when I’m not using it, a habit HP is trying to encourage with their Power to Change initiative.

Why It’s Green:

ENERGY STAR® qualified
Packaging is 100% recyclable

Price: On sale for $698 at Walmart

(sponsored opp)

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August 3, 2009

Greening Your iPhone: 10 Great Eco-Friendly Apps

You may love the Earth and all its inhabitants, but a diva is a diva, and an eco diva must have a way to stay in touch with all her people. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t quick to covet the iPhone 3G as soon as I saw the first ad. Thanks to my membership in Walmart’s Elevenmoms, I now own one. And I love it as much as I thought I would.

But given the iPhone’s knack for being able to perform tasks you could never dream of, I knew I could find ways to make it more useful in my everyday journey toward green living. Here are my favorite apps for the iPhone and iPod Touch to make your eco-existence richer. Some are free and some will cost you a buck or two, but all of them have great green benefits:

1. Good Guide

I love this app. Really. Good Guide provides access to ratings for hundreds of products based on their green credentials. This includes toys, food and personal care products. They are rated based on what they are made of, how they are made and whether the companies that make them are socially and environmentally responsible. So if you’re at the grocery store and trying to decide between Dr. Bronner’s and Suave, Good Guide will help you decide. And if you don’t have an iPhone, you can get the same information directly from the Good Guide website, and you can even send text messages from any mobile phone to learn about the products you’re looking for. I use this app on a regular basis. Free. (aff)

2. 3rd Whale

The 3rd Whale app will help you find green businesses that are nearby. This could be anything from a restaurant that serves vegetarian cuisine to a fair trade retailer or bicycle shop. The four categories available are food, ecotourism, retail and spa/fitness. It has a database of about 30 major cities in the U.S. and Canada, and the app delivers a map and directions to the listings. It also allows users to rate the greenness of a business. Their goal is to offer listings for 1000 cities, and I hope they get there soon. $1.99. (aff)

3. Dirty Produce

This is for people like me who can’t always afford to buy organic produce. The Dirty Produce app will tell you which produce you should always try to buy organic (read: the ones that contain the highest incidence of pesticides) and which conventionally-grown produce you can get away with buying. If you don’t have an iPhone, you could always download this as a PDF and keep it in your purse or wallet. Free. (aff)

4. greenMeter

Gas mileage is a very subjective science, and your fuel efficiency is determined, in large part, by what kind of driver you are. greenMeter uses your iPhone’s accelerometer to measure your vehicle’s power and fuel consumption, and it will also help evaluate your driving style. The data, provided in detailed graphs, can help you increase your gas mileage and reduce fuel costs, thereby lowering your environmental impact. It is pretty advanced, but not as complicated as it sounds. That technology will cost you a little, though. $5.99. (aff)

5. iRecycle

Even the most dedicated recycler will sometimes need to find out how they can responsibly dispose of old batteries, half-used cans of paint or motor oil. Nonprofit organization Earth911 created the iRecycle app to help users find recycling and disposal locations across the country.Get directions to your nearest recycling centers and find out what they will accept. You’ll have access to more 100,000 recycling and disposal locations for more than 200 materials, and you can get additional information like hours of operation and their Web site. You can even call locations directly from the search results — an incredibly helpful feature. Free. (aff)

6. Local Reuse

If you have items that aren’t recyclable or that could be reused by someone, somewhere, LocalReuse will help you find that someone to take it off your hands. It will also help you find these types of items, if you happen to be looking for them. It helps divert objects that would otherwise be bound for the landfill, not to mention it links people with local freebies. To find what’s available in your area, simply enter your zipcode. If you don’t have an iPhone, you can also post and search for local freebies online. Free. (aff)

7. GreenCard

Despite it’s name, this is not an immigration app. GreenCard allows you to share your contact information with other iPhone users — a digital business card, if you will. The Bump app will do much the same thing. However, what I like about this app is that if you modify your card and contact information in the future, anyone who has received it in the past will also receive that update within a minute. Free. (aff)

8. A Real Tree

We all know that planting trees is a hallmark of the green movement. But how many of us have actually gone out there and planted a tree. I know I haven’t. For each person who buys A Real Tree, an actual tree will be planted in one of 12 countries that are fighting deforestation. Not a bad deal for less than a dollar, even if the app doesn’t do a whole lot else. $0.99. (aff)

9. GreenSpot

If you like to keep abreast of the latest happenings in the green revolution, you’ll need an app to provide you with that news. GreenSpot allows you to follow the latest green headlines from sources like the New York Times, the Associated Press, and Yahoo! News. You’ll get news on topics like covering keywords like sustainable, renewable, green energy, organic farming and more. $1.99. (aff)

10. The Green Lemur

The name sounds a little silly and the icon isn’t much better, but The Green Lemur provides helpful tips for going green every day. Some of the tips are painfully obvious and ones you’ve heard before, like reading eBooks instead of paperbacks, but a lot of them are genuinely helpful. It’s well organized and easy to navigate, so you should have no trouble finding some tips that will lead you to a more eco-friendly lifestyle. And that was the point of this whole exercise, so I figured this was a good app to end with. Free. (aff)

So, iPhone and iPod Touch users, are there any other green apps that I missed? What are they and what is helpful about them? Share your finds in the comments below.

(sponsored opp) - I received the iPhone via the Walmart Elevenmoms program

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