Technology

A new study done by an engineering professor at Stanford University has found that the energy efficiency of computers doubles roughly every 18 months, and has done so since the very first general purpose computer, the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC) that was built in 1956.

With help from Intel and Microsoft, Professor Jonathan Koomey was able to gather information about computing devices from 1956 until now and with this new finding, Koomey is revising and improving Moore's law - the observation that computer processing power doubles every 18 months.  Fortunately, the things that contribute to that power improvement (reducing component size, capacitance and communication time between them) also increase energy efficiency.

This finding has great implications for the future of computers and battery-powered devices.  As we constantly increase the performance power of computers and gadgets, we'll be improving their energy efficiency as well - a much needed trend as we become more reliant on our portable devices.

Also, theoretically, we're far from the limit of how much electricity we can save.  In 1985, physicists projected that we could improve computer energy efficiency by a factor of 100 billion and since then we've only hit a factor of about 40,000.

via MIT Tech Review

The Energy Star program has been working on making its qualifications stricter, but across all the appliances there are still many bearing the label that aren't really that much of an improvement over other models.  To make it clearer which appliances are really the best of the best, Energy Star will now identify the top tier appliances with a "Most Efficient" label.

The new label will apply to just 5 percent of Energy Star washing machines, heating and cooling equipment, televisions and refrigerators/freezers.  The EPA may add more categories of appliances later this year.

To give you an idea of what the new label means, for refrigerators/freezers to earn the "Most Efficient" title, they have to be 30 percent more efficient than standard models, while TVs will have to be about 80 percent more efficient that standard models.  Out of the existing 1,800 refrigerators and freezers that are Energy Star certified, only 15 qualify for the new label, while only 18 out of the 1,400 Energy Star TVs qualify.

While the Energy Star label should carry more weight than it does, it's still a good that the most efficient appliances are being properly identified and hopefully the new label will inspire more competition from companies to create even more efficient products.

via Greenbiz

A recent study by the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) finds that cable and digital recording devices are now "the single largest electricity drain in many American homes." The study found that "In 2010, set-top boxes in the United States consumed approximately 27 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity, which is equivalent to the annual output of nine average (500 MW) coal-fired power plants."

This power consumption translates to roughly $3 billion in annual electricity costs paid by consumers, as well as being responsible for the release of 16 million metric tons of CO2 emissions each year. Furthermore, according to the NRDC report, an average HD set-top cable box and HD-DVR uses more energy (446 kWh/year) than an average 21 cubic foot Energy Star refrigerator (415 kWh/year).

Even worse than the "standby drain" of electricity used by equipment in a supposedly "off" position, many of these television set-top boxes - which include cable and satellite equipment, digital video recorders (DVR), and the like - are on 24 hours a day. Power strips can be useful for turning off these vampire loads, but consumers are reluctant to use those when they want their DVRs to be able to record programs.

NRDC points out that these devices could be designed to be more energy efficient, but that the service companies who provide these to consumers feel little incentive to do so, since it is the end users who pay for that power use.

image: CC-BY 2.0 by Scott Thomson

via: New York Times

Amazon announced that its Kindle e-books are now officially outselling all print books, including paperbacks and hardcover editions.  For every 100 print books sold, Amazon sells 105 Kindle books, a trend that the company expects to keep increasing.

The new figures do not include the free e-books, which would push the ratio of e-books to print ones even further in the e-books favor.  The numbers do include, however, print books that are not available in a Kindle edition.

Kindle books surpassed hardcover sales in July 2010, then paperback sales in December 2010 and now they outsell both combined.  Amazon said it has already sold three times as many e-books so far in 2011 than it did in the same time period of 2010.

A study last year by the Cleantech Group found that a Kindle has a lower carbon footprint than print books once you replace the purchase of 22.5 new books with e-books.  Now that Amazon is selling so many e-books, it's clear people are reducing their reading-related carbon footprints very quickly.

via Mother Nature Network

Images via Amazon

Another complaint against compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) will have to go by the wayside with the introduction of a new hybrid bulb from GE that is able to come to immediate full brightness as soon as it is switched on. As with cars, where hybrids combine the best properties of two transport technologies, hybrids are now an option for light bulbs, combining immediate brightness of halogen with the energy savings of a compact fluorescent.

The bulb itself is in a conventional incandescent-shape. Inside that is a now-familiar coil of compact fluorescent tubing. But, at the center of that is a small halogen capsule. When the light is turned on, both the halogen and the CFL come on, so that the bulb has full brightness immediately available. Once the CFL has reached its full brightness, the halogen portion automatically turns off, so that the life of the bulb is conserved.

The hybrid bulbs have an expected lifetime of 8,000 hours, about 8x as long as incandescent bulbs, and close to the expected life of regular CFLs. Additionally, these hybrid bulbs have a lower level of mercury than most currently available CFLs. The hybrid bulbs contain just 1 mg of mercury, while most current CFLs have 1.5 to 3.5 mg of mercury.

The hybrid bulbs are available for 60- and 75-watt replacement and should now be starting to appear in retail stores, with an expected price range of $5.99 to $9.99.

via: GE Hybrid Halogen

(Photo by blakespot via Flickr Creative Commons)

We all have our preferences when it comes to buying and using gadgets. The way we purchase, care for, use, and dispose of our gadgets can vary widely. But when it comes to gadget ownership, it seems as though a few distinct personality types shine through.

Awhile ago we made up two personalities, the Gadget Minimalist and the Gadget Gottahavist, as we took a look at energy savings. But now, we're prying the lid to the can of worms open just a little farther and taking a more detailed look at the styles of electronics consumers.

So it's gut-check time - which personality type are you, and how green can you get?

The Proud Hoarder

Description: This gadget owner has one of everything ever made for the past couple decades. The reason for hoarding could be varied - for instance, there's the love-a-project hoarder. They don't get rid of anything but instead know for a fact that someone, at some time in the future, will need that spare part for some project. All electronics come in handy at some point and they are happily there, bag-o-gadgets in hand, to help.

Or there's the Gottahavist who just won't get rid of anything because they firmly believe it's all just too cool - these are the types that have Nintendo 64s sitting alongside a new Kinect. And they probably play with both.

The Green Cons: There's a limit to what a person can responsibly consume, and bringing new gadgets into the home without a really good reason is just not sustainable.

The Green Pros: The best part about a Proud Gadget Hoarder is also their fault - they don't throw anything out. It might not be green to collect gadgets just out of sheer addiction, but when you have a serious collection of electronics that can be used to repair other items, hack into new devices that have a useful purpose, or that you simply still use because you love them, then, well, it's better than using something for a year then sending it off to landfill or recycling.

Pairs Well With: Oh!Shiny-ist or It's-Not-Me-It's-You-ist

 

(Photo by Frankie Roberto via Flickr Creative Commons)

The In-Denial Hoarder

Description: This is probably the most common personality type. The In-Denial Hoarder swears they don't crave gadgets or new devices, probably doesn't buy them that often, and probably only has a handful they use on a regular basis.

But look into drawers and closets, and the truth pours out in a tangle of charger units and adapter cords. Decade-old laptops they have upgraded from but haven't gotten around to selling or recycling lay hidden on a shelf, the last three cell phones they every owned stuffed in the back of a nightstand drawer because, well, maybe someone will want them or maybe they should have a back up just in case.

And when they start to count the gadgets they really use (the TV and all the black boxes that go with it, the various digital cameras they use for different purposes, and so on) they realize with a shock that yes ... they too are a gadget hoarder.

The Green Cons: The In-Denial Hoarder doesn't realize the impact they have on the environment because they probably don't realize their purchase and use habits, or if they do, they don't think it's that bad.

The Green Pros: There is a lot of room for improvement for the In-Denial Hoarder and that's great news for the planet since it's the most common personality type. The most important thing this personality type can do is stop, take stock of what they use, take stock of what they own, and start to get organized. Admitting a problem is the first step toward recovery...

Pairs Well With: The Perfectionist or The Meh-ist

 

The Perfectionist

Description: This is someone who puts serious thought into the devices they decide to own. It's not about the latest and greatest or about the most expensive or difficult to find. This is about finding the exact right thing for what they need. A Perfectionist will research for weeks to find exactly what they want, be it a laptop, a camera, a cell phone - and once they find what they're looking for, they'll research for weeks again to get the best deal.

The Perfectionist is someone who puts a whole lot of effort into getting only the best, and what's better is that once they have it, they keep it in mint condition. Who wouldn't, after putting that much effort into finding something? The Perfectionist personality revolves around the hunt and pride of ownership.

The Green Cons: The environmental impact of the device, such as embodied energy, materials selection or other factors, is probably not the most important factor to a Perfectionist when they're looking for an item.

The Green Pros: The Perfectionist buys for quality, cares for a device so it lasts far longer than otherwise might, and is so specific about what they purchase that they just don't buy things very often. That means their overall gadget footprint stays relatively small.

Pairs Well With: The Quiet Recycler or The In-Denial Hoarder

 

The Oh!Shiny!-ist

Description: This is the ultimate upgrader, the person who wants the latest version of a device before the sheen from the last one has dulled. If you know a handful of Apple fanboys, you probably know at least one Oh!Shiny!-ist who has every single iteration of the iPhone, was surfing Hulu on their iPad while standing in line for the iPad 2 ... and so on. The Oh!Shiny!-ist upgrades their cell phone every single time their contract allows or sooner if there's a new model they think is better than what they have, and their kitchen is likely full of cool little devices and doodads that specialize in doing just one thing.

The Oh!Shiny!-ist loves anything with neat features or a fancy form factor and is probably as much obsessed with the design of an object as with what the object can do. If it's new, and pretty, it's in their shopping cart.

However, there are Oh!-Shiny!-ists that specialize in just wanting the latest of a certain type of gadget - they might be equally as aware of their impact on the environment as anyone else and work hard to properly dispose of or give away their older items.

The Green Cons: The Oh!Shiny!-ist is a consumer and might not have any justification for buying something new. They don't prefer to stick with last year's model, and that means they're just the type of person consumer electronics manufacturers love to market to. Planned obsolescence is a big green failure in the gadget industry, but as long as there are Oh!Shiny!-ists around, the issue will probably continue.

The Green Pros: The best part about this personality type is the potential for keeping usable devices in the consumer stream and ensuring those who aren't so in to the very latest thing can buy used instead of new. It's the Oh!Shiny!-ists that have helped buy-back companies like Gazelle stake a claim in the retail space.

Pairs Well With: The Proud Hoarder or It's-Not-Me-It's-Youist

 

The It's-Not-Me-It's-Youist

Description: This personality type is common among the older generations or those less comfortable with new technology. It's the person who always thinks the problems they're having with a device is the fault of the device and not themselves.

For instance, it's the amateur photographer who is certain the crummy photos they're taking is the fault of their camera and if they just had a better model, their photos would be National Geographic-worthy. Or it's the laptop owner who can't figure out why the Internet is slow so they figure it must be because their laptop is two years old and they need to buy a new one with all the bells and whistles.

It's always an issue with the device, since the device is supposed to be automagical, and not anything to do with their use of it.

The Green Cons: Such a gadget owner as this is not the type to repair something that might be broken or simply not working at its best, nor are they the type to learn new skills to make a device perform better. These are two skills every green gadget owner needs.

The Green Pros: Since they're looking for better devices, but are hunting with buckshot, the best market for them is buy-back companies where they can get used electronics that are fairly new. They're a great target audience for companies like Gazelle, TechForward, or NextWorth.

Pairs Well With: Oh!Shiny-ist or The Proud Hoarder ... possibly even the In-Denial Hoarder

 

(Photo by The Itsy Bitsy Spider via Flickr Creative Commons)

The Meh-ist

Description: The Meh-ist accepts gadgets as part of life but doesn't make a big deal over them. They might have one or two devices they like, but the devices are viewed more as a necessity or something utilitarian, than something to go gaga over.

The Meh-ist likely has a 4-year-old cell phone, a 5-year-old laptop or computer, and has yet to figure out if an e-reader is something that even remotely interests them. They typically will get a device repaired before considering replacing it, since that feels like the easier, more comfortable route than dealing with the dearth of devices they have to analyze before making a decision.

They view the people that camp out in line in front of Apple stores the morning of new releases with the same skepticism and dispassionate fascination they do with fully costumed Trekkies. In all, the take-it-or-leave-it attitude is refreshing and even endearing.

The Green Cons: Few, if any cons, here. Maybe the only con would be that they don't necessarily keep tabs on the energy consumption or other green credentials of their existing gadgets, nor what they purchase when they have to.

The Green Pros: The Meh-ist might be the greenest of all gadget owners, alongside the Perfectionist. With little interest in buying anything brand new or fancy, their consumption is kept at a minimum. They can probably be easily convinced to buy used and to recycle old gear.

Pairs Well With: Anyone, though there might be some tension with the Proud Hoarder.

 

So, which gadget personality are you? Do you fall somewhere in between a couple of these types? Or do you consider yourself a different type altogether? The most important question to ask is: What influence does my gadget personality type have on my ability to be eco-friendly with my electronics, and where might I improve?

 

Follow Jaymi on Twitter for more stories like this.

 

More from TreeHugger:

• Nine Greenest Laptops on the Market
• How to Go Green: Gadgets
• Test Your Green Gadget IQ
• Best of Green: Science and Technology

 

Check out Yahoo! Green on Twitter and Facebook.

Q: Does putting my computer to sleep help extend the battery life? What else can I do to save energy and make my new computer last?

A: We’ve all heard stories about what's best for a computer’s battery. That’s why I was excited to make friends with Fred Peters, president of Huntington Beach IT Services.

In addition to teaching computing courses in Orange County, Calif., Peters happily makes house calls to revive frazzled computers and the people who rely on them.

Here are his expert tips on how to keep your new laptop running smoothly.

Sleep mode vs. shutting down

Peters notes that your work process will determine whether it’s more efficient to use “Sleep” mode or simply shut down the computer. “It is never fun to have to consistently wait any amount of time if the shut downs are too frequent,” he says. "‘Sleep’ requires more power, but it boots up faster, while ‘Hibernate’ uses less power, but takes longer to come online.” That same logic applies to shutting off your computer completely.

“Your computer will become obsolete before you wear out your computer by turning it on and off a lot,” he adds. “It also doesn't take more energy to start a computer than to keep it running.”

Sleep mode requires a constant, though reduced use of power (0-6 watts). Peters also notes that colorful screensavers do nothing to conserve energy. Accessing your computer remotely with the Wake on LAN feature also can drain the power.

To get the most for your money, Peters advises adjusting power settings so that it automatically goes into Sleep/Standby mode after about 15 minutes of inactivity, and then shut it down at the end of your day.

Bionic battery life

To get the most out of your computer battery, Peters says to you have to give it a workout. Don’t keep your machine plugged in to an outlet. Instead, discharge the battery daily.

Size does matter

By purchasing a laptop, Peters says that you are ahead in the energy-saving game. Laptops use about 15-60 watts, while desktops use 65-250 watts — plus another 15-80 watts for a monitor.

He also adds that you can further conserve energy by using an LCD monitor and ditching the high-end video card unless it’s absolutely necessary. Also, turn off printers and other peripherals when they are not in use.

To kill “vampire power,” TreeHugger.com suggests purchasing a power strip. With all peripherals connected to one source, it’s easy to simply flip the switch on power hogs any time.

Establish a backup process

In addition to Peters’ great advice about conserving energy, I discovered the hard way that it also pays to save backup versions of your work. Invest in an external hard drive to hold your digital music library, special photos, and other key documents. Frequent backups ensure that your data doesn’t die with your laptop.

While you are in the process of backing things up, create an emergency file (on good old-fashioned paper) that contains your computer’s serial number along with other key data such as your credit card numbers and phone numbers to reach each company, along with contact info to your insurance company. Access to that information is vital, particularly in the event of an accident, fire, computer theft, or other catastrophe.

Peters warns that those key pieces of information are not safe on your computer. If you are like me and absolutely need a digital holding space for those nuggets of information, he suggests sites like LastPass as your online vault.

Happy computing!
— Morieka

Got a question? Visit our advice archives to see if your question has already been tackled.

More from Mother Nature Network

• 8 technology revolutions that are now relics
• 20 unconventional ways to save money
• 7 times social networking saved lives
• How long does makeup last?
• 10 dazzling images from the WISE telescope

By Jakob Barry, Networx

If I asked you to draw a symbol representing an idea or thought it’s a good chance you’ll sketch a light bulb — specifically, the incandescent model. Well, hold on to that image because as part of the U.S. government’s Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 the incandescent bulb will be phased out by 2012. The compact fluorescent light (CFL), which is already being used around the globe and has a different look, will take its place as the bulb of the future.

Unlike incandescent bulbs, the benefits of CFLs are clear: They include a much longer life, use far less electricity, and emit little heat. However, overshadowing the advantages are several important health concerns being raised not just in the U.S. but around the world.

CFLs contain mercury. Is it dangerous?

On average CFLs contain abut four milligrams of mercury, a small trace of the highly toxic substance that is extremely hazardous when digested or inhaled. By comparison older thermometers contain about 500 milligrams, which is equal to the mercury in over 100 CFLs.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) spilling more than a thermometer’s worth but less than two tablespoons (one pound) necessitates a call to your local health or environmental agency. Anything more and that and the National Response Center (NRC) must be notified immediately.

So what does this mean for a CFL that smashed in your house? It’s a serious problem but not life threatening if handled properly. The immediate aftermath seems to be the most critical in terms of controlling contamination. Small children, pregnant woman, and pets are the most at risk. In the event a bulb breaks the EPA has a step by step list of what to do.

CFLs emit ultraviolet (UV) light

Manufacturers say there is no health risk for prolonged usage, as eight hours of exposure to CFL UV light is about the same as one minute in full sunlight. For the average person this shouldn’t be a problem, however, people with light sensitive disorders may feel differently.

Some international studies revealed even small amounts of CFL UV light can aggravate symptoms in chronic actinic dermatitis (CAD), a state where the skin becomes inflamed after reacting to sun or artificial light, and solar urticaria, a rare condition in which exposure to UV light induces a case of hives on both covered and uncovered areas of the skin.

For the general population, in order to evade skin and retinal damage studies in Canada and elsewhere suggest avoiding CFL exposure at distances less than 12 inches which could approach, but not exceed, acceptable limits. There is no cause for concern regarding skin cancer.

Blue Light radiation, flicker, hums, electric magnetic fields (EMF)

These issues are associated with older florescent lights and affected people with conditions including epilepsy, lupus, and autism. According to the experts newer CFLs no longer pose a hazard.

For a list of further myths and facts about CFLs see this report by Consumer Reports.

Related:

• Down and Dirty on CFLs
• The CFL Controversy Continues: Who Knew?
• Five Reasons You Might Buy a $50 Light Bulb

 

Cement is one of the most significant single sources for carbon emissions, due to the intense energy required for its production and the volumes of it that are produced annually, as well as from material itself, but an alternative is now available. It doesn't just reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emitted, it actually binds more CO2 than is emitted from its production, which makes its production carbon negative.

Novacem has developed a new cement that uses magnesium silicate instead of calcium compounds. The new material is supposed to have performance and cost comparable to ordinary Portland cement. Furthermore, because the production of magnesium silicate is a lower energy process, it can be manufactured using biofuel, instead of requiring more intensive and polluting energy sources.

The company also notes that "production of our cement is carbon negative; more carbon dioxide (CO2) is absorbed during the process than is emitted." Manufacturing a tonne of this cement results in the absorption of up to 100 kg (220 lbs) of carbon dioxide more than is emitted in the process.

Magnesium oxide is widely available as well, so there should not be an issue of material scarcity with the use of this as a Portland cement replacement. The company is not producing the material itself, but is instead seeking to license its technology to producers.

via: Jetson Green

Plastic bags have been the enemy of environmentalists for pretty much as long as they have existed.  Not only are they made from oil, but they clog our landfills for hundreds of years.  Many cities, states and countries have banned plastic bags altogether, but for most of the world, they'll be hanging around for a while longer.

In an attempt to deal with the millions and millions of plastic bags used every year, Japanese inventor Akinori Ito has created a machine that can turn plastic bags into fuel in a carbon negative process.  The machine, which is now being sold by the inventor's Blest Corporation, heats the plastic and traps the vapors in a system of pipes, where the vapors are cooled and condensed into crude oil. The crude oil can be used in generators and even some stoves, but with one more refining step, it can be used in gasoline.

The very efficient machine can process two pounds of plastic (including polyethylene, polystyrene and polypropylene) into a quart of oil using only one kilowatt of electricity.

Obviously, once the fuel is burned, it will release CO2 into the atmosphere, but it's allowing the oil that created the plastic to be used twice instead of just once and then sent to a landfill.  That cuts down on the amount of oil we need to extract and keeps plastic out of landfills.

The machine is meant for households, but it currently costs $10,000, which is pretty steep.  Ito hopes that the cost of the machine will drop as production increases.

via CleanTechnica

Image via Blest Corporation