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What Happens to My Old Gadgets
We all love a few favourite gadgets and no matter how old they get, our heart aches to bid adieu to them. However, at some point in time we are forced to part ways with our favourite gadgets and welcome another new technology. Recent research has shown that all electronic waste needs to be disposed of rather than shipping them to poorer countries to get the dirty work done. The need to professionally recycle old and used gadgets has increased greatly over the last few years. It has been researched that anything having a printed circuit...
read moreHow Much Energy (and Money) Are you Wasting?
In order to save money on your energy bills it’s important to first understand your energy waste points. Energy can be wasted in a number of different ways, and once you know what to look for you’ll be seeing it everywhere. Seal drafts First of all if you feel a draft coming in, that means air can escape, so seal up any drafts around windows and doors with some draft tape and invest in a few draft excluders for along the bottom of your door. Do you have an attic? These guys are particularly guilty for air leakage so ensure they are...
read moreWhat is Solar Energy and How Can you Incorporate it in Your Life?
Solar energy doesn’t get enough credit in the United States. While European countries have embraced the power of the sun, it’s much less widely used in America. In 2013, renewable energy sources only accounted for approximately 10% of total energy consumption and 13% of electricity generation in the U.S (EIA). Many people shy away from it because of the initial investment, not realizing that there are many ways they can incorporate it into their lives. What Is Solar Energy? Solar energy uses the power of the sun to power...
read moreWhat do I do with my old batteries from my home?
So you go to use the remote to change the TV channel and nothing happens. Changing the batteries within the remote will make it work again but what do you do with the old batteries? You should no longer put them into the bin but instead recycle them, let’s look at how. One of the easiest places to recycle your old batteries is the place where you purchase your new ones. In the UK any shop that sells more than 32kg (around 350 packs) of batteries per annum must provide a collection facility. All major supermarkets and electrical retailers...
read moreHow To Use Heat from Data Centers to Power Buildings
Data centers make it easier and more cost-effective for businesses of all sizes to safely store their vital information. However, as the world’s data storage needs continuously increase, it has become necessary to build huge centers that require an immense amount of energy to operate. This is primarily because servers need to be kept below a certain temperature, and this cooling actually generates a lot of heat. Consequently, many companies and cities have begun embracing the idea of harnessing this energy to help provide...
read moreFireplaces & Their Effect On The Environment
It might seem a cruel piece of legislation to introduce at this time of the year, with winters icy hand lingering, but the Greek government have imposed restrictions on the use of solid fuel burning fireplaces due to the emissions and the smog clouds which choke the air as a result. More Greeks have been using solid fuel to create fires in their homes as, in the midst of an economic crash, they cannot afford to heat their homes any other way. Call The Police? The policy has raised questions about how it will be policed – will police patrol...
read moreOrganic Gardening: Protecting from Pests and Protecting the Planet
While growing a garden is one of the most environmentally friendly activities you can engage in, you can cause more harm than good for the planet if you use chemical-laden substances to get rid of weeds and pests. Herbicides and pesticides can quickly spread and contaminate your soil and neighbors’ land, too. It’s usually best to stick with natural solutions to keep your garden free of weeds and pests while protecting the planet. Here are some natural herbicides and pesticides that are highly effective for you to try this growing...
read moreCan Energy Saving Products Save the World?
Nowadays, we are so used to having electricity that an hour long brownout would actually leave us whining. However, we also know the consequences if all our resources run out (and would leave us whining for all eternity), but the question is, are we doing something to avoid that day from coming? No? Shame. But hey, some people are actually making a difference by using energy saving products. Maybe you are a skeptic and you are rolling your eyes thinking “really, tell me about it”. In all honesty, energy saving devices can’t save the...
read moreEco Friendly Heating Options
As we should all be aware by now, heating our home can become very costly all too easily; not only in terms of money out of pockets, but the environmental impact humanity is having on our planet. When we heat our homes our heating systems are normally running off gas, oil or electricity, the first two of which are non-renewable and environmentally damaging fossil fuels. Normally electricity is no better as burning these types of fossil fuel, all of which end up releasing detrimental pollutants into the atmosphere and environment, is often the...
read moreThe Impact Of Air Conditioning On Your Bill & Why You Should Go Solar
I recently had a nasty surprise on my energy bill. My usual small bill of $220 a quarter jumped to a whopping $400. Quite steep. My initial reaction was that it was likely due to the carbon tax but quickly realised that, despite it being winter I had my air con running a LOT. (It gets stuffy and air conditioning in Brisbane is basically an all year round necessity, so sue me). The increase was not budgeted for so I had a major problem! I crunched some numbers and realised that if I went solar, if the cost of the air con was calculated, the...
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